Spectacles / Lenses

Single Vision Lenses

Enhanced Reading Lenses

Bifocal Lenses

Varifocal Lenses

Thinner Lenses

Photochromic Lenses

Sunglass Lenses

Lens Coatings

Single vision lenses are the simplest form of lens and the most commonly required. If you are short  sighted (myopic), long sighted (hypermetropic), astigmatic, or just require reading spectacles (presbyopia) then a single vision lens will probably meet your requirements. If you wear bifocal or varifocal lenses (presbyopia) some people find a separate single vision pair can be useful for prolonged reading, VDU use or for a specific hobby.

Enhanced reading lenses provide a greater depth of focus than conventional single vision lenses for reading. Also known as office lenses, the top half of the lens will have a longer focal distance at the top and closer at the bottom. As the term "office lens" implies these have been developed for use with the VDU although have other applications such as for use with reading music or DIY. Like a varifocal lens they have no line but will give a much wider field of vision for the intermediate distance. They have a little or no distance vision and are not suitable for driving.

Bifocal Lenses provide two different focal distances, normally for distance vision at the top and reading in a visible segment at the bottom. These lenses are a solution to the problem of presbyopia and will allow separate distance and reading prescriptions in one lens rather than swapping between two different pairs.

Varifocal lenses also combine a distance and reading prescription in one lens, but rather than a visible step to the reading area there is a smooth transition down the lens. Not only is a varifocal better cosmetically, it also gives a portion of the lens suitable for viewing objects at arms length, such as a computer screen or prices on shop shelves, which can be awkward to view with a bifocal.

It can take a little while to get used to varifocal lenses but with the right type of varifocal and the advice from our qualified Dispensing Opticians there are very few people who cannot adapt to them.

You used to need a larger frame for varifocals but as fashions have changed towards smaller spectacles varifocal lenses have been designed that are suitable for today's modern styles giving you much more freedom of choice than before. Other developments have created lenses that give wider clear areas across the lens. See our Varifocal FAQ page for more information.

We can make your lenses up to 40% thinner with a high index material. If you are unhappy with the appearance of your lenses and feel that they are too thick and heavy we can help with this problem. High index materials are available for single vision, bifocal and varifocal lenses.

Photochromic lenses react with ultraviolet light causing them to go dark when you are outside and then fade when you return indoors. Modern photochromic lenses go dark in about 30 seconds, although they are slower to fade. Because they react to ultraviolet light they don't tend to work too well in a car as the windscreen will block off UV. Photochromics are available in varifocal, bifocal and single vision lenses and high index materials.

Most lens materials can be tinted to almost any colour required, whether this is just a tint for cosmetic reasons or for sunspecs. Polarised lenses are sunglass lenses that will cut down on the glare you get from sun shining on wet surfaces and so are very useful for driving, holiday or fishing.

Coatings can be applied to lenses that will make them more resistant to

scratching or reduce the amount of light reflected from the lens. Reflection free coatings make the lenses look better by making them appear more transparent as more light can pass through the lens allowing you to see the eye behind the lens. They also stop the problem of the spectacle wearer seeing ghost images on the lens which can be particularly troubling when driving at night or using a VDU screen. New anti static layers on the coating can make the lenses easier to keep clean.