A lesson in lenses
Finding the lenses that are right for you can be challenging. But there are ways to take the guesswork out of the search. To save yourself time and effort you should make a list of all the qualities that you are looking for. The number of options you have to choose from is not the problem; sorting through the insuperable mass of lenses to get just the pair you need is the actual difficulty.
The first issue to settle is whether you prefer glass or plastic lenses. Glass is rarely used these days. Glass is heavier than plastic but thinner. Plastic lenses are thicker but lighter. Glass lenses shatter much more easily than plastic lenses, and this can be dangerous under certain conditions. On the other hand, plastic lenses are more vulnerable to being scratched up. It should also be noted it’s much less expensive to replace plastic lenses than glass ones.
There are a number of different kinds of lenses. Polycarbonate lenses are light and thin. This makes it much easier and much more comfortable to wear them. Polycarbonate is also impact resistant, which means you will have to worry less about taking them off, setting them down, and risking their breakage.
Trivex lenses are also light and thin. Like polycarbonate, they are impact-resistant. The major difference between the two types of lenses is that the former corrects vision better.
High index plastic lenses are for persons who require a strong prescription. If you are someone who has always needed high prescription glasses, you will finally be able to ditch the traditional “coke bottle” glasses for ones that are lighter and thinner. The only down side to high index plastic lenses is that they tend to be very expensive.
Photochromatic lenses are also available. Photochromatic lenses give you built-in prescription glasses that tint darker in bright, outdoor conditions and turn lighter indoors depending on the amount of UV light that hits the lens.
It is important to give some attention to the coatings for your glasses. Anti-reflective glasses are the best glasses for reflecting light. This can be useful when you drive or need to spend many hours in front of a computer.
Scratch-resistant coatings are also available. They make the lenses scratch resistant, though nothing can make them scratch proof completely. The application of such coatings to the surface of your lenses can go a long way towards protecting them. If you are someone who finds yourself going through lenses because of scratch marks, it may be worth getting this added protection to put your mind at ease.
A mirrored lens includes a coating that prevents light from reflecting in the eye. The coating makes the outside of the lens look like a mirror. As the wearer, you will only see the tint of the coating. There is also anti-reflection coating, which can help you keep the glare of the sun out of your eyes.