the good doctor on: Are All Optical Lenses Created Equal?
Blog.Vol.II.24. Are All Optical Lenses Created Equal?
In the past week I had two people visit me, one a long-time patient and another a new territory rep for Nikon, and this was the question. My patient needed a pair of “beater” glasses that he could wear when he was home at night after he took out his contact lenses. So he went on-line and ordered a pair of glasses from an on-line service. The territory rep is a licensed optician since 1994, who knows a lot about optical lenses.
Here is an imaginary conversation between Bob, the patient, and Joan, the optician.
Joan - optician - you sent the web site your prescription and they put together a pair of glasses for you?
Bob - patient - yes, it was that easy, it took some figuring to get the pupillary distance for them, but I got it.
Joan - how are you doing with them, are you satisfied?
Bob - they recommended thinner lens materials and antireflection coating and a thicker frame because of my prescription. They look alright, hey the price was right, but they do need some adjusting, though.
Joan -(takes a look at the spectacles on him, they are sized properly) see how the arms spread out, that was not the best edging job, and the lens is polycarbonate, thin but not the best for seeing, it’s alright for making DVD’s. The centering of the lenses is a bit off but within tolerance and the coating is basic. Hey you did not pay much for these, and they are only like you say, “beater” glasses, so you did alright. (She warms the frame and adjusts the front end pieces inward and bows the arms in and curves the temple ends rounder to conform to the back of his ears).
Bob - hey that feels great, they really fit me now.
Joan - just for future reference, your seeing experience would have been a whole lot better if you had taken the time and money and invested it in a more customized product. Think of what we do here as like getting a bespoke suit. Did you know that the bespoke suit is made on over 20 different measurements that are custom for you, and yes there is a big difference between that and a “made to measure” that is adjusted to fit. Now, Bob, you didn’t go into it wanting a custom tailored pair of glasses. But you should have. Yes, a bespoke suit looks and feels great. With Nikon’s Seemax lenses, either in the Infinite series for single vision lenses, or the Ultimate series for progressives you get this experience.
Bob- sounds expensive.
Joan- Admittedly more expensive, yes, but remember, this a very practical decision too, you use your eyes for everything and all day long. With your larger prescription you would benefit even more from this customization. Then have these crafted lenses mounted in a proper fitting and great looking frame, with all the unique measurements taken, and voila, a person who sees great and is comfortable in his spectacles and will be more inclined to wear them, giving some rest from contact lens wearing.
Just food for thought, thanks Bob and Joan,
the good doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Eyecare
