How to Choose the Best Eyeglass Lenses | Eyebuydirect (2024)

Reviewed by : Dr. Matthew Miller, OD on May 19th, 2022

Possibly the most important part of the eyewear buying process is choosing the right lenses. The lens material and lens coating contribute to how well you see and how happy you are with your eyeglasses. With so many options available on the market today, it can be difficult to decide which type of eyeglass lens is best for you.

This guide to eyeglass lenses will help you better understand what lens treatment options are available to you and help you choose the best option for your lifestyle.

How to Choose the Best Eyeglass Lenses | Eyebuydirect (1)

The Right Eyeglasses Lenses for Your Visual Needs

Before focusing on eyeglass lens material and special coatings, you must determine which prescription eyeglass lenses will best correct your vision. Depending on your visual needs, you may need either single-vision or multifocal lenses.

Single-Vision Distance

Many people can sufficiently correct their distance or near vision with single-vision lenses.

If you are nearsighted — which means you see clearly up close while distant vision is blurry — you will likely need a single-vision lens to correct your vision. Single-vision prescriptions for people with nearsightedness begin with a (-) in front of the number. Your eyeglass lens will be concave, or curve inward, to correct your distance vision properly.

Single-Vision Reading

Reading lenses are designed to help you see things up close — typically between 30 cm and 40 cm (11.8 to 15.8 inches) from the face. They are appropriate for people with farsightedness, which means your distance vision is clear while your near vision is blurry.

Prescriptions that improve near vision begin with a (+) and are followed by a number. The lenses are convex, or curve outward, to properly correct farsightedness.

Progressive Lenses

If you have difficulty seeing at near and far distances, you may need progressive, bifocal, or trifocal lenses (also called multifocal lenses). These prescription eyeglass lenses correct your vision at near, intermediate, and far distances.

Progressive Lenses are designed to seamlessly incorporate distance, middle, and near vision correction. Because a progressive lens is created specifically for you, they can correct any prescription combination without the visible horizontal line seen with bifocals.

While progressives can take some time to get used to, many people prefer them because they provide clear vision at all distances without any “image jumps” — all with a more youthful look. And once you’re accustomed to them, progressives are often more comfortable than other types of multifocal lenses.

How to Choose the Best Eyeglass Lenses | Eyebuydirect (2) Progressive Lenses

Bifocal Lenses

Bifocal lenses are multifocal lenses that correct both near and long-distance vision. This is achieved by combining two prescriptions into a single lens. The upper part of the lens is designed to correct distance vision, while the bottom portion is meant to correct up-close vision.

These lenses are an excellent choice for people who need both distance correction and reading glasses. With bifocals, you no longer need to carry two pairs of glasses wherever you go. They’re also a good option for people who aren’t able to adapt to progressive lenses.

How to Choose the Best Eyeglass Lenses | Eyebuydirect (3) Bifocal Lenses

Lens Coatings, Tints & Other Options

Special types of lens coating can enhance your optical lens by helping you look better and see better. To better understand the options available to you, we’ve listed some of the coatings available on our site and what they can do for you.

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Anti-Scratch Coating

Anti-scratch coating defends your lenses against scratches from everyday wear and tear, and helps reinforce them against accidental drops. While this coating is useful for any prescription lens, it’s especially important to have on safety glasses and goggles worn in certain professions.

Because anti-scratch coating is so important for lenses, Eyebuydirect includes it for free with all of our glasses.

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Anti-Reflective Coating

Anti-reflective (AR) coating is another must-have for eyeglass lenses. It helps you see better by reducing glare, halos around lights, and reflections on the back of your lenses. This comes in especially handy when driving at night or viewing a digital screen.

It also makes your lenses look better by reducing the amount of light reflected off the front of the lens. This essentially makes lenses invisible, which improves their appearance in photographs, on video calls, and in person.

Anti-reflective coating is especially important for people with high-index lenses, as these lenses have a higher refractive index. An increased refractive index means the prescription lens will reflect up to 50% more light than a standard lens. This results in more glare unless the lenses have AR coating.

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Light-Adjusting Lens Technology

This built-in technology changes the tint of your lenses depending on the amount of UV light they are exposed to. They darken outside and become clear inside. This helps protect the wearer's eyes from harmful UV rays and direct sunlight, which provides clearer, safer vision.

While this coating cannot be added to sunglass lenses, nearly all new eyeglass lens materials and designs can be created with light-adjusting lens technology built in.

We offer premium Transitions™ lenses and basic photochromic lenses — both of which are excellent options for those seeking light-adjusting lenses.

People who switch from indoor to outdoor environments frequently will benefit from photochromic lenses. Transitions™ lenses offer the same amount of protection as sunglasses, while also providing exceptional indoor clarity within a single pair of glasses.

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Color Tint

Whether the goal is extra visual clarity, or simply to add some personality to your lenses, a color tint coating can make it happen. Many people choose to add a hint of color to their lenses to help them see better, or to add some flair to their eyewear.

We offer over ten colors and three intensities for you to choose from, giving you plenty of options. Keep in mind that color tints cannot be added to polarized or photochromic lenses.

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Gradient Tint

A gradient-tint lens coating is an excellent choice for sunwear. These lenses have a dark tint at the top of the lens that lightens progressively as it goes toward the bottom. The resulting lens gives the wearer plenty of sun protection, as well as privacy, but offers varying degrees of incoming light.

If you’re looking for sun protection, but are uncomfortable with uniformly dark sunglasses, consider a gradient tint coating instead. It’s important to note that gradient tints are only applicable to lenses for a frame height greater than 36 millimeters.

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Polarized Lenses

Polarization reduces the glare reflected from certain surfaces, like water, snow and roads. This glare can be distracting and potentially dangerous, which is where polarized lenses come in handy.

The glare reduction properties of polarized lenses provide improved visual comfort for people who have light sensitivity or increased exposure to bright light. This makes them a great choice for avid travelers, water and snow sports enthusiasts, and people recovering from cataract surgery.

Eyebuydirect’s polarized lenses come in standard dark green, dark brown, or dark gray tints, so you have options for the look of your lenses.

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Mirrored Tint

Mirrored lenses are a functional and fashionable option to give your sunglasses a little extra flash. This reflective coating comes in gold, silver and blue.

Take a look at mirrored tints if you’re in search of a more mysterious style. Athletes should also consider these coatings, since mirrored tints are highly sought after in sports and performance sunglasses.

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Water-Repellent Coating

All eyeglass wearers dread getting rain or water on their eyeglasses. Droplets can leave behind smudges and dirt on your lenses, and cleaning them properly can be a hassle — especially in rainy weather.

Water-repellent coatings keep water droplets, dirt, and smudges off your lenses, which helps to maintain their cleanliness and reduces the need for you to clean them regularly. Lenses with this premium coating stay crystal-clear up to twice as long as your normal eyeglass lenses.

If you find yourself having to clean your lenses often, we recommend looking into this lens coating to help keep your lenses as clear as possible!

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UV-Protective Coating

Exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays is associated with many age-related eye problems, such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Because of this, doctors encourage people to protect their eyes from UV radiation.

UV-protective coating is important to have on your eyeglass and sunglass lenses. By deflecting harmful UV rays from the sun, this invisible UV-protective coating works like sunscreen for your eyes.

Blue Light Filter Coating

Blue light glasses are popular for good reason — we spend a huge portion of our days looking at screens. On average, people check their smartphones every 6.5 minutes, and 55.5% of employed Americans work with a computer every day.

The biggest source of potential harm from digital screens is blue light, which may cause eye strain and eye fatigue after excessive exposure.

Extended use of digital devices may contribute to eye strain and dryness, headaches, an inability to maintain focus, and long-term wear on your vision. These symptoms may be especially devastating for kids as they are at greater risk for long-term damage than adults.

To help protect you from eye strain, we offer blue light filtering glasses, including EBDBlue Plus and SightRelax. Both are designed to protect your eyes against the potentially harmful blue-violet light emitted by digital screens, and are also designed to be scratch-resistant, UV-protective and anti-reflective.

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Lens Index Options

The index of your lens, also referred to as the index of refraction or “refractive index,” is a number that indicates how the eyeglass lens material bends, or refracts, light. The higher the refractive index of a lens, the more slowly light moves through it, and the more the light bends. Higher-index lenses are typically thinner and will perform the same as a thick set of standard low-index lenses.

Additionally, higher-index lenses are able to handle higher prescriptions. If you have a particularly strong prescription, a lens with a higher index may be a better choice for you. Eyebuydirect offers lenses with an index up to 1.74.

When choosing your lens index, it will help to have your vision prescription ready so you can check your SPH (sphere) and CYL (cylinder) values. The farther your SPH and CYL values are from zero, the stronger your prescription and the higher-index lens you may need.

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    1.5 Index — Standard Lens

    If you are looking for an economical option for your lenses and have a weaker prescription, standard plastic lenses may be right for you. These single-vision lenses are the most basic option we offer and come free with all Eyebuydirect frames.

    This index is most suitable for prescriptions with an SPH correction of +/-2.25 and below, and/or a CYL correction of +/-2.00 and below.

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    1.57 Index – Thin and Light Lens

    For people with somewhat stronger prescriptions, these lenses may be a better choice than the standard lenses. This thinner, lighter lens is stronger than its 1.5-index counterpart. They can handle SPH corrections between +/-2.50 and +/-5.00, and CYL corrections of +/-3.00 and below.

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    1.59 Index – Polycarbonate Lens

    Polycarbonate lenses are the most durable and impact-resistant lenses we offer, and they come with a 100% UV-protective coating.

    If you are looking for glasses for children, or tend to spend your time outside, we strongly recommend polycarbonate lenses. They are tough enough to hold up against the wear and tear kids usually inflict on their eyeglasses.

    The 1.59-index lenses are suitable for SPH corrections ranging from +/-4.25 to +/-6.75, and CYL corrections between +/-2.25 and +/-3.00.

    Interested in our polycarbonate lenses? UV protection is built right in!

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    1.6 Index – Super-Thin Lens

    These stylish, super-thin lenses are an excellent choice for people with strong prescriptions or particularly thin frames. Like 1.59-index polycarbonate lenses, these lenses are suited to people with SPH corrections between +/-4.25 and +/-6.75, and CYL corrections between +/-2.25 and +/-3.00.

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    1.67 Index – Ultra-Thin Lens

    These thin, lightweight lenses ensure your eyes do not look distorted from a higher prescription. If you have a particularly strong prescription, this is likely the best choice for you. We typically recommend these lenses for people with SPH corrections between +/-7.00 and +/-9.00, and CYL corrections between +/-3.25 and +/-4.00.

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    1.74 Index – As-Thin-as-Possible Lens

    Our thinnest corrective lens is designed for the highest-powered prescriptions. They can provide a powerful vision prescription in a thin lens, reducing the “co*ke bottle” appearance you often get with high-prescription lenses. These are best for prescriptions with SPH corrections of +/-9.25 and above, and CYL corrections between +/-4.25 and +/-6.00.

Which Type of Eyeglass Lens Is Best for Me?

Your vision is critical to your everyday life, which is why you need corrective lenses that provide improved visual comfort and clarity. With the help of these guidelines, you can make an educated decision on the type of lenses that will best suit you and your lifestyle.

Still not sure what lenses you need? In a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor will make sure your eyes are healthy and determine your current eyeglasses prescription. You’ll also have a chance to speak with an eye care provider about what lenses best suit your vision needs.

Visit Eyebuydirect’s vast catalog of glasses and look at our variety of lens options today!

Shop Eyeglasses

How to Choose the Best Eyeglass Lenses | Eyebuydirect (2024)

FAQs

How to Choose the Best Eyeglass Lenses | Eyebuydirect? ›

Your type of vision problem will determine the shape of your lens. You'll need a concave lens (curves inward) if you're nearsighted. A convex lens (curves outward) will help if you're farsighted. If you have astigmatism, your cornea is shaped wrong, so your lenses may be more like a cylinder.

How do I choose the right lens for my glasses? ›

Your type of vision problem will determine the shape of your lens. You'll need a concave lens (curves inward) if you're nearsighted. A convex lens (curves outward) will help if you're farsighted. If you have astigmatism, your cornea is shaped wrong, so your lenses may be more like a cylinder.

Is there a big difference between 1.67 and 1.74 high index lenses? ›

1.74 high-index lenses are up to 10% thinner than 1.67 high-index lenses. Both have a high index of refraction and can accommodate strong prescriptions, but 1.74 high-index lenses are for especially strong ones: +/-8.00 or higher.

How do I get the most accurate eyeglass prescription? ›

5 Tips for Getting the Best Eye Exam from your Eye Doctor
  1. Visit your optometrist…in-person. ...
  2. Ask for trial frames or lenses. ...
  3. Push to fine-tune acuity (not just RX power) ...
  4. Communicate with your doctor. ...
  5. Learn more about your prescription.

What type of lens do most doctors recommend? ›

Single vision lenses are the most common lenses used to correct your vision. These lenses are tailored-made to match your prescription and correct eye conditions such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

Are digital lenses better? ›

Sharper image quality, stronger peripheral vision, and improved contrast sensitivity are all advantages of digital lenses.

Is anti reflective coating worth it? ›

Anti-reflective lenses are very worth it, especially if you deal with a lot of glare from digital or LED screens, as well as glare from oncoming headlights when driving at night on a road trip. They also help you see better, look better, and feel better than going without uncoated lenses.

Is it worth getting thinner lenses? ›

What lens thickness should I choose? If you're moderately, or very short-sighted you'll benefit from thinner lenses as the edge thickness of your lenses will be more visible. Lenses with a refractive index of 1.6 are ideal for prescriptions where the – value of your SPH prescription is between -2.50 and -4.00.

Which index of lenses should I get? ›

Regular plastic lenses have a refractive index of 1.50. This index is adequate for correcting mild to moderate refractive errors, but is not as effective for the correction of higher refractive errors. A high-index lens may be recommended if your optical prescription is above 2.00 diopters.

Are premium progressive lenses worth it? ›

premium progressive lenses? If the price is a factor, opt for standard progressive lenses. However, if you have a complicated prescription or need customized lenses, premium progressive lenses are the better option. Either way, the new glasses will help get your vision back on track.

How much are Costco HD progressive lenses? ›

How Much Does It Cost To Replace Lenses at Costco?
Lens PricesSingle VisionProgressive
RX-able.com$28/pair$58/pair
Costco$91/pair$160/pair
*In most cases, Rx-able.com edges new lenses in your frame within 24 hours of receiving your frame.
Dec 2, 2020

What size frame is best for progressive lenses? ›

“The ideal lens height or frame depth that's required to experience clear and comfortable vision is at least 28mm,” Chua says.

How do you choose glasses that make you look younger? ›

Generally, warm-colored frames can make you appear younger. Warm tones suit most faces, especially browns, burgundies, berry tones, and jewel tones. Of course, you should choose a color that suits your skin tone. It can also be helpful to choose shinier materials to give your eyes an extra sparkle.

Should eyeglasses cover eyebrows? ›

As a rule, at least the top half of your eyebrows should be visible. Your glasses shouldn't cover them completely, nor should they show them so much that your eyebrows look like they're floating on top of your frame.

How do you know if your glasses are too big for your face? ›

Glasses that are too big will feel like they're slipping off of your face and ears. They'll often be too wide for your face, with the lenses extending too far past the sides. If your eyes look a bit too close together (or close to the glasses bridge), that's another signal that your glasses might be too big.

Which eye lens is better for cataract? ›

Which lens is right for me? That depends on your needs. If you're comfortable wearing glasses after cataract surgery, a monofocal lens may be the right choice. If you want to avoid wearing distance glasses after cataract surgery and have astigmatism, a toric lens might be appropriate.

What are most common lens prescription? ›

Single vision lenses are the most common type of lenses prescribed by optometrists. These types of lenses can help a patient see one distance, either near, intermediate or at a distance. If you only need help while reading or at a distance, this is the right type of lens for you.

Are premium cataract lenses worth it? ›

Selecting a premium cataract lens can provide you with sight closest to your natural eyesight. This is especially true when compared to traditional monofocal intraocular lenses. Premium IOLs allow you to participate in all activities without visual limitations.

What should progressive lenses cost? ›

Average cost of progressive lenses

Compared to the slightly lower cost of bifocal lenses, the average consumer pays between $150 and $250 for their progressive lenses. For this price range, you should be able to purchase a decent set of progressive lenses.

Is there a difference in quality of eyeglass lenses? ›

Certain lens materials have better optical characteristics than others. The materials can be different in refractive index, specific gravity, Abbe number (constringence), etc. These variable properties can make lenses differ in optical aberration, weight, or even make a lens thicker or thinner than another.

What are the disadvantages of anti-reflective coating? ›

1) The thin layer of anti-reflective coating on the lenses can get scratched or worn down over time, which makes it harder for you to see clearly and, in turn, affects your vision. 2) They don't prevent all glare and light from reaching your eyes, so it may cause you to have eye strain or headaches.

What are the disadvantages of anti-reflective glass? ›

Cons of Anti-Glare Glasses
  • Any scratches on the lens can reduce visual acuity.
  • Some are prone to scratches or peels if not handled with care.
  • Dirt is visible due to the absence of glare.
  • Cannot be repaired (replacement only)
  • Thin lenses get worn out over time.
  • The anti-reflective coating may wear off over time.
Feb 10, 2023

What is better anti-glare or anti-reflective? ›

Anti-reflective vs Anti Glare

In short: anti glare coatings will protect against external light sources entering the glasses, while anti-reflective coatings will protect against both internal and external light.

Are expensive lenses better? ›

Cheaper lenses will give you the clarity of vision you require, but more expensive ones will give you a more distinctive pair of glasses, with personalized features. Customized features like lens color, anti-reflective coating, scratch-resistant, polarized, photochromic, etc. are the components of higher price.

Are upgraded lenses worth it? ›

Upgrading will also enhance the clarity of your lenses and virtually eliminate the reflections that you and others would otherwise see in your lenses. Anti-reflection coating reduces eye strain by allowing virtually 100% of available light to reach your eyes.

What are the thinnest lenses for high prescription glasses? ›

What are the Thinnest Lenses for High Prescription Glasses? 1.74 index lenses are the thinnest lenses for high prescriptions available. These ultra-light, ultra-sleek lenses are the thinnest kind developed yet, and accommodate the highest prescriptions possible.

Should I get mid or high index lenses? ›

While anyone can wear high index lenses, they're usually recommended for someone who has a very strong vision prescription since, typically, a stronger prescription means a thicker traditional lens.

Is anti fog coating worth it? ›

Anti-fog products can be very effective and are already commonly used by many different types of occupations, including professional athletes, the military, and motorcyclists who rely on their vision being clear and not distorted.

Does Costco have high index lenses? ›

Stunning Variety of Frames and Lens Options

We have a wide selection of trendy and attractive frame styles suitable for high index lenses. You can choose from square, round, rectangle, oval, hipster and cat eye frame styles and square, round, oval and heart face shapes.

What is the best shape for progressive lenses? ›

Lens shape is important, too. Progressive wearers should avoid aviators and cat-eyes because both can cut off the bottom portion of the prescription, resulting in a loss of reading vision. Instead, they should look for shorter frames with rounded edges such as horn-rimmed, retro wingtip, circular, and oval ones.

What is the difference between progressives and premium progressives? ›

There are two types of progressive lenses, standard and premium. While one is as the name implies standard, the other is really your best option. That's because premium progressive lenses are customized to your eyes and offer a wider viewing area than standard ones.

Why are my progressive lenses so expensive? ›

Progressive lenses are significantly more expensive than single or multi-focal glasses because of the extra time that goes into creating a lens with multiple prescriptions and no lines.

Is LensCrafters better than Costco? ›

Generally, Costco Optical will offer you a better price than LensCrafters when you buy glasses or contact lenses. However, depending on what your vision insurance plan covers, you may be less satisfied overall with the quality of the product.

What brand are Costco progressive lenses? ›

Our Kirkland Signature HD progressive lenses use the latest in lens manufacturing technology to deliver high definition vision at any distance. With sharper vision in all conditions members purchasing Kirkland Signature HD lenses will receive an unprecedented degree of customization.

Who makes Kirkland progressive lenses? ›

Essilor Varilux has 5 different progressive lenses.

Are taller lenses better for progressives? ›

If you're still wondering, 'Are bigger lenses better for progressive lenses? ', the answer is yes. Here's why: Bigger lenses ensure you have ample coverage for each prescription.

Are progressive lenses thicker? ›

Progressive lenses, which are thinner and lighter, require a higher degree of expertise and technology than single-vision lenses or bifocals, making them more expensive. They usually have a smoother transition, which makes them cost more, too.

What color of eyeglass frames to pick? ›

Matching glasses frames colour to eye colour

For a subdued and understated look, choose frames in a colour that match with the neutral tones in your eyes, such as brown, beige, or black. If you want to channel a fun, statement-making look, choose a colour that's contrasting but complementary to your eye colour.

What color of glasses go with gray hair? ›

Shades like gold, brown, and red can complement greying hair and give a vibrant pop of colour to your face. Another option is to choose glasses with transparent frames or pastel frames, which have a softer, more delicate look.

What color glasses look best with gray? ›

Opposites attract! Grey hair with darker frames offers a nice contrast, regardless of whether you choose black, burgundy, blue, or purple. You can have a lot of fun here, especially if your original hair color prevented you from wearing warmer tones in the past.

What shape should eyebrows be for eyeglasses? ›

Tip #1: Your frames should flow with the shape of your eyebrows. Choose frames that flow with the shape of your eyebrows. If you have thin, arched eyebrows, square-shaped frames are probably not a good idea. You want the eyebrows to be parallel to the top of the frames when it comes to the position of your eyebrows.

Are glasses with nose pads better? ›

Benefits of glasses with nose pads

Glasses with nose pads reduce the load on the bridge of the nose and make them more comfortable to wear. In addition, glasses with nose pads can have a non-slip effect, especially for people with a low nose bridge.

Should you wear eye makeup with glasses? ›

A smoky eye? Glasses and cosmetics can both be a means for outwardly expressing your personality, but there's a common misconception that the two don't mix. Don't worry—that's simply not the case. In fact, there's no reason your makeup routine needs to change just because you wear glasses.

Where should your eyes sit in glasses? ›

Eye position

Horizontally, each eye should be centered in the lens up to 5mm inside of lens center–never outside of center. Vertically, if you imagine the lens in four equal sections, your eyes should be in the 25% segment just above center-never below center and never in the top 25%.

Where should your glasses sit on your face? ›

A good pair of glasses should rest comfortably on the bridge of your nose and not press against your brow or cheeks. However, they shouldn't be so close to the tip of your nose that they slip when you wrinkle your nose or squint.

What are the 3 types of eye lenses? ›

What are the different types of eyeglass lenses?
  • Concave lenses. These are thinnest in the center. ...
  • Convex lenses. These lenses are thickest in the center, like a magnifying glass. ...
  • Cylindrical lenses. These curve more in one direction than in the other.

How do I know if my lenses will fit in a frame? ›

Your glasses frame width should align with your face's width at its temples. In other words, your frames should not extend too far past the sides of your face. If you're wearing a frame that's too wide for you, your eyes won't be centered in the middle of the lenses.

Do glasses lenses fit all frames? ›

Generally, any lens can fit into any frame. However, opticians must take into consideration the prescription they are working with as this will help them to determine how thick or thin the lenses can be. It will also help them to determine the design of the lens they will need to use.

What lens is used to correct astigmatism? ›

Soft contact lens: Toric lenses are a specific type of soft contacts used to treat astigmatism. The lenses are weighted to ensure they remain aligned properly. They also have varying powers in different meridians (the imaginary perpendicular lines in your eye) to help correct your vision.

What kind of lens is used for astigmatism? ›

Do You Need Special Glasses for Astigmatism? You'll need prescription glasses with cylindrical or spherocylindrical lenses, which are different from the lenses found in single-vision glasses that only correct for nearsightedness and farsightedness.

What is the latest technology in eyeglass lenses? ›

The latest technology in lenses is digitally surfaced lenses. This involves customizing each lens for your visual needs. These digitally surfaced lenses provide crisp and sharp vision.

Should eyebrows show above glasses? ›

However, for everyday frames, your eyebrows should typically show slightly from above your glasses. As a rule, at least the top half of your eyebrows should be visible. Your glasses shouldn't cover them completely, nor should they show them so much that your eyebrows look like they're floating on top of your frame.

Are glasses with nose pads better than without? ›

If your nose is sensitive to weight or the bridge of your nose is lower, you should choose glasses with nose pads. If you are particularly looking for beauty and don't want any marks on your face, then choose glasses without nose pads. In fact, it is hard to say which one is better between nose pads and no nose pads.

Where should eyeglasses sit on your nose? ›

A good pair of glasses should rest comfortably on the bridge of your nose and not press against your brow or cheeks. However, they shouldn't be so close to the tip of your nose that they slip when you wrinkle your nose or squint.

What is the most common lens type? ›

A 50mm prime lens is often called a nifty-fifty. It gets its nickname from being one of the more versatile and reliable lens types. They're popular in many areas of photography. This is also why they're one of the most common lenses you'll find.

What are the two main types of lenses used in eyeglasses? ›

Lenses may be divided broadly into two main types: convex and concave. Lenses that are thicker at their centers than at their edges are convex, while those that are thicker around their edges are concave. A light beam passing through a convex lens is focused by the lens on a point on the other side of the lens.

What are the two most common types of lenses? ›

The lens classification depends on how the light rays bend when they pass through the lens. The two main types of lenses are: Convex Lens (Converging) Concave Lens (Diverging)

Can I keep my same frames and get new lenses? ›

Fortunately, you can typically continue to use your existing frames when you get new lenses, provided that the frames are in good condition and aren't too complicated in shape. If they're damaged or worn out, then you'll need to get a new pair of frames along with the new lenses.

Can I reuse my lenses if I buy exactly the same frame? ›

A sturdy optical frame should last the life of the lenses, and beyond. Hence it is often quite reasonable to reuse your frames for your new prescription lenses. Your optical frame also determines the size of your new lenses.

Does anywhere put new lenses in old frames? ›

Typically, optical shops will replace the lenses for you if your frames are in good condition and the shape of the lenses isn't too complicated. Other options include online retailers Lensabl and EyeglassX, which specialize in prescription lenses for existing glasses.

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