We are pleased to include a glossary of terms of optical lens options.

Popular lenses:

Glass lens. The oldest of lenses. Inexpensive, but very heavy in weight, little to no breakage protection. Considered unsafe in most applications.

Plastic lens. Newer lighter lenses, very good breakage protection, known as CR39 lenses.

Polycarbonate lens. High end plastic lenses, lighter and thinner, excellent breakage protection, highly recommended for active children and adult sports.

High index lens. A special thinner lens when a heavy prescription would normally result in thick lens.

Super High index lens. Same as above but lens can be made into ultra thin lenses for today's small designer and half rim frames.

Progressive lens. The latest in bifocal technology, a lens where there is a gradual shift from near to far without disruptive traditional 'lines' on the lens.

Transition lens. Special high tech lenses that automatically change from light to dark when responding to ambient light.

Popular coatings:

Anti Reflective (A/R) Coating. Special lens coating that reduces reflections on the lens surface and enhances visibility through the lens.

Scratch Resistant Coating. Lens coating that helps minimize damage to lens from gritty substances such as sand, or when glasses are put down on a damaging surface.

Ultraviolet (UV) Coating. Lens coating that substantially reduces the amount of exposure to the eye from damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun.

Tinting. Lens coating that permanently changes the color of the lens to either a light cosmetic color or to a deep color for sunglasses.