Tips for choosing the right glass replacement for your sunglasses?

When purchasing sunglasses, the frame you select is important for your looks, but the lenses you select affect four factors: appearance, comfort, vision, and safety. People frequently make the mistake of not spending enough time considering their options for eyeglass lens materials, designs, and coatings when purchasing sunglasses.

1. Identifying the right lens shape and size.

Do you currently wear sunglasses, eyeglasses, or reading glasses? The dimensions of most frames are printed directly on them. Look inside the temples or side arms of your current frame to find the size specifications. It usually looks something like this: 50- 20 -147.

The first number (50) refers to the lens’s width at its widest point. This is referred to as “eye size” in the industry. The lens in this example is 50 millimetres wide.

The second number (20) refers to the nose bridge width, which is the part of the frame that sits between the lenses and crosses over your nose. The nose bridge in this example is 20 millimetres wide.

The final number (147) refers to the length of the temples, which are the side arms that go behind your ears. The temples in this example are 147 millimetres long.

Now use these measurement numbers as a guide to help you choose frames online with similar measurements, paying special attention to the first two numbers for Eye Size and Bridge. Using this simple trick will assist you in finding eyewear that is properly sized for your face.

2. Selecting the right lens tins and coating.

Tinted and/or filter-coated eyeglass lenses, in general, can shield your eyes from UV damage by shielding them from UV radiation in sunlight, glare, diffuse light, and infrared radiation.

For those who want UV protection but not glare protection, clear lenses with a UV filter are available. Contact lens wearers should get a regular pair of sunglasses.

There are various kinds of eyeglass filters:

• Sun glare filters protect the eyes from the glare caused by bright sunlight.
• Special filter glasses that absorb a portion of the visible, short-wavelength light spectrum are prescribed for certain eye diseases.
• Polarizing filters reduce glare from reflected light from surfaces such as water, snow, or metal.
• Blue light filters reduce eye fatigue by blocking the blue radiated by digital devices such as computers.
• Protect your eyes from brilliant daylight with the aid of using tinted glasses with a UV filter.

 There are tints and filters for various purposes.

3.Determine the best lens material for your needs.

Consider the following checklist that you can bring to your prescription lenses retailer or use when purchasing glasses:

• Plastic lenses.

The first lightweight plastic eyeglass lenses were introduced in 1947. The lenses were made of the plastic polymer CR-39. CR-39 plastic is still a popular material for eyeglass lenses due to its lightweight, low cost, and excellent optical qualities.

• Polycarbonate lenses.

The first polycarbonate lenses for safety glasses were introduced in the early 1970s. Polycarbonate lenses gained popularity later that couple of years and in the 1980s, and they remain so today.

Polycarbonate, which was initially developed for Air Force helmet visors, “bulletproof glass” for banks, and other safety applications, is significantly lighter and more impact-resistant than CR-39 plastic, making it a preferred material for children’s eyewear, safety glasses, and sports eyewear.

Lenses made of plastic with a high index of refraction. Over the last 20 years, a number of lens manufacturers have introduced high-index plastic lenses in response to the demand for thinner, lighter eyeglasses. These lenses are lightweight and thinner than CR-39 plastic lenses.

After you have decided on your lenses, consider which lens treatments are best for you.

For the most comfortable, long-lasting, and attractive glasses, the following replacement lenses treatments should be considered essential:

• Anti-scratch coating.

Because lightweight eyeglass lens materials have softer surfaces than glass lenses, they are more prone to scratches and abrasions.

One of the most impact-resistant materials used in eyeglass lenses is polycarbonate. For adequate lens durability, all plastic and high-index plastic lenses require a factory-applied anti-scratch coating.

Most anti-scratch coatings on the market today can make your eyeglass lenses nearly as scratch-resistant as glass. If you are not careful with your glasses or are buying them for your children, inquire about lenses that come with a scratch warranty for a specified period of time.

• UV-blocking treatment.

Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun has been linked to age-related eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

As a result, people should start protecting their eyes from UV rays as soon as they are born. Polycarbonate and nearly all high-index plastic lenses have 100 percent UV protection built in due to the absorptive properties of the lens material.

However, keep in mind that CR-39 plastic lenses require an additional coating to provide the same UV protection as other replacement lens materials.

• Photochromic treatment.

This lens treatment allows eyeglass lenses to darken automatically in the UV and HEV light rays of the sun while remaining clear (or nearly clear) indoors.

4.Finding a reputable vendor for your glass material

Your eyeglass lenses can easily cost more than the frames you choose, depending on the type of lenses and lens treatments you choose and the lens design you require even if you choose the latest designer frames from the best and most reputable vendor.

To get the best value, it’s essential to understand the features and benefits of the products you are considering. Choose wisely with the help of a reputable vendor for your glass material.

Have a question about finding the right fit for you?  Reach out to us. We’re quick to respond and we’re happy to help in any way we can – you can even ask us about home try if you’d like to sample a frame style in the comfort of your own home before purchasing your custom prescription lenses online.

After discovering the right frame size, we can help you to find the right frame shape for your face, and how to determine the right lens materials and lens treatments at a reputable vendor.