Lenses

Online Purchases

Online Purchases - Lenses & Materials

Single Vision

Single vision lenses are lenses that correct vision at one focal length. They can either be made to correct for Myopia (farsightedness) or Hyperopia (nearsightedness).

Bifocal

A bifocal lens is a single vision lens with a small “window” added to the front to provide a reading focal length to the lens. Most people are familiar with this lens by recognizing the “line” across the bottom inner corner. For some who prefer the hard distinction between reading and distance areas or who can not use progressive lenses for any reason this would be a fantastic choice.

Progressive

A progressive lens is a lens that blends many focal lengths in to one lens enabling distance, intermediate and near correction to be all available depending on eye positioning. Consumers will experience a ramp in power beginning at distance correction on top and fading to reading correction on the bottom of the lens. Due to the complexities of this lens progressives will ALWAYS contain some level of distortion towards the periphery. This effect is what people often refer to when describing a “channel of vision”. We are proud to carry Integrity free form progressive lenses from Laramy-k optical.

Check out what our lab has to say about current progressive lens technologies here:

https://www.laramyk.com/freeform-lenses/

Anti glare coatings

An anti glare coating is applied to the surface of the lens and is designed to reduce the amount of light that is reflected off the lens surface. This allows for more light transmission through the lenses significantly improving user experience and clarity. Our standard Anti glare coating includes a hydro/oleophobic coat, a thermal cured hard coat (scratch protection) and a two year warranty. We believe strongly that this is the single best option to add to your lenses. Anti glare coatings specifically help improve clarity and diffuse reflected light when night driving, from computer screens, florescent lights or overhead light glare.

High index materials

High index materials simply put are lens materials that can make the strongest prescriptions less noticeable In the frame. Think old coke bottle lenses vs. a thinner lens that does not stick out. These materials vary in density and thus can bend or change the direction of light more effectively per amount of material used. Standard plastic lenses have a refractive index of 1.50, Trivex is 1.53 and our high index offerings range from 1.60-1.74. depending on the prescription the difference in edge thickness can be a few millimeters or more!

Blue light protection

Blue light from our tech devices can cause digital eye strain, headaches and even lead to retinal damage over time. Many doctors recommend considering some blue light mitigation when using devices for long hours or if you are prone to migraines or insomnia. You can help to block blue light two ways with your coating selection or impeded in to your lens material. Our DES (digital eye strain) coating blocks up to 20% of blue light and works by reflecting back blue light and as such there is a blue or purple reflection seen on the lens surface. The second option is our UV++ which is a treatment added to the lens which absorbs up to 90% of the blue light. This is the recommended option for users that spend more 5+ hours on the computer every day, or experience more symptoms connected with digital eye strain. This option has a slight residual yellow tint, most visible on stronger prescriptions. It can have limited availability on some progressive lenses, and not recommended for photographers (as it can subtly change color perception during photo editing), but overall is our preferred blue light protection.

Transitions

Transition or Photochromatic lenses are lenses with a UV activated chemical response that darken as you go outside. Transitions are now available in brown, grey, green, amber or even amethyst. Other options include polarized transitions or extra active transitions, both of these options get darker than standard transitions and hold a bit more residual color even when fully lightened. Transitions lenses are not a replacement for quality prescription sunglasses and are most helpful for those who are very light sensitive or practically can not get RX sun.

Occupational eyewear

Occupational lenses are lenses that are specifically made for best use at a job, sport or hobby. These lenses are highly specialized and usually purchased in addition to an “everyday” pair of eyeglasses. Did you know that our lab makes progressive lenses specifically set for sports, golfing, office wear, driving? We can even get a lens made with a mid-distance fade up top called “The Pilot” that is great for electricians, pilots and other occupations where you need to “look up” and see near.

If you struggle with vision in your hobby or work call us today! The possibilities are vast! Below we describe a few of our more commonly purchased occupational lenses.

Student

The student lens or "Relieve" is a lens with a small +.50 bump in power. This small addition can relieve eye strain and fatigue from prolonged near focus and even increase reading comprehension! This can be also helpful for those who don’t need progressive lenses yet but are in a career that demands the eyes focus up close much of the time. For added relief If you spend a lot of study time on devices we recommend you consider one of our blue light options in addition to the student design.

Driving progressive

The "Road Trip" or driving lens has a maximized distance section with a midrange and reading that is slightly dropped. This moves the edge distortion down slightly so as to allow more distance peripheral vision necessary for safe driving. The reading section is a bit smaller but perfect for glancing down at a map or phone navigation so you don't miss that important left turn on the way to grandmas house. The "Road Trip" is great for a career driver, hobby road tripper or anyone whose job requires lots of travel. Don’t forget to ask about drive-wear specific photochromatic lenses for high contrast color!

Computer

By far the most common occupational lenses, computer lenses can be made in single vision, bifocal or progressive. When made as a Single vision computer lenses are set at just the right focal length to maximize vision for computer work. When made as a bifocal we usually set the distance for computer length and then below the line is a small reading window. This allows the wearer great vision for all things on or around a desk. Perfect for typing and then glancing down at small text on a paper near your workstation.

Progressive office lenses

These lenses being at a mid distance focal length toward the top and middle of the lens and then fade in to up close reading at the bottom of the lens. There is typically much less distortion on the edges and a much wider field of view in an office lens than an everyday progressive. An advantage that comes from less change in prescription from bottom to top because we are starting at mid range instead of full distance. There are three options for where to set an office lens starting focal length, 1m, 2m and 3m.

1m- With vision beginning at 1m typically these progressives are just for desk use. You will be able to see the face of the person sitting across your desk but no further. However for those who work mostly at their station this is an excellent option with a wide computer view and large reading section. This lens will most likely be preferred if you are farsighted.

2m- Vision begins at 2m of distance and is great for someone who wants to be able to glance up and have a conversation with someone maybe across a table or be able to read and see markings on a board overhead. We most commonly make office lenses set at a 2m starting point and find that for most office or computer station work its perfect.

3m- With a full room length of vision this lens is perfect for a conference use, for those who move about their workplace often and do not want to switch glasses, or for the work from home dad who wants to glance over at his children as he writes software. Because this lens begins further and has more change down to reading it has the most edge distortion of the three options however, its still worlds less than a standard progressive. If you are very nearsighted you may like this lens more then the other options.

Double D

A Double D is a special type of bifocal with a window at both the top and bottom of the lens. This allows the wearer to work above their head at near or mid distance. Double D bifocals are most commonly worn by electricians. More recently we have the availability to make the same design idea in a progressive lens. The lens called the "Pilot progressive" is now only available with our lab Laramy-k.