A comprehensive introduction of eyewear

Along with their popularity, eyeglasses are still under continuous innovations. This type of device has been around for several centuries and has served and will continue to serve millions of folks. This writing describes comprehensively about various aspects of eyeglasses: frame materials, lens types, lens focal points, sunglasses types, specialty eyewear and buying tips.

Materials for eyeglass frames

Both plastic and metals are undergoing a rapid change in new types. For example, polycarbonate frames are created to offer a more tough solution, and frames made of hypoallergenic materials such as titanium and stainless steel can eliminate potential skin allergies in some people. Flexible designs such as spring hinges provide extra durability for children. There are also new types of nose pads for eyeglasses frames such as silicone nose pads.

Eyeglass frame styles require more innovations, since a large amount of wearers change their eyeglasses as they change shoes, handbags as well as some other accessories. Rimless styles offer another completely different look to some fashion fans. Special materials such as wood and bamboo are now used to manufacture eyeglass frames. Currently, there is a clear classification of eyeglass frames in accordance to gender, such as women’s frames, men’s frames and unisex frames.

Types of eyeglass lenses

Eyeglass lenses are also developing rapidly. Nowadays, new designs of eyeglass lenses are thinner even with a heavy prescription. Aspheric lenses are not perfectly round on the surface. High-index lenses are made of special plastic, which reduce lens thickness considerably. Wavefront lenses take full use of the way light travels through people’s eyes so that they are supposed to provide sharper vision. Polycarbonate lenses are lighter, thinner and more shatter-resistant than traditional plastic lenses. Photochromic lenses can darken in bright conditions and return to clear once bright light disappears. Polarized lenses are designed to diminish sun glare. Anti-reflective lenses are treated with anti-reflective coating to minimize reflected light on the lenses.

Single vision eyeglasses and mutifocals

Presbyopia is a common and bothersome eye problem in people above 40. Usual single-vision lenses are incompetent to deal with vision problems in presbyopic individuals. One unusual type of single-vision lenses is reading glasses that are exclusively for near vision. Multifocal lens types include bifocal lenses, trifocal lenses and progressive lenses. While a bifocal lens has a near focal point and a distance focal point, a trifocal lens adds an intermediate focal point. The more powerful lens type named progressive lens offers a smooth and comfortable transition from one distance to another and also removes the visible lines in bifocal and trifocal lenses.

Different types of sunglasses

Most of the modern sunglasses provide both fashion enjoyment and good UV protection. Kids’ sunglasses are designed to flatter the particular needs of children, such as cat-eye shaped sunglasses. Prescription sunglasses are a great innovation, which offers a best solution to people who need prescription eyeglasses during outdoor activities. Plano sunglasses are non-prescription eyewear. They can offer more options in material such as titanium, aluminum, plastic and stainless steel. Clip-on sunglasses are becoming more and more popular due to their convenience. Designer sunglasses such as Armani always tend to mimic current trends.

Specialty eyewear

Sports and safety eyewear are also two major categories. Certain sports and recreational activities require special sport sunglasses and performance eyewear for best eye protection and unaffected performance. Some of these types include diving masks, swim goggles, ski goggles, shooting glasses etc… Some dangerous environments such as construction sites require specialty safety glasses or goggles.

Tips for choosing glasses

Eyeglass buying is tricky. The glasses you selected should conform to your appearance, personal taste, face shape and coloring. Some types of lenses do not go with certain frames. For instance, progressive lenses usually do not match smaller, stylish frames. Buying eyeglasses online has both advantages and disadvantages. Careful preparation is necessary.