Specialty Lenses

High Index (Thinner, and lighter materials)

High index lens materials are lighter in weight and thinner than their regular glass or plastic counterparts. If you have a strong prescription, you are no longer forced into unsightly Coke-bottle lenses. High index lenses are made of denser, compressed resins which change the index of refraction (the speed that light travels as it passes through the lens). The result is a flatter curve and less material in the center and on the edges.

Aspheric Lenses (Thinner, due to design)

Much like high index lenses, aspheric lenses are also thinner than regular plastic lenses. But the thinness is accomplished due to the lens design, not the lens material. Aspheric lenses use flatter curve variables in their design, and provide better optics than regular lenses. When combined with higher indexes, tremendous cosmetic benefits can be achieved.

Safety Lenses

The federal government also determines and regulates the use of safety lenses. When glass was the only lens material available, lenses were simply made thicker, and consequently heavier. When plastic lens materials became available, they too, were made thicker, from a minimum of 2.2mm to 3.0mm. These1989 standards still apply.

Polycarbonate (used for safety lenses and daily wear lenses)

When Polycarbonate was introduced to the lens industry, the government was forced to re-evaluate its standards. Polycarbonate had been used in everything from aircraft windows to bulletproof glass and was quickly approved as a safety lens, allowing its minimum thickness to drop, to 2.0mm.

Trivex (safety lenses, daily wear lenses)

Trivex, a recent entry in to the eyeglass lens market, is performing even better than polycarbonate. Trivex is crisper and clearer with better light transmission characteristics. It is also chemical resistant, blocks UV rays better, and is very impact resistant. When Trivex is used in safety eyewear it may be as thin as 2.0 mm thick. When Trivex is used in everyday eyewear, we can manufacture it as thin as 1.0 mm thick.

Anti-reflective Coatings

Anti-reflective coatings (also called AR coatings) were developed to give microscope and camera lenses better light transmission and crisper, clearer images. It is no wonder they were quickly adopted for use on eyeglass lenses. Better light transmission results in better vision through the lens. The reduction of annoying reflected light from the surface of the lens creates a noticeable decrease in glare and halos surrounding lights at night. AR coatings also result in a transparent cosmetic appearance.

The newest generations of AR coatings incorporate a hydrophobic layer which is highly scratch resistant and makes for easier cleaning.

Polarized Lenses

Polarized lenses are the ultimate sunglass lenses—they can be made in almost any prescription and can be put into almost any frame. A polarized sunglass lens contains a dark polarization filter sandwiched between two thin optical quality lenses. In addition to working like conventional sunglass lenses to make things darker, polarization has two major added benefits: eliminating reflected glare from surfaces such as windshields, water and snow, and providing built-in protection from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun.

Photochromatic Lenses

Transitions® lenses contain some of the most impressive technology in eyewear today. While clear indoors, these lenses automatically darken outside into sunglasses, in proportion to the sun’s brightness, while also providing protection from the harmful effects of UV radiation and glare.

Customized Progressive Lenses

Custom Progressives are the latest advancement in traditional bifocal lenses, containing prescriptions for short, intermediate and long distances. As technology has advanced, these lenses can now be customized to the specific needs of the user. This makes for a superior product with the following benefits:

• Pinpoint accuracy for the wearer.
• Increased peripheral clarity for more complex prescriptions.