Eyeglass Lens Treatments
Lens Options in Lombard, IL
You just had your eyes checked and your optometrist gave you a new vision prescription. Your next step is to purchase new eyeglasses! After you choose the perfect designer frames from our Lombard optical collection, we’ll make sure that your lenses are crafted in the correct power. Yet, there is also a variety of optional lens coatings to help perfect your vision.
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Lens treatments are either applied onto your lenses as an additive coating or built directly into the lenses. Depending upon which treatment you require, it will protect your eyes, increase visual comfort, and improve your vision under diverse conditions.
To help you make an educated decision, we’ve prepared the following explanation of different lens options available from our optometry office.
Anti-Reflective (AR) Coatings
Glare can be very disturbing and distracting, especially on a sunny day. Anti-reflective treatments can diminish glare and upgrade vision comfort. A thin, durable film of metal oxides is layered onto the front and back of your eyeglass lenses. The index of refraction is between air and glass, so the intensity of light that reflects off the outer and inner surface of this film is almost equal. Therefore, the reflections from both sides of your lenses cancel each other out.
Benefits of Anti-Glare Lens Treatments
These lens treatments will protect your night vision from the headlights of oncoming cars. Our Lombard optometrist may also advise you to choose anti-reflective coatings if you tend to squint while working at a computer in a bright office space. In addition, we often recommend AR for patients with astigmatism or a high vision prescription; your eyes will look more natural behind your glasses.
Polarized Sunglasses
Polarized sunglasses are particularly helpful for people who drive extensively or play outdoor sports regularly, such as skiing or boating. They will eliminate powerful glare from reflective surfaces, as well as protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. An alternative option is to apply a mirror coating, which causes other people to see their own reflection in your eyeglasses, instead of seeing your eyes.
Eliminate Back-Glare
Have you ever experienced back-glare? This problem is familiar to many of our Lombard patients who wear prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses. Essentially, light hits the back your lenses and bounces into your eyes. Not only is this phenomenon annoying, but it also reduces your vision quality. Anti-reflective coatings are a great solution to get rid of back-glare.
As an added bonus, most treatments to reduce glare are composed from a material that prevents spots on your eyeglass lenses, so they are easy to clean. Only use cleaning solutions approved for use with AR coatings.
UV Protection
Dangers of UV Rays
You’re probably aware of the dangers of UV sunrays to your skin, but what about your eyes? Next time you spread sunscreen over your body, it’s just as important to put a pair of sunglasses with UV protection over your eyes.
Exposure to hazardous ultraviolet sunrays increases your risk of cataracts, retinal damage, and many other age-related eye conditions. Although you cannot see UV rays, they are always present – even on a cloudy day.
Block 100% of UVA and UVB Rays
Eyeglass lenses and sunglasses with UV protection should block close to or exactly 100% of both types of ultraviolet rays. Anything less than that does not keep your eyes safe. This UV protection can either be applied as a lens treatment or built into your lenses.
Scratch-Resistant Coatings
Eyeglasses generally take a lot of abuse. Many people take them on and off without cleaning or storing them properly. Naturally, this leads to scratches!
A scratch-resistant coating will protect the life of your eyeglass lenses and prevent the nuisance of lines etched across your vision. Nowadays, some lenses come with this treatment built into the lens. However, if your lenses do not have it, then our Lombard optometrist advises coating both the outer and inner surface of your lenses with scratch-resistance. This lens option is particularly essential for kids!
Transition Lenses
Photochromic lenses darken progressively when they encounter UV light. This gives you the advantage of being able to move between indoor and outdoor spaces, without compromising on your clear vision. The progressive technology of Transition Lenses can be used with a range of lens materials, including polycarbonate and nylon.
Lens Tints
Looking to upgrade your sports game? Tinted lenses may be the ideal solution for your eyeglasses. Each hue, such as gray, yellow, amber, green, brown or rose, offers a unique set of benefits appropriate for a different environment. Tell us about your favorite activities, and we’ll recommend the best tinted lenses for your needs.
For more information about lens coatings and how they can work for you, please visit us in our convenient eye care clinic in Lombard, IL!