Technology and Functionality of Light-Adaptive Lenses Photochromic lenses work through molecules embedded in the lens that react to UV light. These molecules undergo a chemical change when exposed to UV rays, causing the lenses to darken. When no longer exposed to UV light, the lenses return to being clear, easing eye strain and making your … Continued
Polarized lenses have a rich history rooted in both science and practical use. Dr. Edwin Land, founder of the Polaroid Corporation, pioneered synthetic polarizing materials for commercial use in the 1930s, leading to everyday products like 3D glasses and polarized sunglasses. Scientists have observed polarization since the 1600s, with significant contributions by Étienne-Louis Malus in … Continued
(NEEF USA 2024) The Importance of Rx Sunwear for Children Prescription sunwear is essential for protecting children’s eyes while helping them see clearer, especially with the amount of time they spend outside for activities like school recess, sports, and playtime. Just like sunscreen protects their skin, Rx sunwear is crucial for shielding young eyes from … Continued
It’s also important to consider the prescription when evaluating the fit. For stronger prescriptions, the curvature of the wrap frame may need to be slightly adjusted to accommodate the lenses, which could affect how tightly the frame fits compared to the initial try-on. Patients should understand that the final fit may feel less snug than … Continued
General Tinting Tips for Any Material For the best tint results, it’s recommended to use lenses from the same manufacturer and batch, as slight variations in manufacturing can impact how well the lenses absorb tint, even within the same material type. Before tinting, thoroughly clean the lenses with lens soap to remove any oils, dust, … Continued
In addition to tints, lens treatments like polarized, mirror, and anti-reflective (AR) can further enhance comfort and clarity: Polarized Lenses: Reduce glare from reflective surfaces like water, snow, or pavement, improving clarity and reducing eye strain. They’re beneficial for activities like boating, fishing, and driving. Mirror Coatings: Create a reflective surface on the lens that … Continued
Helping patients understand the health risks of UV exposure is essential, and as opticians, you play a key role in guiding them toward adequate protection. Here’s how you can educate your patients: Explain the Health RisksStart by discussing the cumulative impact of UV radiation on eye health. Emphasize the higher risks for people who spend … Continued
While the visible spectrum is just a narrow band, other wavelengths around it, like UV and infrared radiation, can also affect our bodies. UV radiation, which spans wavelengths between 100 and 400 nanometers (nm), has enough energy to cause biological changes, particularly in our skin and eyes. When looking at the electromagnetic spectrum, UV-A and … Continued
Mastering RX Sunwear and Rimless Eyewear Introduction Opticians must stay current on the latest advancements in lens technology, protective features, and customization options as the demand for a blend of style and function in eyewear continues to grow. This course will guide you through the essential role of Rx sunwear in protecting the eyes from … Continued
Click to download and print the course. To get the most out of this course, we recommend completing it in an environment free from distractions. Platform Instructions If you prefer to print the course and test questions, the PDF version is located below. Download & Print Courses are now broken down into Lessons. You can … Continued
Conclusion The world of optics is more than just lenses and prescriptions; it’s about understanding the ocular structures that provide sight and knowing when ocular conditions may affect vision. Only then can the eye care professional have a full comprehension of how spectacle lenses can help correct a refractive error. Additionally, a deeper understanding of … Continued
ANSWERS: 1) The optical cross would look like below when filled in: From here, you can determine the base curve and the prescription: You could also have determined the Rx as -4.50 -0.25 x 180 if transposing. 2) The optical cross would look like below when filled in: From here, you can determine the base … Continued
You see the front curve, or base curve, is +6.00 D. The back curve, or ocular curve, however, shows two powers: -8.50 D along the vertical or 090 degree meridian, and -8.00 D along the horizontal or 180 degree meridian. Since the back surface contains two powers, it means the cylinder is on the back … Continued
Total Lens Power Now that we have covered how the optical cross works to visualize a prescription onto the optical cross as well as from the optical cross, let’s dive into the concept of total lens power. You can determine the total power of a lens when provided with the optical cross as well. In … Continued
Pulling a Prescription from an Optical Cross When you’re given the optical cross and you want to determine the prescription, there are three steps you can follow. Take the lowest diopter value on the cross: that’s your sphere Take the meridian that the lowest diopter value is on: that’s your axis Difference between the two … Continued
Now go ahead and lay the lenses on top of each other and observe what the result is. So, our original prescription, -1.50 -2.00 x 045, actually yields a lens that has a prescription of a power of -1.50 at the 045 degree meridian and a -3.50 at the 135 degree meridian. With both of … Continued
Now you’re ready to place the cylinder power on the optical cross. Visualize the cylinder with the 180, 090, and 0 degrees. Remember that the degree you have been provided (045) is associated with the sphere power. For that reason, you can plug plano onto that meridian. You’ve already calculated the other principal meridian of … Continued
Plug the sphere power of the prescription into the sphere lens first. The sphere lens will include the 090 and 180 degree meridians, and when working with axis degrees that are outside these meridians, such as the prescription we’re working with now, you’ll need to include the 0 degrees on the opposite side of the … Continued