Glasses
Overview
Selecting your lenses and frames is a very personal choice. A wide variety of options are available that can be tailored to suit your medical needs and your style preferences. Both prescription glasses and contacts are good options to correct or enhance vision.
At Polaris Eye & Laser, our eye care providers are ready to help patients choose the vision correction mode best for their improved vision, wearability, and comfort. Our optical department carries a full line of designer frames and a variety of premium digital lenses that are fully customized for single vision and progressive designs. We can also recommend therapeutic lens tints and coatings to help eliminate glare. We accept Vision Service Plan (VSP) vision insurance and will work with you to maximize your benefit.
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Our office at Polaris Eye & Laser
Prescription Glasses
People often ask why prescription glasses are superior to the reading glasses that are sold at drugstores and supermarkets. The answer is simple: those glasses are meant to be used as only very minor vision correction for people who already have good vision. Non-prescription glasses are not customized in any way.
For example, they cannot correct vision for people with astigmatism. People who have any significant degree of correctable vision problems need custom glasses, or they will not be able to achieve normal vision. It is also common for each eye to have a unique prescription. The solution is a custom pair of glasses with a different type of lens on each side. The only way to get prescription eyeglasses is to have a vision exam. An extra benefit of this exam is that our doctor can review the health of each eye and identify eye diseases or conditions like glaucoma when they are still in their treatable early stages.
Eyeglass Lens Styles
Here are some styles that we offer at Polaris Eye & Laser:
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Single Vision: Single vision lenses correct vision at one distance only. For example, single vision lenses can help with close distance for reading, further distance required for driving, or intermediate distance to see a computer screen.
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Progressive Lenses: Progressive lenses are prescribed for patients with presbyopia who wish to see far, near, and everywhere in between without the distracting lines found in ordinary bifocal or trifocal lenses.
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Flat Top Bifocals: Flat top bifocal lenses are split into two segments: the top portion of the bifocals for distance and the bottom portion for seeing up close. They are prescribed for those patients who want to see both far and near without having to change or remove their eyeglasses.
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Executive Bifocals: Executive bifocals are similar to flat top bifocals, only the spilt lenses have a line extending the entire width of the lens. This type of lens may be useful for patients who have a need for a very wide reading field of vision.
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Trifocals: Trifocal lenses have three distinct segments – one for seeing far distances; one for seeing intermediate distances; and one for seeing near objects.
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Specialty and Occupational: Specialty and occupational lenses are used for work or recreation and include computer eyewear or sports eyewear.
Eyeglass Lens Materials
Here are some materials that we offer at Polaris Eye & Laser:
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Plastic lenses: Plastic, or CR-39, is the lens material most often used in standard eyeglasses. It is lightweight with high optical quality and provides protection from ultraviolet light. These plastic lenses must be cleaned often and properly cared for since they can be prone to scratching. Plastic lenses can be tinted to almost any color.
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High-Index Plastic: High-index plastic is a premium lens material that is lighter weight, thinner plastic. They provide ultraviolet protection, excellent optical quality, scratch resistance and can be lightly tinted to any color.
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Polycarbonate: Polycarbonate is a premium lens material that is the lightest and most impact resistant available. It provides excellent optical quality, a thinner lens, ultraviolet protection, scratch resistance, and can be tinted to any color.
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Trivex: Trivex lenses rival polycarbonate lenses as the safest lenses on the market. These are made of an exceptionally clear, lightweight lens material, so you can experience superior eye protection, sharp vision, and lightweight comfort — all in the same lenses.
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Glass: Glass is a basic lens material that provides superior optics and scratch resistance. Unfortunately, glass lenses have a number of limitations, including inferior impact resistance, thickness, and heavyweight.
Eyeglass Lens Options
Here are some materials that we offer at Polaris Eye & Laser:
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Photochromatic Lenses: Photochromatic lenses adjust their color according to light conditions. They darken outdoors and lighten indoors. Photochromatic lenses come in gray, brown, and green tints with optional scratch and ultraviolet protection.
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Anti-Reflective Coatings: Anti-reflective lens coatings are special clear lens coatings applied to lenses to reduce glare and enhance visual clarity. Three main advantages of Anti-Reflective Coatings includes the following:
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They improve vision by reducing glare from bright sunlight during the day and oncoming headlights at night.
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They reduce eye fatigue by eliminating ghost images, making vision more comfortable.
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They enhance appearance by reducing reflections on the lens surface.
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Polarized Lenses: Polarized lenses are used in sunglasses to reduce bright sunlight glare and provide superior outdoor contrast. They have less than half the glare of regular tinted lenses and include scratch-resistant coating and ultraviolet protection.
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Lens Tinting: Lens tinting is an available option that can be applied to many lens materials in an array of colors. Lens tinting can reduce glare or can be used to enhance appearance.
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Mirror Coating: A mirror coating is applied to sunglasses to add extra protection from sun glare and make the lens look like a mirror. Mirror coatings are offered in many colors.
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At Polaris Eye & Laser, we have the experience to guide you toward eyewear that is functional, comfortable, and complementary to your appearance.
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Contact us today!
Schedule an appointment with us online or call us at (408) 358-3932.
You will receive the latest in eyecare technology from our friendly eye doctors and staff committed to serving you.
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