*Bonjour et merci for posting this at just the time I, too, have a question
about lens choice.

I want the best optics possible. Someone I spoke with suggested that CR39
(which is also least expensive) has better optical qualities -- which seemed
to mean less distortion -- than polycarbonate.
Can anyone here enlighten me further about that?

My Rx is primarily for a high degree of astigmatism, but I don't think I
need to spring for a high-index lens, since only part of the lens will look
thick.
Furthermore, these are going to be reading/computer lined-bifocals (so
fashion is relatively unimportant here).

My thanks for any clarification any of you can give.

Jane*




On Sun, Jan 25, 2009 at 2:57 PM, Chuck Knight <[email protected]> wrote:

> OK, let's take your questions in order.
>
> 1)  The numbers you mention are refractive indexes.  The bigger the number,
> the thinner the lenses will be.  Only you can decide whether the difference
> in cost is justified, but to make it easier, opticampus has an online lens
> thickness calculator.  You enter in your prescription, and it estimates the
> thickness of the lens edges.
>
> http://www.opticampus.com/tools/thickness.php
>
> 2)  UV coatings are a way to make the lenses resist UV light.  Each
> retailer produces a different product, so the easiest way to see if it's
> included is to read the description.  If you're in doubt about the
> details...ask the retailer.
>
> To further complicate matters, UV (ultraviolet) resistance is inherent to
> the 1.56 polycarbonate material -- the other lens materials may or may not
> have UV resistance built in.
>
> 3)  AR is Anti-Reflection.  It's a coating that makes the lenses less
> visible, and makes them reflect light less obviously.  Here is a video that
> explains it quite well.
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLEmSsIqw4Q&feature=channel
>
> 4)  Semantics, though if you're in doubt, ask someone at the dispensary.
>
> 5)  Tints are rated in percentage form, by how much light they block.  i.e.
> 40% is less opaque than 80%.  Most companies will make only 80% or less.
>
> 6)  It's just a way to block light.  I, personally, wear a pair of 80% dark
> amber lenses...brown, in your parlance.  They work great, and I like them
> very much.  My previous pair of sunglasses was 80% gray...from a functional
> standpoint, it's the same thing, but with a color shift.  The colors through
> gray were more neutral.
>
> 7)  Gradient tint...
>
> 8)  I'm sorry, but I never took French.  If there's something on your
> prescription that you don't understand, I *always* say that you should ask
> your doctor, or maybe his nurse.  But, have the office clarify anything you
> don't understand.
>
> You said you speak French...where are you located?  Different countries
> have different laws regarding the release of medical information.  Maybe
> someone on the list can advise you with regards to the specifics for your
> locale.
>
> Hope this helps!
>
>      -- Chuck Knight
>
> P.S.  From your email address, I'm guessing you're interested in physics.
> Nice choice!
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 25, 2009 at 11:42 AM, Woe <[email protected]>wrote:
>
>>
>> Hi everyone :)
>>
>> Fist,I want to thank Ira a lot for his blog and this place.You changed
>> completely the way I'm seeing the world.Quite litteraly in fact :)
>>
>> How can I say this...My glasses where "deathly wounded" about 2 weeks
>> ago.They were berely wearable.While desperately searching online for
>> prices I found your blog.And I don't think I'll ever buy glasses in
>> store.Now I can even have beatiful glasses,fashionable...And change
>> them when I want!Even sunglasses!Seriously,I spent one full day in
>> some kind of dazzed exitement when the realisation hit me.
>>
>> And now  time has come to make a move.
>>
>> Since I'm a french speaker I don't understand some formulation or
>> words.And I forgot to ask my optometrist some questions.Not sure he
>> would have answered anyway,I was clear about my intention to buy
>> online.He refused to give me my pupillary distance,saying it was the
>> optitian's job.
>>
>> I intend to start with 3 pairs of glasses.One bendable but simple,one
>> more fashion,funky,and one pair of sunglasses.My intention is to buy
>> from at least 2 stores,if possible 3.
>>
>>
>> What stresses me is the type of lenses (1.57 , 1.61 , 1.67,etch) and
>> the types of coating.I'm pretty sure I found those informations when I
>> was looking at the reviews but I can't find it now than I need it.
>>
>> And I'm sorry to ramble so much.Fact is than I'm exited to try...And
>> anxious too,a lot.
>>
>> I'll try my best to translate informations from my prescription
>>
>>  |                  |         |   Spherical     |  Cylindrical
>> |     Axis       |    Prism         |   Vertex
>>
>> far vision          E.R.    -5.75
>>                       E.L.     -5.75
>> +0.50                  085
>>
>> _____________________________________________________________________________
>> optical ecart (google's traduction)  |    A.V(??)     |
>>  ____________________________|___________|
>> ________________________________
>> |     far                            near       |                   |
>> E.R                                E.R       |  E.R  6/6      |
>> E.L                                 E.L       | E.L    6/6     |
>>
>>
>> I've put only the informations where something was hand written.The
>> prescription was not made on a computer but on a paper pad with the
>> clinic's logo.
>>
>>
>> So my questions are:
>>
>> 1: Witch type of lenses should I look for?(1.57 , 1.61 ...?)I don't
>> want to pay for thinner (or the thinnest) lenses if the difference
>> would be minimal.I'll do the shopping,I just miss a number target.
>>
>> 2: I saw somewhere tant the UV coating was at some place included in
>> the price and at others already in the lenses.How do I know it's
>> already there?
>>
>> 3:What's the AR coating?
>>
>> 4: Anti reflective coating...Is it the same thing as Antiglare?Looks
>> like it to me,but I'm just not sure.If it's not,what is the difference?
>> Would I need either anyway?
>>
>> 5:Tints...I think I saw somewhere that brown was best for
>> protection.But a wich %?I'm searching an almost completely opaque
>> ideally.I mean tha my eyes would be barely visible while I'm wearing
>> it.Well,if it even exists.Never had one in my entire life^^Never
>> looked for it either.
>>
>> 6:Not crazy about the brown anyway...Is it possible to obtain an
>> equivalent protection and opacity with black or gray?Or mirror?(That
>> one is from my boyfriend :D)At about wich % ?
>>
>> 7:As far as you know,is (I don't know how to say it...) progressive
>> tint existing somewhere?I mean that the color is darker in the upper
>> part of the lenses,going progressivelly clearer,see-trought.I searched
>> for it on a few web sites,but if they have it,it's somewere I did't
>> looked or I didn't understood what it meant.
>>
>> 8: What this A.V. in french could mean?
>>
>> I'm sorry if I ask questions allready answered a million times.And I'm
>> sorry if the answers are somewhere not too far,I was unable to find
>> it.
>>
>> Ant I'll share the knowledge gladly when the occasion present itself :)
>>
>>
>>
>
> >
>

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