A patient’s granddaughter recently came to her and said she wanted to wear glasses. My patient asked why she wanted to wear glasses. The little girl responded “Because they make YOU look smart, and I want to look smart too!” I asked my patient if the little girl needed glasses and her response was “thankfully, no.” She then proceeded to tell me how she took the little girl to the dollar store and allowed her to pick up two pairs of inexpensive frames that the little girl liked. She took them home, popped the lenses out and now the little girl has glasses to wear so she feels smart too.
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This story is so cute that we just knew we had to share it and, unlike the eyeglasses of several generations ago, manufacturers are now making glasses, and lenses, for children. Additionally, movies like Harry Potter or television shows that feature popular kids wearing glasses have helped children overcome their fears of being “different”. One reason for the enduring popularity of eyeglasses can be found in new lens designs, which help eyes to see better or appear more attractive even when stronger prescriptions are needed.
Because these new types of lenses are thinner, the old days of thick, Coke bottle style glasses have virtually disappeared.
Among the most popular types of lenses prescribed today are:
- Aspheric lenses, which are not perfectly rounded on the surface, recently have been designed as a way to correct for small distortions in vision that can be associated with more traditional lenses. These types of designs also make lenses thinner and lighter.
- High-index materials also are associated with thinner, lighter lenses, because of the more efficient way this special plastic refracts light to help you achieve focus. Because less plastic is needed with high-index materials, lens thickness is reduced.
- Wavefront technology lenses are fabricated based on very precise measurements of the way light travels through your eye, which helps sharpen visual clarity.
- Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses are thinner, lighter and up to 10 times more impact-resistant than regular plastic lenses, making them the perfect choice for safety glasses, sports eyewear and eyeglasses for children and active adults.
- Photochromic lenses have chemical coatings or special internal changes allowing them to quickly darken in bright conditions, and quickly return to normal in ordinary indoor lighting or at night.
- Polarized lenses diminish glare from flat, reflective surfaces (like water) and also reduce eye fatigue.
- Anti-reflective coating is a popular add-on for lenses. AR (anti-reflective) coating can dramatically improve the look and comfort of your glasses by reducing distracting lens reflections that interfere with eye contact and make your lenses look thicker. AR-coated lenses also reduce glare and allow more light into your eyes for better night vision.
- Other lens coatings include scratch-resistant coating, anti-fog coating and UV-blocking lens treatments.
So the all-important question is: what type of lens is right for you? The best answer would be to see an optometrist you know and trust, one who has been in business for a many years with a solid reputation in their community. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to call my office. I’m Dr. Mike Morton of SB Eyecare Associates, the premier San Bernardino Optometry office.
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San Bernardino, CA 92410
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