Posts Tagged ‘Photochromic lenses’

Life Changing thanks to Light Changing!

Monday, June 27th, 2011

We’ve had a super sunny spring and hopefully an equally bright summer, and sales are already soaring this year for sunspecs and photochromic lenses. As we’re all more aware of the dangers of UV our increasingly active lifestyles demand sun protection for our health as well as our comfort. Photochromic lenses alter depending on light conditions, to give you the protection you need, when you want it. So are they right for you?

In different formats, photochromic lenses have been around for many years, from the earliest glass lenses, to the sophisticated plastics we use today. The lenses work thanks to crystals within the material which change colour as UV, and to a certain extent general light, stimulate them. The first versions were an interesting colour, in a ginger brown, or blue grey, then as we progressed we had green and true blue. These versions could be further enhanced with some amount of constant tint so they never went totally clear.

The first plastic photochromics were a huge step forward for safety and comfort for wearers, but oddly started off a weird shade of brown and then went sort of blue! They also had a fairly short life span, as they lost their reacting capabilities over time. Thankfully, several generations of lens on, we now have fast, effective light changing lenses that give UV protection and work brilliantly at cutting glare. You can have them in every lens format, from single vision to varifocal, and they have an excellent colour range, showing barely any residual colour indoors, to swiftly going as dark as the best sunnies when you step outside.

They will suit you if you have a busy lifestyle, and are constantly on the go, dashing in and out of the car, sightseeing on holiday. You don’t have to carry clear and tinted specs everywhere with you, and you don’t have to worry if you’re out late on the roads – patients have been caught out when they find themselves needing to drive home at night and they only have sunglasses with them. You can add an anti-reflection layer for extra safety at night, and all versions come with a scratch resistant, hard layer as standard.

Varifocal lenses

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The Dark Side!

Monday, April 18th, 2011

The beautiful sunshine we’ve been enjoying through the spring makes our thoughts turn to long summer evenings, the scent of mown grass and barbeques, and for many of you, the excitement of new sunglasses! There are several options for you to choose from to make your sight clearer and more comfortable in bright conditions. So let us guide you through the choices to help you make the most of those shimmering sunny days……

If you don’t need glasses for distance vision, you can take your pick of any shape of style of sunspec, with a light or dark tint, depending on your needs. Make sure the lens is large enough to stop the sun form peeking in round the edges of the lenses, and look through them into sunlight (although not directly at the sun) to see if you feel they are dark enough. Practice a smile and a yawn to make sure they don’t sit on your cheeks, and also check the lens specifications that they give 100% UV protection. Then it’s just a matter of your individual style and you’re good to go!

If you need a distance prescription, for driving and walking around, you need sunglasses made for you with your lens power built in. You may prefer a static tint, which stays the same colour in any conditions, or a photochromic lens, which changes colour depending on the available light.

A static tint is good if you want a traditional looking sunspec, they can be as dark as you need, and give plenty of sun protection and style! Photochromic lenses don’t go dark enough for some clients, and don’t go to their full strength behind the windscreen, but they are good if you don’t need a very dark tint, and you’re in and out of doors during the course of the day.

People find that grey, green-grey or brown lenses are the most effective. The first two options give the most natural and neutral colour for day to day wear. Brown doesn’t give such a true picture of the world but it warms up cold skies nicely! Try a few colours to see which suits your complexion, your frame, and your vision the best.

Take a little time to consider your lifestyle before you invest in your specs this summer, and you’ll get the best out of your glasses and the sunshine!

Varifocal Glasses

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Age Old Advice

Sunday, October 24th, 2010

If you’re at that awkward age when you’re suddenly mothering your own mother or taking on responsibility for an elderly relative, you may need some pointers as to how to help them enjoy happy twilight years with the healthiest possible sight. As with any other aspect of our lives, there are specific issues which affect the elderly when it comes to their glasses and their vision.

An eye examination is about more than the need for specs, so make sure you arrange regular check ups. Most opticians do home visits if the client is housebound. Generally the test should be every two years, or more often for Diabetics, Glaucoma sufferers, or for patients with early signs or symptoms of other eye diseases. Glasses can then be updated, and the optician needs to discuss the patient’s visual needs. For example – if they are housebound and their standard of vision is poor, then they won’t need a tint or Photochromic lenses. Clear lenses will maximise their sight and be safer in low light conditions. Or the patient may tell us they don’t need bifocals any more because they don’t read, but if they don’t have bifocals, will they see to cut their food up or take their medication? Needs may alter with age and the optician should take this into account when helping you and the patient to make a decision.

When you have the prescription you can get glasses made up anywhere, and choosing a frame and lenses online might be easier and cheaper. A spare pair is also useful, especially in residential care where specs can be mislaid. Stronger reading lenses may also be useful to maximise sight for close work, and again this may be an economical purchase over the internet.

Light is also of vital importance – a forty year old eye needs twice as much light as a twenty year old, a sixty year old three times as much. So even the most up to date glasses need good illumination to do the job. While natural light is always best, direct light from a reading lamp will help during the evening.

If sight problems go beyond help from specs, then referral to a Low Vision Aid Clinic or the Ophthalmologist for clinical procedures may be necessary. Some patients are wary of this kind of help and may be reluctant to go through with further treatments, but the end results may significantly improve their quality of life, so gentle encouragement is always worthwhile.

Glasses Online

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Don’t be Short Sighted!

Thursday, September 30th, 2010

Of all the corrections that we see for the under forties, myopic, or short sighted eye defects are the most common. If you’re myopic, you’ll see very clearly close too, but far distance will be blurry. How close up you can see depends on how short sighted you are! There are different issues for patients regarding their different eye problems. Here are some of the FAQ’s we get about glasses and lenses for short sighted people.

I heard that my short sightedness is a risk factor for detached retinas. Is that true? The problem with being short sighted is that your eyeball is too long. Your retina lines the back of the eye, and in trying to fit the elongated eye it can weaken and tear. You are at a higher risk, although a detachment can happen to anyone. The important thing is to be aware of the symptoms – sudden appearance of floaters, flashing lights, or loss of vision. Seek medical help at once, and then the chance of a small tear turning into a detachment is much reduced.

I’m twenty two and I’ve been getting more short sighted since my teens. Will it ever stop?! The good news is that usually by the mid-twenties the progression of myopia slows down. It’s hard to generalise and if you’re at the higher end of the scale the changes may go on a little longer, but it will stop at some point! As you get older you’ll get a little more long sighted, so your lens power will neutralise a little. The other good news is that you’ll need reading glasses much later than if you weren’t myopic!

I’m very short sighted and my Optician says I can’t have Photochromic lenses because they’ll look dark around the edges? Really?!

Photochromics work thanks to crystals in the lens material that go dark in the light. As your lenses are thicker at the edge than in the centre, you’ll have more crystals there, so the edges will appear darker. How noticeable this is depends on your lens power, the size of the frame, and the type of Photochromic lens. There are specific photochromics that are designed to get round this problem, or you could opt for prescription sunglasses that have a fixed tint.

Prescription varifocal glasses online

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Road Test – Photochromic Lenses (Reactions)

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Ever since I’ve had prescription glasses, I’ve carried two pairs of specs around with me. I’ve got a metal clear lens pair and a funky huge plastic frame with dark lenses in it as my sunglasses. Making an attempt to travel light on a sightseeing weekend trip to Paris, I decided to have a try with some lenses which go dark in the sun.

When the spex arrived I was pleased with the look of the tint. I chose a thick rimmed burgundy metal frame, with grey lenses. They’re supposed to be nearly clear in the dark, and sunglass tinted in the sun. They look like there’s no colour there in the evening, and I was pleased that the frames look good without the tint. They are also anti-scratch, but I’ll still be careful with them and they look very shiny and new at the moment!

The next day I wore them to drive to work, but they didn’t go very dark behind the windscreen. I had been warned about this, so I thought I’d keep my sunglass tinted specs in the car from now on. When I went out in my lunch hour, they went super dark and I really found the tint effective. I liked the look of the lenses when they were dark in the frame, and found the lens just as good as my sunspec tint.

So I took them on my trip to Paris, and the best thing was being able to nip in and out of shops – and the museums of course! – Without constantly changing my glasses around. Out in the sunshine the tint was perfect, and plenty dark enough. The colour was nice and it didn’t alter the way I saw colours of flowers etc. I also found it soothing to wear.

After a month of wearing the photochromic lenses, I’ve found that I’ve rarely had to dig out the prescription sunglasses that I thought I would need for driving. The photochromic lenses work more efficiently now and they are fine for all but the very brightest days. I’m really pleased, and I’ve got more room in my handbag!

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A Little Extra

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

When you order specs, from the High Street or the online optician, there are some extra bits that you have the option of buying. Are they worth it? What do you gain form adding them to your glasses? Have a quick check and see if those little extras will enhance your life….

Thinner Lenses – these will benefit you if your prescription is more than plus 2.00 or more than minus 4.00 in the sphere section. Thin lenses are light weight, have less white rings reflected in the lens (goodbye bottle bottoms!!) and look nicer in your frames. They are not worth it if your lens power is less than stated above, unless the weight of your specs is unbearable.

Anti-Reflection Coating – this will benefit you if you use a computer and/or drive at night. They cut eyestrain and fatigue, make your sight sharper, and make your specs look better as people can see your eyes, not their reflection! The only downside is that they do show up smudges, so don’t pick this option if you’re in the middle of a building site!

Photochromic Lenses (Reaction lenses) – these go dark in the sun, so opt for them if you like nipping in and out of doors, and enjoy hobbies such as sight-seeing and walking. If you drive a great deal you may wish to opt for permanent tints instead, as photochromics are not at their best behind the windscreen, where they don’t go dark enough for some people.

UV Coating – If you’re an outdoor person, but don’t like dark lenses, these will protect your eyes against UV damage in all conditions. The UV protection is built into photochromic and tinted lenses, so you don’t need to add it to these options.

Tints – these are useful to turn a prescription pair of specs into sunglasses, you can go as dark as you like and in a colour that suits your chosen frame. Keep them in the car for daytime driving, but remember they are illegal for night driving, you always need to keep a clear pair with you.

Life may even be a little easier with these little extras, so have a serious think about what could benefit your lifestyle.

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A Look for a Lifestyle

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

It’s all to easy nowadays to get online and order your new glasses, or call in to the high street optician and just order some specs like the ones you’ve had before. The choice may seem bewildering so it’s easy to see why sometimes we want the simple option, and go for what we’re used to. If you’re thinking of new specs, take a few minutes to think about your lifestyle, and your next pair may even make life a little easier for you.

If you spend hours twittering or poking, or playing online is your main occupation, you may need to consider a coating that will make your vision more comfortable. Anti-reflection coatings cut glare, reduce eyestrain and fatigue, and generally make your eyes more comortable. They look good too as they make your lenses look super clear.

UV protection becomes an issue if you spend lots of time outside, or have very pale eyes. UV can damage the retina, and increase your risk of cataracts. If you do have pale eyes and therefore little natural protection from UV, a UV coat will stop the damaging rays from entering the eye. This is especially important if you ski or spend time on the water.

If your outdoor time is spent in sunny climes, you’ll need protection from glare as well as invisible UV. Bright sunshine can be uncomfortable and distracting, especially through the windscreen. You might want to consider photochromic lenses, which darken in the sun, or fixed tint, prescription sunglasses. Fixed tints work better behind the windscreen, but you have to remember to keep clear specs with you for night driving.

If you need reading specs and spend intense periods of time on specific hobbies, you may benefit from prescription lenses that give you the exact magnification for your working distance. This will be different for embroidery, or a work bench, or a VDU screen. Measure your working distance and tell your optician what you want the specs for. They’ll calculate the strength you need for perfect vision.

There’s a solution for every eye wear dilemma nowadys, so don’t be afraid to talk about your needs and see what product will suit you.

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Safety First!

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

We see a few orders and a few queries due to broken specs, which have suffered a variety of mistreatments. So a cautionary tale……

If play cricket, squash, or do a lot of lawn mowing near gravel paths, then don’t go for glass lenses. These are still used nowadays as the best thin material lenses are glass, and they’re also used because people think plastic scratches too easily. If you want thin glass lenses then you need a plastic pair of lenses too for tasks or hobbies where the lens might shatter.

If your spectacle frames are very curved, or have a wide trim piece between the front and the side, then make sure your spectacle case is wide enough to accommodate your glasses. Don’t squash them into a soft or very narrow case – they might look as if they fit, but over time you’ll be putting pressure on the bridge area of the frame, and eventually it will crack, right across the centre of the frame!

If the weather does warm up, and we get a summer, take care not to leave your glasses where they can get very hot. This means not leaving them on a dashboard or windowsill, where the temperature can soar. Heat will buckle your frames, and may damage your lenses. It can stop your photochromic lenses from working properly, and can cause crazing across coated lenses.

If you break your frames don’t ever be tempted to try superglue as a repair. Firstly, it’s rare that it will work, and you might end up with a bit of frame stuck to your finger, your face or your hair! Secondly, fumes from the glue or the slightest smudge of it on your lenses will damage the lens surface and make it useless. You have been warned!

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The Truth About Photochromatic Lenses!

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

Photochromic lenses are one of the cleverest inventions we can think of in every day use – how cool is this? You go out in the sun – they go dark. You come indoors – they go clear again. All without flicking a switch or the wearer thinking about it at all. A remarkably clever concept that for millions of happy customers makes every day life that little bit easier. We’d like to answer some of the queries we come across about these intelligent lenses.

My old photochromic lenses look really dark compared to my new ones – do they make them in lighter shades?

The older the lenses, the darker they will stay. Over time and constant exposure to UV they stay darker, so a new pair will always look lighter.

Will they look dark indoors?

No – it’s the Ultra Violet in sunlight that makes them react, so only direct exposure to the sun will make them change. This is why some windscreens will inhibit the reaction, as they filter UV out.

I broke one lens and the optician says I have to replace both, why?

As the lenses are worn the colour will alter over time. The colour won’t match if you try to replace one lens.

I’m quite short sighted, the optician says my lenses will look dark round the edges. Why?!

If you’re short sighted your lenses are thicker round the edge than at the centre. The higher your prescription, the more exaggerated the effect. Photochromic lenses contain crystals which react on exposure to UV, rather like the film in a camera. The thicker the lens, the more dense the crystals, so thick areas will look darker.

Do they give UV protection if they react to UV?

Yes, check the brand you’re ordering if this is a concern to you, but all the brands we are aware of don’t let UV through to the eye.


What difference do the colours make?

The common colours nowadays are grey or brown. They go equally dark, brown is warmer to look through, but does alter colours slightly. Grey is cooler, but much more neutral.

Can you drive in them at night, do they count as tinted lenses?

Although they always have a pale residual tint, photochromics are practically clear n the absence of UV. Therefore they are perfectly safe to wear at night.

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Changes For The Better

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

Now some sunshine has finally seen off the gloom of winter, you thoughts may be turning to summer wear, and more specifically, summer eye wear. You can have clear specs and sunglasses, but have you considered lenses that change in the sunlight? Photochromic lenses adapt to the light conditions, going dark if sunlight – and therefore UV is present.

Corning first invented this miracle glass over thirty five years ago. Silver Halide crystals within the lens material change colour when exposed to UV. The lenses don’t change indoors under bright light, (some people worry that they’ll look like undercover rock stars wearing their sunglasses inside!) outdoors they go as dark as sunglasses when you need them.

From the original glass photochromics we now have an array of different products and manufacturers, and this type of lens is now as successful in plastic as it is in glass. The ideal lens needs to change instantly when you step from dark to light and back again. There is always a very light tint on the lenses even when indoors, but on nowadays this is very pale.

The most popular colours are grey and brown, which are usually matched to the frame. The only real problem with these lenses is that the colour does alter over time, so if you ever chip one, both need to be re-ordered. They also always look dark on photos – so if you’re at a wedding be prepared for the Mafia boss look! These little glitches aside, photochromics may be the perfect for you this Summer – as long as the sun does shine on us!

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