As you might already know, prescription eyewear comes in many different shapes and sizes. The type of lens you need depends on your specific vision correction needs. Discover four types of lenses and what vision problems they treat.
Single Vision Lenses
Single vision lenses will be the right prescription eyewear if you:
- Suffer from mild to severe myopia (nearsightedness)
- Suffer from mild to severe hyperopia (farsightedness)
- Experience headaches or eye fatigue when using the computer
Both myopia and hyperopia affect the distance your eyes can see. With single vision lenses, both eyes will see clearly at the same distance. This is why they're often used for tasks such as reading and driving.
If you have astigmatism, single vision lenses may also be right for you. Astigmatism is a refractive error condition that results in blurred vision. It occurs when the cornea — the clear, round dome at the front of your eye — is curved more deeply in one direction than it is in another.
This irregular curvature prevents light from focusing properly on your retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. As a result, you may see objects appear blurry and distorted.
Single vision lenses correct this refractive error by evenly curving the surface of the lens. This will allow light to focus properly on your retina, resulting in clearer vision.
Progressives Lenses
Progressive lenses, also called no-line bifocals, are a type of eyeglass lens that corrects both nearsightedness and farsightedness. Unlike traditional bifocals, which have a visible line separating the two different powered sections of the lens, progressive lenses have a gradual transition between powers.
And while single vision lenses correct one field of vision, be it distance or near, progressive lenses correct both. This makes them ideal for people who need vision correction for both distance and near objects.
Progressive lenses work by having different areas of the lens designed for either distance or near vision. The distance portion of the lens is usually larger, and the near vision portion is smaller. The power of the lens gradually changes from one area to the other. This allows your eyes to focus at different distances without having to move your head or change your gaze.
Progressive lenses can take some time to get used to, but they provide clear vision at all distances and can be a great option for people who need multifocal vision correction. If you believe these lenses can help you, be sure to talk to your eye care professional to see if they are right for you. They will perform an eye exam and discuss your options with you.
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