1.59 PC Polycarbonate progressive Lens
Why Polycarbonate Lenses?
Polycarbonate is a very impact resistant material. It was developed in the 1970s for aerospace applications including astronaut helmet visors and spacecraft windshields, so if nothing else, that’s pretty cool…
By the 1980s polycarbonate was being used for lenses as it was thinner, lighter and more impact resistant than glass. Nowadays it is the standard for safety goggles, children’s glasses and sports goggles, owing to it’s excellent impact resistance.
Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic that starts the lens making process as pellets which are shaped in a process called injection molding. During this process the pellets are compressed under very high pressure into lens molds, then cooled to form a hard plastic lens.
As well as its toughness, polycarbonate lenses naturally block 100% of the sun’s UV rays without the need for a coating, meaning your eyes are properly protected. These lenses are also offered in a wider range of options (such as progressive lenses) than the other high impact lens materials.
Whilst polycarbonate undoubtedly makes a truly impact resistant lens, it’s durability comes at a price. Polycarbonate has significantly more lens reflection than plastic or glass, which means that an anti-reflective coating could be necessary. Further to this polycarbonate has an Abbe value of just 30, meaning it offers comparably poor optical quality to the previously discussed options.
Lenses For Presbyopia - Progressive
If you are over 40 and having difficulty with your vision close-up and at arm’s reach, chances are you are experiencing presbyopia. Progressive lenses are our best solution to presbyopia, giving you sharp vision at any distance.
What Are the Benefits of Progressive Lenses?
Like bifocal lenses, progressive multifocal lenses enable the user to see clearly at different distance ranges through one lens. A progressive lens gradually changes power from the top of the lens to the bottom, giving a smooth transition from distance vision to intermediate/computer vision to near/reading vision.
Unlike bifocals, progressive multifocal lenses do not have distinct lines or segments and have the advantage of offering clear vision over a large range of distances, not limiting you to two or three distances. This makes them a popular choice for many people.
How to Tell If Progressive Lenses Are Right for You?
Even though a progressive lens allows you to see near and far distances clearly, these lenses aren’t the right choice for everyone.
Some people never adjust to wearing a progressive lens. If this happens to you, you may experience constant dizziness, problems with depth perception, and peripheral distortion.
The only way to know if progressive lenses will work for you is to try them and see how your eyes adjust. If you don’t adapt after two weeks, your optometrist may need to adjust the strength in your lens. If problems continue, a bifocal lens might be a better fit for you.
