Lens Technology

The Latest in Lens Technology

Because all of our lenses are surfaced and ground in our own in-house lab, we are able to offer patients the latest in lens technology, including high-definition digital lenses, ultra-thin high index lenses, Transitions photochromic lenses, and anti-reflective coatings.

Darren & Percy, our Senior Lab Managers, have been making lenses for 15 and 20+ years, respectively.

 

They work collaboratively with the opticians and optometrists to craft a lens that works with your prescription and your frame for optimal vision, fashion, and comfort.

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Transitions and Photochromic Lenses

Transitions self-darkening lenses are the most popular brand of photochromic lenses. Photochromic, or self-darkening lenses, change from nearly clear indoors and at night and gradually darken with exposure to sunlight.


There are several Transitions options:

Transitions come in a range of lens designs and materials, including digital. Keep in mind that standard Transitions lenses do not change while you are in a car because your windshield blocks the UV radition needed to activate the darkening process.

Transitions Vantage lenses are the newest offering from the Transitions brand. Not only do the lenses offer self-darkening with exposure to sunlight, but they also offer added gradual polarization. Because these lenses have polarized technology, patients experience less glare and crisper vision. There are some lens material restrictions, so ask your optician for details.

For patients who want darker lenses than standard Transitions lenses, XTRActive is the best choice. XTRActive lenses get moderately dark in a car, as opposed to standard Transitions lenses. Note that even at night and indoors, clear lenses will have a slight tint. As with Vantage lenses, there are some lens material restrictions, so ask your optician for details.

While Transitions brand is the leading self-darkening lens manufacturer, the brand name comes with a price tag! For more budget-conscious patients, we offer a standard photochromic lens with similar technology as Transitions lenses. Ask your Philadelphia Eyeglass Labs optician which option is best for your lifestyle and prescription.



Sunglass Lenses

Not only are sunglasses a stylish accessory, they are also important to the overall health of your eyes! Our offices offer many sunglass frames and lens options.

 

We recommend upgrading your sunglasses with polarized lenses– they improve contrast, clarity, and color while reducing strain and eliminating glare. Once you have a pair, you’ll never go back! With options like Transitions Vantage, you get the benefit and convenience of self-darkening lenses with added polarization.


Lens Designs

Let’s start with the basics! The most common lens designs are single vision, bifocal, and progressive.


Single Vision

Many of us have worn single vision lenses at one point in our lives. This type of lens provides a single prescription power to see at one focal length. The lens design is available in nearly every material and coating.


Bifocals

Invented by Philadelphia’s own Ben Franklin, bifocal lenses have two lens powers, one for distance and one for reading. There is a visible segment on the lower portion of the lens.


Progressives

Also known as no-line bifocals, progressive lenses provide a natural vision correction for distance, intermediate, and reading powers. Progressives eliminate the “jumping” of images that can occur with bifocals.


Digital Lens Designs

Innovation in the optical lens industry has brought about a new, revolutionary technology that incorporates high-definition optics into your lenses. Digital lenses, also known as HD or free form lenses, allow you to actually see your HD TV in it’s truest form!

How can you benefit from upgrading to digital lenses?

  • Greater visual clarity and contrast
  • Less peripheral distortion compared to traditional progressive lenses
  • Wider, customizable reading and intermediate zones
  • Easier adaptation- there’s virtually no learning curve to get used to your progressive lenses

Computer & Occupational Lens Designs

Most of us spend over 8 hours a day in front of the computer, and more than 70% of people have reported symptoms related to Computer Vision Syndrome, including strain, headache, blurriness, and dryness. Computer Vision Glasses can help! These progressive lenses provide an enhanced intermediate zone, so that your vision correction is right where you need it.

We are one of the few vision centers in the region that offers patients completely customizable occupational lens options. Whether you are a sewer, musician, artist, or lawyer, an occupational lens can help you see more clearly and eliminate eye strain. Ask your Philadelphia Eyeglass Labs optician about occupational lenses today.

Lens Materials

Philadelphia Eyeglass Labs offers several lens materials for our patients. Plastic or CR-39, Polycarbonate, and 1.67 or 1.74 High Index lenses are the most common options.

As the most affordable lens option, CR-39 or plastic lenses offer lightweight vision correction for patients on a budget. Plastic lenses may not be suitable for everyone, as moderate to high prescriptions will be too thick in this material. Furthermore, we do not recommend Plastic lenses for children or patients who wear rimless styled frames because they are not shatter-resistant.

We recommend polycarbonate lenses for most of our patients due to its durability, shatter-resistance, and built in UV protection. Poly lenses are available for patients with low to moderate prescriptions, but will be too thick for patients with high prescriptions. Almost all polycarbonate lens wearers add anti-reflective coating to their lenses for even better visual correction.

High Index lenses offer fabulous visual clarity and correction and come in two types- 1.67 High Index and 1.74 High Index lenses. Typically prescribed for patients with higher-than-average prescriptions, this lens material is praised for it’s significant thinness and lightness. However, some lens designs are not available in this material, so ask your optician if High Index lenses are right for you.

Lens Coatings

Most patients benefit from adding anti-reflective coating to their lenses. Anti-reflective coating, or anti-glare coating, reduces 99.5% of glare by eliminating light reflections. Anti-reflective coatings are excellent for night driving and computer usage, and they offer a cosmetic complement to eyewear because there is no visible lens reflection in person and in photos. We offer several options to fit every budget.

Our standard anti-reflective coating has a hydrophobic (water-repelling) surface that makes our standard coating a step above typical AR coatings.

Similar to the standard coating, Crizal has a hydrophobic (water-repelling) surface. In addition, it contains a very strong scratch-resistant layer, making the coating adhere better and longer. Crizal is known for it’s scratch-resistance and easy-to-clean surface.

Our digital AR coating contains a hydrophobic (water-repelling) and oleophobic (oil-repelling) surface that creates excellent optics and an easy-to-clean lens surface. We recommend that all digital lens wearers upgrade their package to include this coating.