After your sight test, if you need spectacles, the optometrist (Clare or Jane) will recommend the type of glasses you need based on your prescription and vision. After that, it’s over to Francesca to help you decide on your new frames, go through the lens choices with you and get you measured up for your new glasses.
Here is a quick explanation to the different options that are available:
Single vision
Lenses in either a distance, reading or intermediate prescription. These lenses are included in the price of all of our frames.
Bifocals
Lenses that incorporate both distance and reading prescriptions. The reading prescription is in a defined ‘segment’ towards the bottom of the lens. There are many different options for bifocal lenses. For example, the reading segment can be rounded or ‘D’ shaped and these segments come in various sizes. There is such a thing as executive bifocals which is where the line goes all the way across the lens so the entire bottom of the lens is reading prescription. Francesca will take your measurements and talk with you about your lifestyle so she can suggest the best type of bifocal lens for you.
Varifocals
Lenses which incorporate a distance and reading prescription. The two prescriptions are blended in to give a corridor of clear vision at all distances. Unlike bifocals, there is no line and nobody could really tell if you’re wearing varifocals. There are thousands of types of varifocal lenses from many different manufacturers available on the market. We have grouped them and simplified this to three different types – Good, Better and Best. Francesca will go through the advantages and disadvantages of them for you and can help you decide which ones you want to order.
If you are a current varifocal wearer then Francesca can either match your new spectacles to the same type of lenses that you were wearing previously or suggest a close alternative. If you have experienced problems with your current varifocals then she will talk this through with you and can look at them to try to rectify your problem. Varifocals are dependent on exact measurements, so often they may just need a slight adjustment to alleviate your symptoms. If this does not help, she can then advise you of a different type of varifocal to try or advise you on the advantages of bifocals or of having separate pairs for distance and reading instead.
Thinner lenses
Thinner lenses will be advised depending on your prescription and frame choice. The higher your prescription and the wider your frames, the thicker the lenses will be. Thinner lenses will make the overall appearance of your glasses much better and will also decrease the weight of them. Reducing the weight of your glasses can help alleviate headaches and also give you a wider choice of frames. There are different grades of thinner lenses so you have a choice how much you would like to thin your lenses down. Francesca will advise which level of thinner lens is the most appropriate for your individual requirements, based on your frame choice and prescription. Most of our thinner lenses come with the anti-reflection coating as standard.
Anti reflection coating
This coating is also known as anti-glare. It is a multi layered coating which reduces annoying reflections and makes lenses more cosmetically pleasing. This lens option will benefit almost everybody. It reduces reflections from the front and back surface of the spectacle lens. The benefit for you is that it cuts down glare from the lenses especially with screen work and night driving and makes your vision as comfortable as possible. It also improves the appearance of the lens and makes the glasses look as good as possible.
Photochromic
Adaptive lenses that react to light, whilst offering full UV protection at all times. These will go darker with UV light and turn into sunglasses. This means that they are clear whilst inside and get darker when outside in the sun. The advantages of these lenses are that you do not need a separate pair of prescription sunglasses and you do not need to swap between two pairs. They have a few limitations – the main one being they do not perform as well as a pair of sunglasses when you are driving. Francesca will be able to advise you on all the advantages, limitations and whether these lenses are suitable for your needs. Available in single vision, bifocal and varifocal options in either brown and grey – although they are newly available in some lens options in green. At Pearce and Bowler Opticians we only use genuine Transitions lenses as we believe these are the best available and offer the very best value for money.