Lenses

Do wearers normally turn their eyes, their head, or both? To what degree? Because each wearer is unique, Essilor has designed Varilux S 4D, the 1st progressive lens adapted to invidual visual behavior? They are the ultimate solution for wearers who are seeking a custom solution for their eyes. The way in which each individual observes his or her surroundings is unique mix of eye and head movements. We all have our own particular way of seeing, our own unique visual strategy. At Oberlé Opticians, we are proud to be one of a handful of practices throughout the United States, trained to measure this Head and Eye movement behavior through the use of a VPS computer. Each Varilux S 4D lens is then designed individually to match the particular Head and Eye movement of each and every customer for whom it is intented for. Ipseo is so customized that it will be laser etched with your own initials on each and every lens. Thanks to Varilux S 4D, the wearer can once again enjoy truly natural vision.

With Varilux Physio Enhanced, Varilux brings the corrective power of wavefront, similar to the technology used in laser surgery, to progressive lenses. After years of research, Varilux has developed an innovative design and manufacturing process called W.A.V.E. Technology which delivers the sharpest progressive vision ever. Sharp vision has two key components: Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. By dramatically reducing or eliminating higher order aberrations, Varilux Physio Enhanced delivers an improvement in contrast sensitivity – the ability to see visual details and colors – by up to 30%. Varilux Physio Enhanced is the only lens proven to increase contrast sensitivity in all fields of vision.

Varilux Physio Enhanced improves contrast sensitivity by helping patients in day to day situations as:

• Driving at night
• Reading the newspaper
• Experiencing the vivid colors in a bouquet of flowers

The result is an advanced general-purpose lens that delivers unsurpassed progressive performance to all presbyopes. Bring patients even closer to “real world” vision with optimal clarity, depth and dimension with Varilux Physio Enhanced.

When you work at a computer for any length of time, it’s common to experience blurred vision and other symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS). You’re more likely to experience eyestrain and eye fatigue while sitting at the computer, because of unique visual demands that are unlike those associated with most other activities. If you’re under age 40, blurred vision may be due to an inability of your eyes to remain accurately focused on your computer screen for a sustained time period. Or eye fatigue and blurriness may be related to problems with quickly and accurately changing focus, such as when you shift your gaze from your monitor to your keyboard and back again. This lag of accommodation can be associated with CVS. If you’re over age 40, the problem may be due to the onset of presbyopia — the normal age-related loss of near focusing ability. This, too, can cause CVS symptoms. What can you do? For one thing, obtaining customized computer glasses can make a world of difference in your comfort level while you’re using the computer. These special-purpose glasses are prescribed specifically to reduce eyestrain and to give you the most comfortable vision at your computer.

Researchers calculated that an employee earning $60,000 a year would gain $5,400 worth of productivity for an employer who paid for his computer eyeglasses (minus the cost of the eye exam and about $300 for the eyewear), a benefit/cost ratio of $18 for every $1 spent. (Read more about how computer eyewear can significantly increase worker productivity.)

There are a number of special purpose lens designs that work well for computer glasses. Because these lenses are prescribed specifically for computer use, they are not suitable for driving or general purpose wear. The simplest computer glasses have single vision lenses with a modified lens power prescribed to give the most comfortable vision at the user’s computer screen. This lens relaxes the amount of accommodation required to keep things in focus at the distance of the computer screen and provides the largest field of view, reducing the risk of eyestrain, blurred vision, and unnatural posture that can cause neck and back pain. These lenses can be used comfortably by younger and older computer users alike. A popular type of computer eyeglass lenses for people with presbyopia is the occupational progressive lens — a no-line multifocal that corrects near, intermediate, and, up to a point, distance vision. It has a larger intermediate zone than regular progressive lenses for more comfortable vision at the computer. But this leaves less lens area for distance vision. So these lenses are not recommended for driving or other significant distance vision tasks. Another option for presbyopic computer users is a lined trifocal, with a larger intermediate zone than regular trifocals. Still another possibility is an occupational bifocal, with the top part of the lens for intermediate vision (computer screen) and the bottom portion for near vision (reading).

Computer lenses are also available in clip-ons that can be attached to regular eyeglasses. Your eyecare professional can help you decide which lens design will best suit your needs. Another Benefit: Eyestrain Relief In addition to fixing your blurry vision, computer glasses can help with another problem as well: eyestrain from bright office lighting. Getting anti-reflective (AR) coating on your lenses can significantly reduce the amount of glare and reflected light that reach your eyes. If your office has fluorescent lights, you might want to consider two other options as well. According to Cosmo Salibello, OD, fluorescent lights emit a great deal of blue light, which makes it “difficult for the human eye to focus due to (blue light’s) scattering characteristics.”** An ultraviolet (UV) absorbing coating can cut down on the amount of blue light that reaches your eyes, as can an amber tint, says Dr. Salibello.

Hi-index lenses are made of a special plastic material that refracts light in a different way than regular plastic lenses. With hi-index lenses, vision can be corrected with less material, making the lens much thinner. Plastics are graded in numbers, such as 1.50 or 1.67. The higher the number, the thinner the lens. Because they are thinner, hi-index lenses are also lighter, making them more comfortable to wear. This is important to patients with high prescriptions, as their glasses can be made more cosmetically attractive and appealing. Hi-index lens materials tend to cost more than standard plastic lenses.

Airwear lenses are made of a type of plastic that is more impact-resistant than standard plastic lenses. Polycarbonate lenses are also much thinner and lighter in weight. They are considered a high index plastic. Polycarbonate lenses also have built-in ultraviolet protection. Because of these properties, it is the lens material of choice for children’s lenses, sport lenses and safety lenses. However, some people complain that polycarbonate lenses fail to give them the crispest, clearest vision.

Trivex, also known as Phoenix or Triology, is a relatively new material that is similar to polycarbonate lenses but with higher quality optics, and thus provides clearer vision. Trivex is lighter in weight than standard plastic but not quite as thin as polycarbonate. Trivex is a more rigid material, making it a better selection for rimless or drill mount frames. Trivex is just as impact resistant as polycarbonate and may also be prescribed for children’s lenses, sport lenses and safety lenses.

An aspheric lens design gives several advantages to eyglass lenses. An aspheric lens has flatter peripheral curvatures than a regular spherical lens. this reduces the amount a lens may bulge out of an eyeglass frame, reducing magnification of the eyes, which improves cosmetic appearance. Flatter peripheral curves also reduce distortions that occur when looking away from the center of the lens, making vision much crisper. Aspheric lenses are also much lighter in weight than standard spherical lenses.

Polarized lenses are usually used to make sunglasses. They are available most commonly in grey or brown tint but many other colors are available. Vertically polarized lenses decrease bright glare and reflections by blocking horizontal polarized reflected light. Polarized lenses have been used by fishermen for years to better deal with bright light being reflected off water and to see deeper into the water.

Transitions 7 (Photochromatic) lenses have a special chemical coating that makes them change to a dark tint in the sunlight and turn clear indoors. Photochromatic lenses are great for people who do not wish to carry a separate pair of prescription sunglasses. It is important to recognize that these lenses do not darken as well while driving a car. The windshield prevents most of the UV light from reaching the lens.

Anti-reflective coating is applied to eyeglass lenses to reduce the amount of internal and external reflections on a lens. This increases the amount of light transmitted through the lens, which improves quality of vision. Anti-reflective coating also decreases unwanted glare and halos at nighttime. It also makes the lenses appear somewhat invisible and very thin. While everyone could benefit from an anti-reflective coating, it is especially beneficial for people with high prescriptions, people who have a decrease in vision at night, and professions in which cosmetic appearance is important. Crizal No-Glare (Anti-reflective) lenses provide 25 times more UV protection than going without eyewear.

Scratch-resistant coatings are applied to the front and back of lenses in the manufacturing process. Although it is important to realize that no lens is scratch-proof, this special coating does make lenses harder to scratch when dropped or rubbed against a hard surface. While most lenses are made with scratch-resistant coating, sometimes the term scratch-resistant coating indicates a type of “scratch warranty.” These warranties guarantee against scratches, ensuring the lenses will be remade if a scratch does occur. Be sure to clarify any warranty of this nature.

Ultraviolet treatment is applied to lenses to protect against harmful UV sunrays that can accelerate the development of cataracts and macular degeneration. It is extremely important to protect eyes from the damaging effects of the sun. UV treatment is easy to apply to lenses and is often included with the purchase of eyeglasses.

In contrast to anti-reflective coatings, which are very clear, mirror coatings (also called flash coatings) are bold statements of color. Just as the name implies, a mirror coating is highly reflective. The mirrored sunglasses associated with state troopers are one example of a flash coating. The technology has advanced, however, so that today’s choices include colors of the rainbow as well as silver, gold and copper metallic mirror coatings. Hot pink, blue — almost any color is available. Mirror coatings are purely cosmetic: the wearer perceives no difference in vision regardless of what color the coating is. Only those looking at the person wearing the glasses can see the color of the mirror coating. Mirror coatings are generally applied over sunglass-dark lenses. Obviously, a highly reflective flash coating prevents others from seeing the eyes of the wearer.