Eyeglass lenses have advanced to offer more options for various vision problems. One convincing example is the invention and progression of multifocal lenses for presbyopia correction.

Polarized sunglasses were originally used to reduce reflected glare from the water in boating and fishing fields. With the development of polarized sunglasses, many others who participate in outdoor activities that require clear vision, such as skiers, bikers, golfers, joggers and so on are also interested in polarized sunglasses. Polarized sunglasses not only can reduce the glare from long, flat surfaces, but also are suitable for light-sensitive individuals working indoors, such as those continually exposed to light throw windows.

Progressive addition lenses are mostly great for all distances. With soft design, these lenses provide acceptable and comfortable vision. Some eye doctors also think that progressive lenses offer much more natural and usable vision than bifocals and trifocals. Unlike bifocals and trifocals, progressive lenses have as many as nearly 20 focal points. There are many notable brands available such as Zeiss. Incorrectly positioned progressive lenses can cause blurry vision. Plastic markers can be used to check the right positioning of progressive lenses, both side to side and up and down.

Most people with presbyopia get satisfying vision correction from conventional bifocal or trifocal lenses. But for those spending all day long in a job or hobby that requires only near vision or distance vision, special occupational bifocals or trifocals are needed. These special occupational multifocal lenses have unusual placement of near, intermediate and far vision zones in the lenses, meeting different, specific needs.

People with presbyopia have difficulty in reading close materials and they need reading prescription in their lenses. While many presbyopic individuals resort to bifocals, trifocals and progressive lenses, single-vision reading glasses are more suitable for a person who is a first-time eyeglasses wearer.

Blue-blocking lenses are traditionally used to block those harmful blue rays. However, blue-blocking lenses have been proved by scientists from John Carroll University in Cleveland to provide additional benefits. These new lenses are claimed to benefit people who have difficulty falling asleep at night. Blue light rays are supposed to delay the production of melatonin, which helps induce sleep as part of natural biological clock. In this case, by blocking blue rays during several hours before bedtime, these blue-blocking lenses can actually improve sleep patterns. In addition, those researchers say that blue-blocking lenses can also reduce symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

People with presbyopia are supposed to buy reading glasses from eye doctors, rather than simply pick up one pair from drugstores. On one hand, those one-size-fit-all reading glasses are problematic for people with different prescriptions in two eyes, resulting in side effects such as headache. On the other hand, regular eye exams from eye doctors can detect underlying vision problems as early as possible.

Trivex is a mid-index plastic that is also lightweight and durable. Now this material has been used to manufacture Definity progressive lenses by Essilor of America. The company claims that these new Definity lenses provide a wider view of distance vision as well as a better aligned intermediate vision. Currently these lenses are available in clear, Transitions IV photochromic gray or brown.

The size of eyeglass frames also has standard format, such as 48-19-140. The first number is the size of the lenses and the second number represents the bridge size. The third one indicates the temple length. Different wearers require individual frame measurements and fitting. With these standardized size measurements, manufactures can provide accurate eyeglass frames.

Some people think that eyeglass wearing makes the wearer rely on them. In fact, eyeglass wearing causes no permanent visual change. Based on the misconception, those people are not willing to wear eyeglasses when they just feel good with the vision. But in sometimes, their actual vision is burry, thus bringing more risk when they are driving on the highway, especially at night.