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The world in which we live has become more varied and diverse than it was in the past.  Increasingly,
we find that a "one-size-fits-all" philosophy no longer applies. Both in the
workplace and at leisure, things have changed. With change has come the
increased need for clear, comfortable vision...in a variety of
situations.Today, many eyeglass wearers find that a single lens design doesn't perform adequately for their lifestyle. Their work-related tasks may center around computer screens and keyboards while their recreational activities center around fly rods, scuba diving or golf clubs. "Specialty Lenses" exist in a variety of designs that can optimize visual performance and comfort in almost any situation. Some of these designs are discussed below. Computer Lenses Working for long periods on a computer is a demanding visual task. Daily, millions of Americans use a computer for hours at a time, both at work and at play. Many of them routinely experience symptoms of headache, fatigue, blurry vision, scratchy eyes, or pain in the shoulders, neck or back.  Computer lenses are designed to wear when doing computer work. They allow you to focus your eyes comfortably on a computer screen, which is usually farther away than reading material is held. Computer lenses are available in a variety of configurations. Depending on your specific needs, you may be best served by modified reading lenses, special bifocals or progressive lenses. In many cases, progressive lenses work best. Progressive lenses created primarily for computer use vary somewhat from one manufacturer to another; your eye doctor can suggest which lens is best for you.
Driving Lenses Other
types of "glare" can be a problem when driving at night.
Headlights of oncoming cars can be blindingly bright. Any lens
reflects a certain amount of light off its front and rear
surfaces. You need all light possible entering your eyes to
help you see obstacles in the road, pedestrians, etc.
Anti-reflective
lenses decrease reflections and transmit more usable light to your
eyes. Under daylight conditions, anti-reflective lenses reflect
Sports Eyewear
A Few Points To Consider Golfing: An independent study in Golf Digest between bifocal wearers and progressive lens wearers showed noticeable improvement in the golf games of the progressive wearers as compared to current bifocal wearers. Photochromic lenses which adjust to varying light levels can be an advantage as well. Fishing/Boating: Uncomfortable glare from the water's surface is polarized, just like glare off car windshields and bumpers. Polarized sunglass lenses can not only help you see where the fish are, they can help you see that rock just below the surface of the water...in time to avoid it! Water is a great reflector of ultraviolet light so UV blocking in your lenses is highly recommended. Musical Instruments: Do you ever have trouble seeing your sheet music when playing the piano or other musical instrument? Do you have to tilt your head back to see clearly? Are things blurry because the music stand is too far away? Lenses designed specifically for the instrument you play can easily solve these problems. Snow Skiing: An amber or rose tint in your ski goggles will enhance the soft gray shadows on a ski slope that indicate ridges or bumps in the surface. Snow reflects high levels of ultraviolet light so UV blocking lenses should always be used. Target/Trap-shooting: Eye protection is a major consideration; polycarbonate lenses with a scratch-resistant surface should be mandatory. "Shooting tints" increase contrast. Polarized lenses filter out glare and reflection. Tennis/Racquet Sports: A recent report by Prevent Blindness America found that hospital emergency rooms treat over of 40,000 sports-related eye injuries each year. Tennis racquets and balls are an obvious eye hazard. Racquetballs can travel between 60 and 200 miles per hour. Here too, polycarbonate lenses should be mandatory. Swimming, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling: Prescription dive masks give you nearly the same vision underwater as you get on land with your eyeglasses. Nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism can all be accurately corrected. Some dive masks have a fixed lens area in the front, but allow an insert containing prescription lenses to be placed behind the mask lens. If you're a contact lens wearer, you can use the mask both with and without your contacts. When wearing your contacts, simply remove the prescription insert. Before You Purchase Eyewear  Before
purchasing your next
eyewear, it's a good idea to jot down a
few notes about your visual needs at work (the distance to your computer
screen, to keyboard, etc.) Also write down the activities that you enjoy.
Have your notes handy and be sure to share them with your doctor when you
have your eyes examined. Share your notes with the
staff member helping you select your new eyewear also. The more information
you provide, the happier you are likely to
be with the final result.
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If
you play any sports you probably find that there are times when
your regular prescription just doesn't give you the vision you require.
Are you tired of not being able
to accurately