Submitted by: Emma Richards(21) Only Specs Log in to become a member of Emma Richards's Fan Club!
Firstly it is very important to have a current prescription. This means that your eyes must have been tested within the previous 2 years. The prescription should be for spectacles or glasses not contact lenses as they are often not exactly the same.
Understanding your prescription:
There are some basic optometric terms used for all glasses prescriptions. Sphere (sph) generally written first and can be a + or a minus -. Depending on whether you are long or short sighted respectively. Cylinder (cyl) is the component of the lens used to correct astigmatism. Astigmatism commonly results from the shape of the cornea being oval rather than spherical. Axis is the position that the cylinder component is aligned, and Addition (Add) is the power that needs to be added on to the distance prescription to make the reading prescription.
If you have any concerns about inputting your prescription please fax it to us on 07 5442 2154 and we can talk you through it or input the details for you.
It should be noted that the most common mistake made with inputting peoples prescription is not including the + or – sign.
Lens Selection – How to chose the best lens for your needs
This involves determining what sort of lenses will best suit your lifestyle. An example would include a person with a prescriptionincluding a value in the Add area. This means that a different lens is required for distance and up close vision. In this situation you may benefit from a lens called multifocal (also known as varifocal and progressive lens) which has graded vision from distance to near in the one lens.
Progressive lenses
It should be noted that this type of lens generally requires an adjustment period to adapt too. It has no lines to make the distinctions between different prescriptions so cosmetically it looks like a normal single vision lens. There is limited peripheral or side vision in these lenses and people can have difficulty with certain tasks such as reading supine or playing golf. If these activities are a priority then obtaining a pair of single vision glasses specifically designed for the task is beneficial.
As this type of lens requires a measurement of ‘fitting height’ (the position of your pupil in the frame) that can not be completed virtually as yet I do not believe that people will achieve their optimum vision if these lenses are not fitted by an optometrist or optical dispenser in person. This is the reason that we only sell single vision lenses.
Bifocal Lenses
Bifocals are lenses designed to facilitate vision at 2 different distances. Generally the distances are over 3m away (distance) and ~40cm (near). These two different powers are separated by a distinct line. Bifocals also need to be fitted in person in my opinion for the same reasons as progressives. It can be quite disconcerting having a bifocal line in your field of view (fitted too high) and alternatively annoying having a bifocal too low in the frame to be of use when reading.
Single Vision lenses
Firstly we should explain single vision glasses means that the lens only contains one prescription, so it is designed for best vision at one specific distance. For example reading glasses are generally designed for best clarity at 40cm. Therefore if you want to use your reading glasses on the computer which can be up to 1m from your eye the vision would not be as clear as it should be, if the glasses were made for that specific task. Due to the fact that the closer the working distance the more magnification required meaning that you will have to practically sit closer than normal comfortable working distance from the screen to make it clear.
To get the best possible outcome measure the distance from your eye to the object that needs to be clear (for example books, computer screen and sheet music) and take that measurement to your optometrist so that the prescription can be designed for your specific task distance.
Ready Made Magnifiers – the Bain of optometrists existence
If you are currently wearing ready made magnifiers, you should consider upgrading to a ‘real’ pair of prescription reading glasses. Magnifiers are suitable for an emergency but have been shown to damage the way the eyes work together over time. This results from forcing the eyes towards the optical centers (the best prescription part of the lens) which can be either out or in depending on the magnifier. Over time this can lead to head aches and binocular vision dysfunction which can require special things called prism to be used in the glasses to correct the problem. Also it is unlikely that the majority of people wearing magnifiers required the same amount of magnification in both eyes. Therefore you can be forcing one eye to work harder than the other. Alternatively if you have a proper pair of optometrically dispensed prescription reading glasses with the optical centers set in front of your pupils. These problems no longer exist.
Why we only sell single vision lenses
The explanation as to why we only offer single vision lenses relates primarily to ethics. We do not believe that people will obtain optimum vision through a progressive/varifocal/multifocal or a bifocal or trifocal lens without the lenses being marked for the correct fitting height on a persons face. We know that there are many other sites offering this facility and if it works for them that’s fine. But until we have the option of doing virtual fitting we will not be offering anything other than single vision eye glasses.
Lens extras selection explanation
The job that the glasses are used for has many more implications than just frame selection; it can also affect the lens choice. People with sports prescription glasses may require a specific coloured lens and lens material, to achieve the best outcome in their particular field. Two examples include shooting and golf where yellow and brown tints are used respectively.
A common situation where lens selection is dictated by task location is reading outdoors. If you enjoy reading outside you may appreciate transition/ photochromatic lenses in your prescription reading glasses. Though if bothered by the glare a prescription sunglass particularly a polarized lens would give the best outcome with reflected glare reduction.
Another situation where lens choice is determined by task is using the computer. If you happen to use a computer regularly, drive at night or you would prefer people to see your eyes rather than the lenses an antireflective coating is advisable. This is the coating that the newsreaders on TV have on their glasses as it ‘looks’ cosmetically better. The way the antireflective coatings work is by having layers of high index material layered to refract (to bend the majority of light wavelengths away) so that the lenses are clearer to look out of and easier for people to look through to see your eyes. Due to being clearer they sometimes show smudges more easily and you may have to clean the lenses more often than a basic lens.
In Australia we have our share of sunlight and areas of our beautiful country gets very glary. If you spend a portion of your day outside or driving or otherwise enjoying our gorgeous climate, you should really consider getting a pair of prescription sun glasses. This becomes especially important if you happen to be on or near the water a large portion of time. In this instance polarized lenses (the ones that look through water, handy for fishing) are a great option.
Occasionally people’s prescription aids frame and lens choice. People with High Prescriptions (can’t see well without their glasses) get a better cosmetic result with a smaller eye size (meaning that the smaller the lens area in the frame selected the thinner the lens is able to be. Generally a thin and antireflective coated lens is required to give a better cosmetic result. It should be noted that the basic lens is only available for certain prescription ranges and even if your prescription is within this range those with prescriptions greater than +/-2.50 it would be advisable to consider opting for the ‘thin’ version if you do not want the lens to protrude outside the metal rim of the frame, though it should be noted that with some prescriptions it can not be helped even with thinner lenses.
Selecting a prescription glasses frame
If you have previously had glasses that were comfortable reusing the same frame dimensions should lead to a good outcome. Frame dimensions are recorded in millimeters (mm) on the temple (bit that goes over your ear) or the bridge (bit that goes over your nose).
Once you have your frame dimensions noted unless you have chosen to have exactly the same frame again, there are a couple of hints to have a wonderful result.
The task that you need the glasses for and the environment you will perform the task in should be considered when making your decision. For example a mechanic who needs glasses to work on the undercarriage of a car. It is likely in this situation that he will require ‘heavy’ duty glasses. Previously when we have had a customer in this situation we have dispensed a bendable frame with high impact or safety lenses, along with a ‘good’ pair used for going out.
Face Shapes can aid frame selection
Round- angular or squared off frames take the focus away from the roundness of the face.
Oval – lucky you any shape will suit as long as it is in proportion to the face.
Heart- involves a broad forehead and narrow chin. Choose frames with fine rims and vertical lines, avoid heavy frames and emphasized nose bridges.
Rectangular – striking frames that distract from the length of the face are a great idea.
Square – slightly curved or circular frames are favored to take away some of the angles of the face.
Frame Colour
Complexion or skin tone is very relevant when selecting a colour frame and the final appearance of the glasses. There are so many colours available today making selection more difficult. The paler the complexion the more obvious a bright or dark frame will be, fantastic for making a statement. The reverse is also true for darker complexions. Therefore you have to decide whether you wish to make a statement or have your glasses blend in with your skin tone. The design your own glasses application was organized with this in mind. This function enables you to place different coloured frames on your own skin tone.
Fashion tip: With Autumn/Winter seasons are fast approaching with black and dark reds featuring heavily. Grey is supposedly the new black, tweeds and animal prints will also have a look in. Why not compliment the season with a matching pair of glasses.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is
provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice
provided to you by any health care or other professional or
organization.
