What kinds of lenses to choose?

In single-vision lenses, there is only one strength, which is designed for only one specified viewing distance. Single-vision lenses include both “-” and “+” lenses.

Minus lenses

Approximately a half of those wearing glasses are short-sighted and require minus lenses for seeing.
The lenses are worn all the time, for example for:

• driving
• watching TV
• theater/cinema
• young people for far and near vision

Such lenses are mostly prescribed when the wearer is a teenager or in the early 20s. There is no single reason for the formation of short-sightedness, genetics as well as the person’s environment play a part. A need for minus lenses does not go away if one avoids wearing glasses or by doing exercises for the eyes. Exercises are, however, beneficial for eye muscles and improve both the cooperation as well as the accommodation of the eye muscles.

Plus lenses

Plus lenses are mostly prescribed for reading. But also prescribed for far vision for older people, kids and young people for innate farsightedness.

Age-related near vision glasses

In general, most people will require reading glasses when they reach their 40s. Myopic/near-sighted people need weaker strength minus lenses. The initial deficiency arises when viewing objects from 30-50 cm away. From the middle of the 50s, it is no longer comfortable to view the computer screen (50-70 cm) without spectacles or the viewer must remove the spectacles. Yet, the person still requires spectacles for viewing distant objects.

Progressive and bifocal lenses

Multi-vision lenses are primarily designed for the people over the age of 40, who require two different strengths of lenses for viewing distant and near objects.

Multi-vision or multifocal lenses are divided into progressive and bifocal lenses.

Progressive lenses allow the wearer to see all distances clearly by only moving their head smoothly to find a sharp area. On the top of the lenses, there are strengths for viewing distant objects, on the bottom, strengths for reading. In the middle of the lens, the strengths change smoothly from distant strengths to reading strengths, which allows to see the computer screen sharply as well.

Prices from 200€/pair with all surface coatings lenses.

Bifocal lenses are so-called inflexible lenses, which can only be used for seeing near and distant objects, the objects in the middle remain blurry. Thus, these lenses are rarely sold today. Prices from 95€/pair.

Lenses with an extended range of vision

When single-vision reading glasses are not sufficient for seeing the computer screen (medium distance) clearly or when your reading glasses are in the way of seeing the computer screen or the near vicinity of your work place clearly, it is possible to use lenses with an extended range of vision.

Such lenses contain several different strengths. They ensure equally clear vision for reading as well as for using the computer, while also being able to observe the surroundings of the workplace. Depending on the user’s age and the prescription, the range of vision is 40-150cm. Thanks to the several strengths, you do not need to order different pairs of glasses for viewing different distances or frequently remove your glasses. The lenses are easy to get used to. Different manufacturers have different names for this type of lens, e.g. Traditional Office, Interview 080, or 130, Addpower.

For smaller work environments, there are the so-called office work lenses, which provide concentrated vision within the distance of up to 4 meters. These lenses enable to read near texts, view the computer screen, and the objects or customers/colleagues within the distance of up to 4 meters. Smooth vision is ensured in transition from near to medium distances. Different manufacturers have different names for this type of lens, e.g. Nova Office pro, Digitime, Hoyalux iD Workstyle V+.

Accommodative lenses

Accommodative lenses are needed by short-sighted 16-40-year-old people wearing spectacles, whose eyes often get tired when using spectacles to read or work on the computer for prolonged periods of time. On the bottom of the lenses, the minus is smaller/the plus higher – so the eyes do not get tense of constant viewing of near objects. Different manufacturers have different names for this type of lens, e.g. Nova Easy, Essilor's Eyezen, HOYA Nulux Active.

Photochromic lenses

Photochromic or automatically darkening lenses are light indoors and darken outdoors depending on the UV light, while providing protection from bright light. Prices from 140 €/per pair.

Photochromic lenses can be installed in all frames, the selection of strengths and materials is very wide.
Automatically darkening lenses come in three shades:

• gray
• brown
• green

Thanks to the new technology, Chromea7, photochromatic lenses react better to direct as well as reflected light, even in very warm weather.
For this reason, the 7th generation of photochromic lenses is darker than the previous generation

The lenses darken quickly (a level of darkness of up to 70% is achieved in approximately 35 seconds). Returning to the light state depends on several factors, for example on the level of darkness reached outside, the temperature, and the optical strength. Returning to the completely light state may take 6-10 minutes.

XTRActive lenses or lenses that darken in the car

XTRActive lenses darken in the car (by up to 50% at 27ºC) as well as outdoors (by up to 80% at 35ºC). Prices from 140 €/per pair. Compared to the regular light lenses, the lenses have a barely visible shade indoors as well, which protects from bright light. Only available in gray shade. XTRActive lenses provide 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays and react equally well in cold as well as warm temperatures.

Automatically darkening Drivewear lenses

Drivewear lenses combine the vision free from distracting reflections achieved with polarised lenses and the best features of automatically darkening lenses that can adjust to light conditions. Prices from 315 €/per pair. The glasses are not suitable for using indoors, as they take a greenish-yellowish shade approximately corresponding to the darkness category 2 in the conditions of low light or cloudy weather, which offers good contrast conditions and decreases the blinding effect of light. When driving a car, the lenses take a copperish shade, which improves seeing of colours and perception of depths. In the case of bright light outside, the shade turns dark reddish-brownish, which filters excessive light and ensures comfortable vision.

Tinted lenses

Sunglasses come in 5 different dimness categories, which are marked as categories 0-4. Prices from 70 €/per pair.

Category 0 is the lightest, letting through the most light, and category 4 is the darkest, allowing only 5-8% of the light falling on the lenses to penetrate the lens. Category 4 lenses are not suitable for driving.

All tinted/coloured lenses purchased from the opticians are equipped with 100% UV protection, even the lightest lenses.

When selecting sunglasses, attention must be paid to:

• how much light reaches the eye
• whether or not there are distortions in how colours are seen
• how well contrasts are seen

The neutral shades are gray, green, and brown,, which means that they diminish the brightness of light, while leaving the colours natural. They are, above all, designed for decreasing the brightness of light and the stress on the eyes in the case of moderate and bright sunlight. The gray glasses seem darker than the brown ones. Brown and green distort colours a bit more than gray, but ensure better contrast.

Yellow, golden, and amber shades provide a very good sense of contrast. Thus, these shades are ideal for skiers, snowboarders, and for other winter sports. They even improve contrast in complex light conditions. Since the shades do not particularly decrease the brightness of light, they are mainly suited for the conditions of moderate and little light.

Pink and red shades make the world look more cheerful. They offer good visibility and increase contrasts in the case of little light and are thus ideal for skiing and snowboarding with cloudy weather. They also improve the visibility of objects on blue and green backgrounds, which makes them well-suited for driving or using in a forest. 

Mirror coating reflects back most of the light falling on the glasses. Mirror coating makes observed objects appear darker than they actually are, thus, the coating is often used with lighter shades.

Mirror coating decreases the amount of light penetrating the lens by 10-60%, which makes it especially well-suited for the conditions with highly reflective surfaces:

• beaches
• on the water
• snowy conditions
• high mountains
• people with sensitive eyes

The surface coating is highly vulnerable to scratches and is especially damaged by salty water. Thus, the lenses must be cleaned very carefully using special liquids and cloths designed for cleaning spectacles. In the case of mirror lenses, the user may be more distracted by the reflections generated on the back surface of the lens than in the case of wearing regular sunglasses. For this reason, it is recommended to order mirror lenses with anti-reflective coating on the inside. In the case of spectacles with gradient lenses, the upper part protects from the brightness of light and the lower part allows to view near objects clearly, since the shade of the lens is lighter on the bottom.

Polarized lenses

Polarised light is generated by reflected and scattered rays of light. For example: light reflections from the wet asphalt or from the water surface.
Thus, the sharpness of both distant and near vision deteriorates, there might be an uncomfortable feeling or the feeling of tension in the eye. Polarised spectacle lenses are equipped with a filter, which blocks reflected light rays of light and thus makes the vision through sunglasses clearer and sharper, while colour distortions are diminished to the minimum. Polarised lenses are the most beneficial for drivers and those interested in water-related hobbies. The colour selection includes brown, gray, and green (depending on the refractive index). The dimness corresponds to category 3.
Prices from 112 €/per pair.