Lens Types

At Southwestern Eye Center we offer a wide variety of lenses and add-ons for your eyeglasses. Many people can be confused with some of the new technology so we have listed out some of the options below.

Single Vision Lenses

Single vision glasses are designed to help people who require correction of farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism. These eyeglasses have just a single optical prescription correction and they distribute focus evenly over the entire surface area of the lens. Most people that wear glasses usually get this type. If you have multiple prescriptions you would require bifocal or multifocal eyeglasses.

Progressive Lenses

Progressive or varifocal lenses provide a smooth transition from distance correction to near correction, eliminating segment lines and allowing clear vision at all distances, including intermediate, near and far. Progressive lenses are also known as no-line bifocal lenses. With these specialty lenses, the prescription at the top of the lens is different from that at the bottom of the lens. It differs from a bi-focal as there is a gradual shift in the prescription instead of a blunt line made in the lens. The very top part of the lens works well for distance. The bottom portion gets progressively stronger ending with the strongest portion at the very bottom for reading. A progressive lens allows the wearer to view all ranges of vision from near to far. Additionally, the lenses look identical to single vision lenses, with no lines, allowing others to only see your eyes!

Bifocal Lenses

The primary purpose of glasses bifocals is to provide the optimal balance between distance vision and near vision focusing needs. Eyeglasses with bifocal lenses are available with the reading segments in a variety of shapes and widths including bifocal sunglass options.

Trifocal lenses

Trifocal lenses are similar to bifocals, except that the two focal areas are separated by a third middle area with intermediate focus correction. This area is used for intermediate vision; roughly at arms’ length, e.g. computer distance. This lens type has two segment lines, dividing the three different correcting segments.