Buying eyeglasses used to be simple. You got an exam, a prescription, chose a frame, and you were good to go. Not anymore.
Almost limitless options have complicated the process. Do you need bifocals or trifocals? Photochromatic? Tinting?
Here are seven secrets to ensure that your next pair of glasses is perfect for you.
No. 1: Pick the right lens. You have two basic choices, single-vision or multi-focal. Single-vision corrects distance vision. Multi-focal corrects both distance and near vision.
“As people get older, most of them can no longer rely on single-vision lenses, which have just one focal point, generally in the distance. People end up needing a multi-focal lens,” says Lee Duffner, M.D., clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
The two traditional types of multi-focal lenses are bifocals, which have two different corrections, one at the top for distance and the other at the bottom for reading; and trifocals, which have three different corrections, one at the top for distance, one in the middle for intermediate vision, the other at the bottom for reading.
In recent years, bifocals and trifocals have been overtaken by progressive lenses, which function in the same way but offer a smooth transition between distance and near vision instead of visible dividing lines.
The type of lens that’s best for you depends on your visual needs and your level of personal comfort. Be sure to try different types before you buy. If you’re accustomed to bifocals you may have difficulty adjusting to progressives.
No. 2: Lens size matters. Eyeglass fashion often favors form over function. This means that people often choose lenses that are too small.
A currently fashionable style is the small rectangle. For single-vision lenses, the small may be adequate. But if you need bifocals, trifocals, progressives, or special help for reading, you need a bigger vertical dimension, closer to a circle.
No. 3: Consider photochromic tinted lenses. If you’re hoping to get by with a single pair of prescription eyeglasses, the newer photochromic lenses may be your best bet.
Recent technological breakthroughs have helped such lenses overcome previous deficiencies such as a slowness to adjust to indoor and outdoor light, and an inability to darken in vehicles where window tinting blocks lens-darkening ultraviolet rays.
“I used to discourage photochromic lenses,” says Dr. Duffner. “But I now often recommend them. They’re nice because you don’t always have to switch to sunglasses or use clip-ons.”
No. 4: Avoid designer labels. Stick with generic frames. Designer-label frames cost much more and are generally not any better than no-name brands.
Also, say no to one commonly offered add-on: the anti-reflective coating. “It doesn’t cut down much on glare at all,” says Dr. Duffner. “It just means a few extra bucks in the pocket of whoever’s selling the glasses.”
No. 5: Consider polarized lenses. Polizarization, on the other hand, does reduce glare. Here’s how it works. Most glare originates from horizontal surfaces such as water or a street.
Polarized lenses are fixed at an angle that allows only vertically polarized light through the lens.
“Polarization is a great reducer of glare,” says Dr. Duffner.
No. 6: Get a proper fitting. Don’t bypass a fitting session by ordering online. The money you save isn’t worth it if the frames are uncomfortable. Even a tiny misalignment may cause blurry vision, headaches, and neck pain, especially if you use progressives.
Wear prospective frames for at least several minutes in the store before buying. Also ask the optician if the frame is adjustable Some of the most expensive new frames – especially the trendy wooden ones – are essentially nonadjustable.
No. 7: Don’t dismiss cheap reading glasses. Inexpensive reading glasses sometimes get a bad rap, but they are actually a good option to correct presbyopia, the age-related condition that gradually makes it harder to read.
“I probably have referred thousands of people to the drug store or the dollar store to get reading glasses,” says Dr. Duffner. “There’s no harm done to your eyes by using over-the-counter reading glasses.”
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