If you are having trouble getting use to your progressive lens, there is some advancement to the standard progressive lens that may be helpful to you. Some of the problems people have complained about is they don’t feel like they have enough reading area or they feel like there is too much distortion in the side vision or they get dizzy going from distance to near vision. This new technology confronts these problems.

The newest advancements in progressives are called “free form technology” and even among free form technology there are differences. In standard progressives, the multifocal is molded in the front surface of the lens. Free form technology takes intelligent software and optimizes the multifocal in the back surface of the progressive putting the multifocal closer to the eye thus giving you less distortion and a wider field of vision. This process improves your distance vision over the standard progressive.

Other free form technology fully integrates both surfaces of the lens putting the vertical part of the progressive on the front and the horizontal part of the progressive on the back. This reduces the eye movement between the distance and the near part of the lens. It gives the patient perfect balance and a more comfortable peripheral vision. It also virtually eliminates that swimming and swaying sensation that some wearers have.

The pinnacle of personalized lens design is the “Free Form iD MyStyle.”

This lens design utilized the new MyStyle iDentifier interactive patient consultation program to gather information about the patient, including lifestyle requirements and wearer preferences. It then analyzes the data from the iDentifier to create a lens that is uniquely personalized to the patient. For the first time ever, a visual experience created by using lifestyle input from the patient. Comfort, clarity and performance like you have never experienced before. A lens design that evolves as the patient’s activities, Rx and needs change.

If you want thinner lighter weight lens than High Index are right for you.

High index lenses are available in either glass or plastic. Different manufacturers make different high index lenses, and what sets each lens apart from the others is its index of refraction (IOR). The higher the IOR, the denser the material. All things being equal, a 1.67 IOR material will result in a thinner and lighter-weight lens than a 1.57 IOR material will.
Generally, the higher the IOR, the higher the cost of the lenses will be. The thinnest, most lightweight lenses are typically the most expensive. With high index lenses, it seems that the less you get, the more you pay.
Regardless of the index of refraction, plastic high index lenses tend to be lighter in weight than glass high index lenses, simply because plastic weighs less than glass to begin with.

If you want high-index lenses, be sure to ask for them, but rely on your eye doctor’s or optician’s advice regarding which index to use. They can explain which index makes the most sense for your exact prescription. Most popular lens designs; single vision, bifocal, trifocal, progressive and photo chromatic come in high-index materials, and your doctor or optician will know which ones are available in your prescription.

High Index lenses are available in clear, polarized and photo chromatic.

Dawson’s Vision Center is the only Optical Shop in this area that has a full service laboratory on its premises. What does this mean? We have the experience and equipment to make your glasses in our own lab in our own store location as opposed to mailing your order to an outside lab. We can have most glasses made the same day often in 2 to 3 hours. Even if we have to order the material for your lens or have to order the frame in another size or color, we can usually have it in 3 to 4 days instead of 1 to 2 weeks like other stores. We can also order your frame or lens if needed next day air for a small charge.

Think sunglasses are just for summer?

Harmful UV rays not only damage your skin but can be harmful to your eyes as well. UV rays are cumulative over time starting at birth. This cumulative effect continues as we age increasing our risk of eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. With this in mind, it’s especially important for kids to protect their eyes from the sun. Children generally spend much more time outdoors than adults.

In fact, experts say nearly 50 percent (or more) of our lifetime exposure to UV rays may occur by age 18, given that many children spend significantly more time outdoors than the average adult.
Therefore, make sure your kids’ eyes are protected from the sun with good quality sunglasses. Also, encourage your child to wear a hat on sunny days to further reduce UV exposure.

Be sure when you purchase sunglasses that they block out 99% – 100% of the UVA and UVB rays.
Sunglasses should be worn year around. Most people think of Summer and sunglasses but just because it is cooler in the Winter or fall, you are still being exposed to the harmful UV rays.