Lenses
Choosing the right lenses is important for good vision – you could be wearing the wrong lenses, which could cause headaches and eyestrain and have an impact on your quality of life. Here at Mincher-Lockett, we make sure that your lenses and frames are the perfect combination.
Single Vision lenses
For viewing at a specific distance or for younger people who are able to focus at varying distances, these lenses may be prescribed for far, near or intermediate distances. They usually have no visible markings on them. Along with other types of lenses they can be made of different materials to reduce thickness where necessary and can be tinted or be polarised or photochromic (go dark in daylight) to protect from sunlight, or have coatings to reduce glare (anti-reflection), reduce scratching (hard coating) or to reflect light (mirror).
Bifocal and Varifocal Lenses
Many of our Dispensing Opticians have trained whilst working at Mincher-Lockett. Their wealth of knowledge in the industry, gained whilst at our practice, makes each consultation professional, friendly and unique to the patient.
What are Bifocal Lenses?
Bifocal lenses are lenses that have two separate prescriptions in one. They are useful for people who primarily require 2 different working distances, far and near. Often one part of the lens is for distance vision (at the top) and the other for near vision (at the bottom). There is visible curve or line on the lens which separates the two prescriptions. There are three main types of bifocal:
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C or D Segment - the most common type, the reading area is a half-circle with a flat or slightly curved top
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Executive - for those who require a wide reading area, there is a divide across the entire lens between distance and near vision portions
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Round Segment - less common in recent years the reading area is a circle or semi-circle at the bottom of the lens
What are Varifocal lenses?
Varifocal lenses offer the ability to see clearly at varying distances when you reach an age where this becomes difficult. A varifocal lens will correct your vision at different distances through different parts of the lens. They enable you to work at different tasks and to move around your environment without having to change or remove your spectacles. Where bifocal lenses have two distinct areas for each vision type, a varifocal lens will have a gradual change in prescription which means there is no visible line on the lens and they look like single-vision lenses. The distance element of the lens is usually in front of the pupil to optimise length of sight.
