Lenses Advice
Standard* Single Vision CR39 plastic or glass lenses are included in our displayed Spectacle prices but there are hundreds of other possible lens options at Evans & Hughes. Lenses that are thinner, lighter, clearer, less reflective, tinted, photochromatic... and all of these can be single vision, bifocal, trifocal or varifocal.
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But don't worry, at Evans & Hughes, the optometrist who has examined your eyes will also be on hand to advise you on the most suitable lenses for your prescription, budget and visual requirements taking into account your choice of spectacle frame. Your Optometrist will have built up a good picture of your likely requirements during the eye examination and is best placed placed to give relevant expert personal advice but the following information on the latest technology will help explain some of your possible choices.
Thin and Light Lenses
If you hate having thick heavy spectacle lenses then you need to know more about high index lenses. Lenses can be made out of different materials each having different focusing abilities. The more a material bends or refracts light, the thinner and often lighter it will be for a given prescription. The ability to bend light is given a numerical value termed it's refractive index - the higher the index, the thinner the lens, meaning it is possible to reduce lens thickness and weight by over 50% for some prescriptions. Evans & Hughes offer many different index lenses made of both glass and plastic, your optometrist will advise you on the advantages and disadvantages of all the different types many of which add very little to the cost of your spectacles.
Aspheric Lenses
These lenses are carefully designed to minimise peripheral distortions in stronger spectacle lenses, as well as improving visual quality these lenses are also thinner and lighter.
Multifocal Lenses (Bifocal/Trifocal and Varifocal)
These lenses are designed to remove the need for two or more different strength spectacles, so that the wearer can enjoy the freedom of clear vision at different distances with the same pair.
Bifocal and trifocal lenses have visible segments that give large undistorted views at specific distances, usually distance and near.
Varifocals have no distracting visible lines or segments, the lenses gradually change strength in the lower lens giving a greater depth of focus. Some patients have experienced problems adapting to multifocal lenses in the past but technological developments have greatly improved these lenses. The advice of your optometrist and an unrestricted range is crucial when choosing the best lens for each patient. Evans and Hughes offer lenses from all the worlds leading lens manufacturers choosing the optimum lens for each individual case. We are so confident in our advise that we offer a prescription satisfaction guarantee.
Anti-Reflection Lens Coating
Most spectacle lenses reflect approximately 10% of light, these reflections create annoying visual disturbances (particularly when night driving), reduce clarity, and are cosmetically distracting. Anti reflection coatings significantly reduce lens reflectivity improving sight and the appearance of your spectacles. The latest coatings are also scratch resistant and easy clean.
Tinted and Photochromatic Lenses
Photochromic lenses change colour in the sun and remove the need for a separate pair of prescription sunglasses. These lenses are available in both glass and plastic, there are now many different specifications available and not all brands perform equally well so be sure the optician knows which type of lens you require, fast or slow changing, fading to clear or maintaining a residual tint the possibilities are huge. Fixed tint lenses are also popular as they guarantee adequate protection no matter what the conditions (eg. most photochromic lenses do not react well inside a car) and can be specified in almost any colour. Plus when combined with our prescription sunglasses they look great.
For more information, why not pop into our practices for some advice, there are usually plenty of leaflets available or you may find the links below helpful.
www.rodenstock.co.uk
www.essilor.co.uk
www.kodak.co.uk
www.aolens.com