Lens Types

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LENS TYPES

SINGLE VISION: These lenses correct the eye for either long or short sightedness - hypermetropia or myopia. They will also correct any astigmatism which may be present.

Many people don't need specs until they are in their mid to late 40's at which age almost everyone becomes presbyopic. (This means "old sight" - when the eye muscles have gradually become less elastic and no longer able to accommodate and focus on things near to). This is the time when your first glasses are likely to be single visions reading specs.

Single vision lenses are available in all materials.

SINGLE VISION FOR KIDS: the Essilor Junior Range - lenses specially designed for the needs of children. These lenses are light in weight, scratch resistant and offer 100% protection from UV light. Available in 2 materials:ORMA JUNIOR SUPRA - a tough plastic lens, and AIRWEAR JUNIOR SUPRA - a polycarbonate lens which is extremely tough and offers superior impact resistance.

BIFOCAL: a multifocal lens which allows the wearer to see both distance and reading in one pair of glasses. The main lens is for distance vision, to read the wearer simply glances down through a segment in the lower portion of the lens. The segment has more magnifying power than the rest of the lens allowing text or other small objects to be seen clearly just a short distance from the eye.

PROGRESSIVE POWER LENSES/VARIFOCALS: Considered by many wearers to be the ultimate lens - the nearest thing to vision before you needed glasses! These lenses allow things to be seen clearly at all distances with no unsightly segment. Just like a bifocal the wearer simply glances down to read - the power of the lens is graduated so that before they "hit" the reading area there is an intermediate zone allowing middle distance objects to be viewed comfortably.

Varifocal wearers used to have to wear large frames to enable the lens to work properly, but fashion has dictated to lens technology and varifocal wearers can now wear shallow trendy frames and still see clearly at all distances - ask us about compact lens designs and just how shallow you can go!

OCCUPATIONAL PROGRESSIVES/ENHANCED READING LENSES: Like a varifocal these lenses have a progressive power graduating to the bottom of the lens where your full reading prescription is reached. The upper part of the lens allows the wearer to see up to 2 metres away (not infinity) - so they can work at the desk/computer but still see across the office - something not possible in single vision reading/computer glasses.

These lenses offer a wider intermediate (computer) area than a full varifocal lens does. Please ask for further details.