Lens Technology

As mentioned in an earlier post, Kodak have introduced a new progressive lens with “Anti Fatigue Technology”. Claudia and I were invited to attend a seminar where the philosophy and manufacturing process of this new approach to “anti-fatigue” progressive lens design was explained. For us as practicioners it is very important that we stay on top of technological developments not only on frame design, but in also on lens design. This is particularly true for progressive addition lenses (PAL) because the manufacturing technology for these kind of lenses seems to be developing incredibly fast. ... read more

Yesterday Claudia and I attended a seminar dealing with new technological developments to reduce eyestrain for progressive lens wearers. The topic is interesting for several reasons. The first one is personal as I sometimes experience fatigue when I read for longer periods. Secondly, the idea of this new technology was developed by an optometrist who wanted to help his patients see better. It was then developed further by Kodak Lens and is now available in the newest Kodak Lens progressive lenses. Thirdly, amongst all the different progressive lenses on the market today, the idea of this one really stands out. So what is it all about? ... read more

Much has been written and said about progressive powered lenses. Today there are many different designs available from many different manufacturers. The choice is such, that many progressive lens wearers are starting to get confused. “What type of lens is the right one for me?” “Are they not all just the same anyway?” “Or are they just trying to sell me the most expensive one?” ... read more

I belong to those lucky people who can enjoy a really pleasant drive to work in the morning. OK, I would prefer to walk to work, but at 35 kilometres, it really is a little too far. So, my drive takes me along the coastal highway to Motueka, past picturesque Ruby Bay and the Motueka Inlet. Since the sun always shines in this part of New Zealand, it is probably one of the nicest drives one can imagine. Especially the stretch just past Ruby Bay along the waterfront. However, this morning the situation was extreme. The sun was still sitting very low with it’s rays being reflected not only on the water, but also on the still slightly wet road. I was so glad I was wearing my old prescription Polaroid sunglasses and was hoping that all the other drivers around me were as well. Usually I listen to the National Program’s “Morning Report” during my drive. Today I did the same. Sean Plunket usually delivers the latest in traffic warnings around 9.30am and so he did today. ... read more

This is a common complaint by many people who are doing a lot of reading, working in an office environment and have to wear glasses for reading. On a typical day, most office workers spend more than six hours in front of a computer screen. Even for those with excellent vision, staring at a VDU screen all day can cause eyestrain, headaches, watery eyes – the list goes on. ... read more

Today we received a large promotional pamphlet from Transitions, the world leader in colour changing self-tinting lens technology. We have discussed the benefits and performance of Transitions lenses before and if you are interested in refreshing your memory, you can do so by clicking here. This particular promotion is aimed at promoting Transitions lenses and offering them to every single customer who enters an optometry practice or optical shop. There is a grand prize of $20,000 offered for the person who purchases a pair of Transitions and wins the “Live Your Vision” photo competition during the months of June and July. But then there is also a prize for the optical practice where the client bought her/his Transition lenses. Great news? Maybe, maybe not! You see as professionals, we should only recommend what we feel is of benefit to you our client, not something that promises us to win great prizes. ... read more

Probably the only complaint we receive about Transitions lenses is that many people feel they don’t go dark enough behind a windscreen to give good glare protection. Unfortunately this is true, simply because Transitions lenses on their own require ultra violet light to react and  to go dark. The problem is that behind the windscreen of a car, there just isn’t enough ultra violet light available for them to go dark to their full extend. Now, unless you are driving a concertible with the roof folded, you would have experienced exactly that. So what is the solution to this? ... read more

A couple of weeks ago we attended a seminar conducted by the French lens manufacturer Essilor. One of the more interesting topics discussed was the performance of the new generation of self-tinting lenses, namely the Transitions VI lenses. ... read more

“I really like the idea of rimless eyeglasses. It’s a pity they are not suitable for me.” That is a comment I heard today from a client who was looking at our collection of Lindberg Spirit frames. Needless to say, I was intrigued. “What makes you say that you cannot wear rimless frames?” I asked. “Well, I really like the idea of rimless eyeglasses, but I was told that I can’t have it because of my high prescription and because the lenses would chip too easily”. ... read more

It is surprising to hear, that many people have never heard of “Office” or “Occupational” glasses. Many people, after having had a comprehensive eye test, think that reading glasses or progressive glasses are the only answers for use in an office environment. That is why we decided to address a type of lens that actually has been specifically designed for the modern office environment. ... read more