There are lots of different spectacle lens manufacturers and one of the perks of visiting an independent optician practice is that we are not limited in our lens options. We mainly work with the lens companies Essilor and HOYA but we have access to many other manufacturers depending on your specific needs.
In most cases we will fit your lenses into your frame in our on site lab to ensure that the finish is up to our high standards. This means that your spectacle frames do not leave the building and often the turn around time is quicker than if we were to use an offsite lab.
Our expert team, which includes 2 qualified dispensing opticians, will be able to guide you through the lens options available to you and which will best suit your individual needs. At Julian May Opticians we are able to spend as much time as necessary with our patients to ensure that we choose the perfect frames and lenses.
Lens Options Available
High Refractive Index
(or High Index)
High refractive index lenses are designed to be thinner and lighter than conventional lenses, making them ideal for individuals with higher prescriptions. These lenses have a higher refractive index, typically ranging from 1.57 to 1.74, which allows them to bend light more efficiently.
Aspheric
Aspheric lenses have a more complex front surface with a gradual curve, which improves light refraction onto the retina. They are designed to minimize spherical aberration and provide a slimmer profile.
Bifocal
Bifocal lenses have two distinct sections – usually the top part of the lens is for distance use and the bottom section or segment is used for near.
Trifocal
Trifocal lenses have three distinct sections – usually the top is for distance, the middle section for intermediate (for computer use or reading music perhaps) and the bottom is for close work.
Varifocal
Varifocal lenses have a smooth change in lens power, usually with the top of the lens for distance and gradually changing to near towards the bottom of the lens. Early varifocal lenses suffered with a lot of distortion towards the periphery or edge of the lens but technology has improved this massively over the last few years.
Photochromic
Photochromic lenses go darker in the sunshine and become clear indoors. Transitions, Sensity, Photogrey, Photobrown and Reactolite are all makers’ names for photochromic lenses.
Tints and coatings
Many lens types can be tinted in lots of different colours and to varying degrees of darkness. Certain colours are better for reducing glare or increasing contrast in different conditions and for different sports like cycling, fishing or golf.
Your lenses can be treated or finished with different coatings to make them more resistant to scratching, more transparent, easier to clean or to stop them fogging up.