There have been significant improvements in spectacle lens technology, and as a result, the latest lenses are better looking, more comfortable to wear and give you much better vision.
As independent opticians we are free to select the best lenses from any manufacturer. This means we can offer you a wider choice together with a personal service that caters for your particular requirements, lifestyle, and budget.
These days you don’t have to make do with thick, unsightly lenses, even if you have a high optical prescription. Instead, modern high-index lenses are much thinner and lighter, making your glasses look better as well as being more comfortable to wear. Most lenses can also have special coatings applied which improve their appearance as well as enhance your vision.
Varifocals:
If you need both near and distance vision correction, then you are probably presbyopic – a condition which most people experience from their mid-40’s onwards. The traditional solution is to use bifocals, but these have a sudden change in focus and a visible line across the lens.
Varifocal lenses are an increasingly popular alternative. Because they have a gradual change in their optical power, there is no sudden jump between distance and reading vision. As a result, varifocal lenses give better middle-distance focus, thereby aiding vision when using a computer screen or viewing the speedometer of a car. They also look more attractive cosmetically without the dividing line of bifocals. We work with many different lens manufacturers allowing us to offer the latest Varifocal designs, as well as the highest quality lens Coatings.
Transitions:
If your sensitive to light or don’t want to switch from spectacles to sunglasses, then photochromic lenses are ideal. These lenses darken according to the amount of sunlight, so can be clear indoors and then dark in the sun. They also have a built in UV filter to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. We offer the latest Transitions lenses in traditional colours such as grey, brown & green, as well as newer colours such as amber, amethyst, emerald, sapphire. Additionally, we offer a range of mirrored Transition lenses with multiple colour options such as blue, gold, green and silver. You can also choose to go ‘extra dark’ and order Transitions XTRActive lenses. These lenses go even darker than standard Transitions in bright sunlight and work better behind the windscreen of a car. Please ask one of our Optometrists or Dispensers to explain the best options to fit your lifestyle.
Blue Light Filtering Lenses:
Blue light filtering lenses, or Crizal Prevencia, offer complete protection against the harmful effects of blue/violet light. UV and Blue/violet light are present everywhere, outdoors from sunlight and indoors from artificial light sources and electronic devices like phones, tablets, and computer screens.
Blue light coatings prevent the wearers eyes from harmful blue/violet light. Several years of research in collaboration with the Vision Institute in Paris, France, concentrating on cellular biology, physics and photometry has led to the identification of a precise spectrum of light wavelengths causing toxicity to retinal cells. Based on these results, blue light filtering lenses have been developed to help combat this. These lenses can also help to prevent eyestrain, fatigue and headaches that occur from increased screen usage. With a much higher proportion of people now working from home these lenses could make a big impact on your eyesight and comfortability while working.
Hi-index Lenses:
New ‘hi-index’ materials mean that your lenses can be made thinner, lighter and more attractive. This is particularly useful if you have a high optical prescription. No longer will you have to wear thick, heavy, unsightly lenses or have your frame choice restricted.
Road Pilot:
Road Pilot lenses offer high resolution vision across the entire surface of the lens. They reduce all aberrations, improve colour perception and significantly reduce Glare resulting in 90% less reflections from on-coming headlights.
Crizal Drive is a lens coating which is optimised specifically for driving, giving enhanced clarity and reduced reflections from headlights of oncoming vehicles. These lenses work especially well at night, reducing glare and enhancing visual comfort. The coating also has UV protection and a guaranteed scratch resistance.
Coatings:
Most lenses can have special coatings applied which enhance your vision and improve the appearance of your glasses. A scratch resistant coating will prolong the life of your lenses because it reduces scratching from general wear and tear.
Anti-Reflection Coatings:
An Anti-Reflection Coating provides sharper vision for the wearer because it virtually eliminates the reflections from the front and back surfaces of the lens. This gives improved clarity when watching television, using a computer, and when driving. These coatings also have a better cosmetic appearance due to the removal of the reflections on the lens. The other benefits from this coating are a UV filter, scratch resistance, and waterproof properties.
Sunglasses & Tints:
It is important to protect your eyes in bright sunlight – not only from glare, but also from harmful UV rays. Over exposure to UV light can damage your eyes as well as your skin. It may lead to cataracts, and can prematurely age the retina in your eye, causing reduced vision in later life. Our optical quality sunglasses will give you excellent protection against UV light. As a result, your eyesight in strong sunlight will not only be more comfortable, but also safer. It is particularly important to protect young eyes from the harmful effects of UV light.
If you already wear spectacles you needn’t miss out on stylish sunglasses. We offer a wide range of attractive designs which can be made up to your individual prescription. These include the latest designer frames, and can be made with single vision, bifocal, or varifocal lenses.
We may recommend Polarised lenses if you play sports such as sailing, skiing, golf, tennis, cycling and fishing due to the increased clarity and reduced glare that these lenses provide. Or we may recommend light sensitive lenses - these are fast acting lenses which alter the level of tint according to the level of sunlight. Alternatively, we may recommend Crizal Drive if you do a lot of driving, this is due to the ability of these lenses to reduce glare and reflections and improve clarity and comfort.
