Eyeglasses may be ancient in their origins. But in many ways, they are more popular than ever, despite recent innovations in contact lenses and vision correction surgery.
Frame styles branded with high profile designer names like Calvin Klein, Jones New York, and Marc Jacobs continue to be in demand. And even for youngsters who might ordinarily dread the "nerd" factor of wearing eyeglasses, popular fiction characters like the bespectacled young wizard, Harry Potter, have become role models.
Eyeglass Frame Materials
Eyeglass frame materials, too, have been revolutionized with the advent of new plastics and various types of metals. Frames generally are fabricated from plastic or metal, but a wide variety of materials can be used, depending on the desired characteristics of the frame.
For example, for safety glasses, you may require a durable, lightweight frame material, such as polycarbonate. If you suffer from skin allergies, you probably should look for eyeglass frames made of hypoallergenic materials, such as titanium or stainless steel, to avoid a skin condition known as contact dermatitis.
Some eyeglass frames have components that can be snapped into place, rather than attached by screws or other means. This type of feature can be handy if you choose to "mix and match" different colored temples with the same set of lenses.
Certain types of eyeglass frames now also are highly flexible, which reduces the possibility of breakage. Spring hinges are also flexible. These types of frames are ideal for kids' eyeglasses, because of the durability factor.
Improved designs of nose pads also contribute to comfort and the look of how eyeglasses are positioned in front of the face. New silicone nose pads, for example, can prevent "slippage" but are so lightweight and soft that they are hardly noticeable.
Eyeglass Frame Styles
Eyeglasses have also become quite stylish as fashion accessories, especially among fans of high end designers. Many people choose frames the same way they choose shoes or handbags-selecting different colors and styles to match their wardrobes.
Multicolored inlays, composite materials, designer emblems, and enhancements such as insets of precious stones may also be found in popular frame styles.
Rimless styles have become more popular in recent years as an understated way to wear eyeglasses without obvious frames. Rimless styles mainly involve attaching plastic or metal temples directly onto the lenses rather than onto a frame.
New eyeglass frame styles continually are being announced. Innovations include wood and bamboo frame materials and bold shapes, colors and designs in both plastic and metal frames.
Women' s eyeglasses now are available in playful cat-eye shapes, as well as cutouts with elaborate design elements including swirls and angular patterns.Men' s eyeglasses have extra flair this season, with new styles that include classy designer logos and patterns embedded in translucent backgrounds.
Unisex eyeglasses for both men and women include plenty of rimless styles, which are popular as a good, generic fit for both sexes.Kids' eyeglasses may look similar in style to those worn by adults, but are often more colorful with emphasis on durability to save parents the expense of constant replacements.
Advances in Eyeglass Lenses
Other reasons for the enduring popularity of eyeglasses include technology advances that make modern lenses thinner, lighter and more attractive than ever before.
Some of the most popular eyeglass lenses and lens treatments prescribed today include:
Aspheric lenses, which provide a slimmer, more attractive profile and sharper peripheral vision than conventional eyeglass lenses.
High-index plastic lenses that are thinner and lighter than conventional lenses and provide better built-in protection against the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Wavefront technology lenses are fabricated based on very precise measurements of the way light travels through your eye, which helps sharpen visual clarity.
Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses are thinner, lighter and up to 10 times more impact-resistant than regular plastic lenses, making them the perfect choice for safety glasses, sports eyewear and eyeglasses for children and active adults.
Photochromic lenses are clear lenses that provide 100 percent UV protection and automatically darken in response to sunlight to reduce the need for prescription sunglasses.
Polarized lenses diminish glare from flat, reflective surfaces (like water) and also reduce eye fatigue.
Anti-reflective coating is a popular add-on for lenses. AR (anti-reflective) coating can dramatically improve the look and comfort of your glasses by reducing distracting lens reflections that interfere with eye contact and make your lenses look thicker. AR-coated lenses also reduce glare and allow more light into your eyes for better night vision.
Eyeglass Lenses for Presbyopia
Presbyopia is the normal age-related loss of focusing ability that affects virtually everyone after age 40. At some point, small print becomes impossible to read without multifocal lenses (if you already wear eyeglasses for nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism) or single vision reading glasses (if you don't need prescription lenses to see distant objects clearly).
Multifocal and single vision eyeglass lenses available for presbyopia correction include:
Sunglasses
From a timeless aviator look to the sophistication of new designer styles, sunglasses are as common in outdoor settings as seashells on a beach. These days, the debate among sunglass wearers focuses on protection versus style. As much as sunglasses make a fashion statement, they also serve as an important device to protect your eye's health from damaging UV rays.
Plano sunglasses. "Plano" is the term used to describe lenses that contain no power for the correction of refractive errors or presbyopia. You don't need a prescription to buy plano sunglasses and you can find them in a variety of frame materials, including plastic and metals such as titanium, aluminum and stainless steel. Plano sunglasses are a good choice for anyone who has naturally good vision without corrective lenses and for contact lens wearers. Also, clip-on plano sunglasses can convert prescription eyeglasses into prescription sunglasses.
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