How to Choose Lenses for Your Eyeglasses

Welcome to our lens & coatings guide, created to help you wrap your head around all the options of prescription lenses and lens coatings available to you when you purchase new glasses. Let’s begin:


1. Lens Types

Learn about the difference between single-vision, near-vision, progressives and bifocals. All prescription lens types can be used for both eyeglasses and sunglasses, unless indicated otherwise on the product.

Distance (Single-Vision)

This lens helps you see things far away. It is usually indicated by a (-) next to the numbers under the Sphere/SPH category of your prescription.

    • Prescription Range:
      lens
Reading (Near-Vision)

This lens helps you see things up close. The most common use is for reading. It is usually indicated by a (+) next to the numbers under the Sphere/SPH category of your prescription.

  • Prescription Range:
    lens
Bifocal (Reading & Distance)

This lens has two separate and distinct fields of vision: distance & near. A visible line separates the two.

Progressive (Reading & Distance)

This lens provides seamless progression of many lens powers for all fields of vision. It includes three fields of vision: near, intermediate and distance. There is no line on the lens separating the fields of vision.

Non-Prescription

A standard lens without any vision correcting powers and adjustments. This is the lens if glasses as a fashion accessory

2. Lens Index (Thickness)

All of our lenses are Digital Free Form lenses, crafted in our own in-house optical labs.

Standard 1.5 Lenses: Made out of CR-39 plastic. Are available for free on all of GlassesUSA.com’s lens packages. Recommended for weak-to-moderate prescriptions (+/- 1.75).

Polycarbonate 1.59 Lenses: The most impact-resistant lenses for eyeglasses. They are 22% thinner than standard lenses and are recommended for children and sports, as well as prescriptions of +/- 4.00.

1.6 Index Lenses: High index lenses up to 25% thinner than the standard lenses. Recommended for prescriptions of -4.00 to +3.00.

1.67 Index Lenses: Super thin lenses; the ideal choice for strong prescriptions to keep things light & thin. Recommended for prescriptions of -8.00 to +6.00.

1.74 Index Lenses: Our ultra thin lenses, recommended for anything beyond. Available to choose by contacting customer service after placing an order.

3. Lens Coatings

Anti-Scratch: The Scratch Resistant coating we use , greatly reduces the daily scrapes and scratches that damage your lens over time and affect their clarity. We use a top grade coating that is among the most resistant in the industry. Although the coating is not 100% scratch proof, it makes a big difference.

UV Protection: UV (Ultraviolet) rays from the sun are harmful to the eye and often are associated with cataracts, retinal damage and many other ailments. The UV coating stands strong in fighting those rays from penetrating your eyes while not affecting the overall appearance of the lens.

Anti-Reflective: As its name implies, this coating eliminates reflections of light from the surface of your lens. This allows for people to see your eyes better, and it allows you to see better. You really feel the difference especially when driving at night or long hours in front of a computer.

Digital Block: Protect your eyes from the emission of digital devices. Digital block coating can be added to any type of lenses. It enhances visual comfort and decreases eye strain.

Super Hydrophobic: The Super Hydrophobic coating is the most effective way of keeping your lenses clean.

The coating prevents liquid accumulation and smearing on the lens. Instead of clinging to the lens, water molecules cling to other molecules, forming droplets and rolling off the lens without leaving any smudges. It also repels grease and prevents fingerprint stains from appearing on the lens, making it much easier and quicker to clean.

 

4. Lens Tints for Sunglasses

We offer a wide range of sunglasses and specialty tints that will protect your eyes from the sun while having you look as cool as a cat.

Tinted/Polarized Lenses: A way to add an extra dose of color to your look, with a variety of options to choose from as well as selecting the level of tint. Maintains a high level of clarity and visual comfort.

Polarized lenses: These lenses provide enhanced color contrast provides the highest level of clarity and visual comfort, with reduced reflections and maximum UV protection.

Mirrored lenses: Mirrored lenses deliver a super cool look with a higher level of clarity, full UV protection, and reduced glare.

To add one of these options to your sunglasses, choose a frame you love, click on choose lenses and in the lens type section select your preferred one.

5. Adaptive Lenses

These lenses are smartly designed to quickly adjust from clear to dark and vice versa. Eyeglasses and sunglasses in one, eliminating the need to carry two pairs for indoors and outdoors.

transition title

This is the most popular adaptive lens in the industry, primarily because it truly is the best. Sharper, quicker transitions and darker lenses in the sun make this a leader in the market.

PHOTOCHROMIC

This is an affordable non-branded version which is almost as good as Transitions, but at a significantly reduced price. We craft the lens in our own labs and feel that it provides great value even if the darkness level is slightly less than that of the Transitions.

It’s important to note, that these lenses do not adapt in cars due to the UV filters applied to their windshields.

To add one of these options to your eyeglasses, choose a frame you love, click on choose lenses and in the lens type section select Photochromic/Transitions.

Know which type of lenses you need for your next pair? Explore our catalog with 1000s of frames and find your perfect one.