Did you recently find out that you need glasses for the first time? There’s nothing to worry about! The doctors and opticians at Eye Physicians PC have years of experience!
At Eye Physicians, P.C. we are excited to announce that we’ve entered into a long-term partnership agreement with Zeiss Vision as a Zeiss Certified Practice. We will exclusively use only Zeiss high technology, high-quality spectacle lenses and coatings that you would expect from the world leader in optics. There will be no knock-off or mystery private label manufacturers sold at Eye Physicians. This strategic partnership aligns both Eye Physicians and Zeiss Vision for superior vision care at all stages of the patient’s journey and needs. Zeiss uniquely offers the Sunglass-level UV protection in all clear Zeiss lenses. This includes the latest technology BlueProtect UV. This concern for the health of your eyes aligns with Eye Physicians’ same concern for their patient care.
You can trust your family’s vision to Eye Physicians.
We’ll help you understand the different glasses options you have and what’s best for you. We will work with you to help you pick out the right pair of glasses for your needs and prescription.
What are the Different Types of Lenses Available?
As advancements in medicine and technology happen, lenses evolve too. Lenses used to be made from glass. Now they are usually made from high-tech plastics.
These plastics are lighter, and don’t break as easily as glass lenses do! They can also protect you from ultraviolet rays if you have them treated with special film. Here are some of the different types of lenses:
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate lenses are a great choice if you play sports or are active. They are impact-resistant, meaning they’ll protect your eyes in hard to reach spots.
They are also good for kids that like to play and are always running around. The best part? While they are protecting your active eyes, they are also protecting against UV rays.
High-Index Plastic
High-index plastic lenses are better for patients that need stronger prescriptions. These lenses are a thinner and lighter option compared to the very thick lenses you might have had in the past.
Trivex
Trivex lenses are a lot like polycarbonate lenses. They use a plastic with a urethane-based monomer.
This is what makes them more flexible, thinner, and lighter than regular lenses. Most importantly, they are impact resistant. For some people, they may correct vision better.
Aspheric
Aspheric lenses are often curved to varying degrees. This means they can be flatter and thinner than normal plastic lenses. You can use more of the lens to see.
Photochromic
Photochromic lenses go from clear to tinted when exposed to sunlight. They are also commonly known as transition lenses.
You might not need sunglasses anymore, but these lenses may not work if your car’s windshield blocks UV rays. Aspheric lenses are often made of plastic or glass.
Polarized Sunglasses
Polarized sunglasses reduce glare from surfaces like water. This makes them a good option if you are diving or playing sports.
But they can also make it more challenging to see the display on your car’s dashboard.
How Do You Pick a Lens Type?
Picking the right kind of lens depends on what kind of vision issues you have. For example, if you are nearsighted, you will need a lens that curves inward.
If you are farsighted, lenses that curves outwards are often better. For people with astigmatism, a lens that is more like a cylinder will help your vision. Your lens will help your retina correctly focus light and see better.
What are Multifocal Lenses?
Multifocal lenses use two or more prescriptions to fix your vision. Examples of multifocal lenses include trifocals or bifocals.
With bifocals or trifocals, you used to be able to see the lines between the sections. Now, they are seamless. This means that nobody will know you’re wearing a multifocal lens unless you tell them.
Bifocals
Bifocals are the most common type of multifocal lens. With bifocals, you have a lens divided into two sections. The top section is for distance. The bottom half is for close vision.
If you are over 40 and having difficulty focusing, your eye doctor may prescribe bifocals. Having difficulty focusing is something that happens because of presbyopia.
Presbyopia occurs when the lens becomes less flexible with age. Losing flexibility is what leads to problems with focusing and other vision problems.
Trifocals
A trifocal is a bifocal with a third section. It is above the bifocal part of the lens. This third section is to see objects within an arm’s reach. This includes things like seeing your computer.
Your doctor will help you pick the lens and type of glasses that are right for you. They will work with you to make sure they fit your needs and lifestyle.
Are There Different Coatings for Eyeglass Lenses?
There are a variety of lens coatings and almost as many as there are lens types!
A few common lens coatings include:
- Anti-reflective coating (or anti-glare coating)
- Scratch-resistant coating
- Anti-fog coating
- UV-treated
- Mirrored coating
UV Protection and Scratch-Resistant
UV protection and scratch-resistant coatings are usually built in on lenses now. There’s no way to make a pair of glasses completely scratch resistant.
Scratch-resistant coating on your lenses are the closest you can get!
If you have the option, consider making your glasses UV protected. This means that your glasses will protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Anti-Reflective
Anti-reflective coatings help with glare, reflections, and halos around lights. The sun’s rays can reflect off many surfaces, so these coatings act as extra protection.
Mirror Coatings
While this coating is for looks, it does hide your eyes if you don’t want them seen. This tint is available in a variety of colors like blue, silver and gold.
Tinted Lenses
For some patients having a dark/light tint of color on the lens helps them see clearer. Adding a yellow tint can help increase the contrast.
Putting a grey tint on your sunglasses does not change colors. By adding a light tint to your lenses, it can help reduce the signs of aging around your eyes.
Eye Physicians P.C. offers full-service optical shops at every location for patients! We carry a variety of name brand sunglasses and frames including:
*Brands may vary by location
Eye Physicians P.C. participates in many medical and vision plans. We also offer discounts to patients that have their eyes checked in our office.
Looking for a new eye doctor in central Nebraska? Schedule an appointment at Eye Physicians P.C. at our Columbus, NE office today!
New Normal, New Technology to Keep You Safe
Eye Physicians, PC now uses cutting edge UV technology to clean our frames in between uses to keep our patients safe at all of our optical locations. With the new UVClean from Zeiss, we can disinfect 6-20 frames in 40 seconds, getting rid of 99.5% of germs. This is just another way Eye Physicians, PC is adapting to keep our patients safe.
