Assessing Lens Quality
The quality of lenses can be determined through various factors such as the material used, lens thickness, and the inclusion of extra treatments like anti-glare. It's crucial to understand that while thinning lenses might make them lighter, it may also reduce their quality and result in vision distortion or discomfort. Enhancements like anti-glare, anti-scratch, and polarized treatments can amplify the lens' quality and comfort.
Guarding Against Detrimental Blue Light
For those who regularly use electronic devices, it’s important to give thoughtful consideration to adding blue light protection into your lenses. Electronic devices, the sun, and specific types of lighting emit blue light, which can cause visual fatigue and potential damage to the eyes gradually. To safeguard against the harmful effects of blue light, it’s recommended that you look for lenses that can filter out harmful blue violet light while still allowing beneficial blue turquoise light to pass through.
Our bodies and metabolism require blue-turquoise light as it aids in regulating our natural sleep/wake or circadian cycles, much like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Conversely, the blue-violet light exacerbates visual fatigue from extended digital device usage and could harm the eyes over time.
Anti-Glare, Anti-Scratch, and Other Treatments
These treatments consist of multiple chemical layers applied to the lens to boost protection, aesthetic appeal, and visual comfort:
- The initial 'varnished' layer, commonly known as anti-scratch, acts as a shield against scratches and micro-scratches on the lens. As lenses are prone to scratching, this layer is used in 99% of cases.
- The anti-glare treatment is a surface coating that diminishes stray light reflections on the lens surface. It is always combined with the anti-scratch treatment.
- The polarized treatment is a filter placed on the lens surface to minimize glare caused by light reflection on bright surfaces. It's ideal for activities like sailing, driving, etc.
- The photochromic treatment is lauded for its versatility and convenience for alternating indoor and outdoor activities, and its cost-effectiveness, as it provides the benefits of two pairs for the price of one. Depending on the provider and the technology used, the lens darkens upon UV ray exposure or increased brightness. At BonLook, our sun lenses tint when exposed specifically to UV rays.
Frame Selection
When choosing a frame, it is important to consider your face shape as well as your prescription. It would be wise to seek guidance from an eye care professional, such as BonLook's opticians, to help you select a frame that not only looks good on you but also meets the technical requirements of your prescription. For example, if you have significant astigmatism, round frames might not be the best choice as they could potentially affect the correction axis and therefore impact the quality of your vision. Don't forget to take into account other factors like nose shape and temple width to ensure a comfortable and secure fit!
Sun Protection
Sun protection is vital to protect your eyes from premature aging and diseases like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Don't mistake a dark lens tint for sufficient sun protection. To filter UV rays adequately, the lens material must possess UV filtering properties. Choose lenses like those at BonLook, specifically engineered to filter UV rays for optimal sun protection.
Look for lenses like those at BonLook that are specifically designed to filter out UV rays for optimal sun protection.
