The most exciting part of being a glasses wearer is picking fantastic frames. Obviously. It’s our raison d’être and the reason that we’re always on the hunt, at the best optical shows in the world like MIDO and NY Vision Expo to find you the hottest frames to build your wardrobe.

But what really gets us excited is making lenses that give you your best possible eyesight.

Because, if you can’t see out of them, glasses just are fancy face decoration. And that’s cool - unless you need to see more clearly, with less strain, or more precision.

That’s why a thorough and accurate eye exam with a caring professional is only half the equation. The other half is making sure you get the best lenses for your prescription.

And that’s why we work with all three of the global lens production leaders - Nikon, Zeiss, Essilor -  to ensure that we can provide the finest option for your particular needs.

They’re all excellent options and they’re all designed slightly differently. Choosing the right one just depends on the goals and specifications we have for your prescription. So, we consult with you to ensure that we’re providing you with a result that exceeds your expectations of vision quality.

The question we’re asked the most, & the most important thing to know about single-vision lenses is the difference between traditional/pre-made vs digital lenses. So, what’s the difference?

Traditional/Pre-Made vs Digital Lenses

Customization

Traditional lenses are simply cut out and put in the frame to take into account: the angle between the eye and the back surface of the lens when the wearer is looking straight ahead and the frame size

Digital Lenses are customized for the most accurate lens power by positioning the lens in front of the wearer’s eyes, within the eyeglass frame, the angle between the eye and the back surface of the lens when the wearer looks in different directions, not just straight ahead, and the frame size

Prescription Thickness

Traditional Lenses are only thinned on one side of the lens, making them heavier and less accurate for higher prescriptions

Digital Lenses are lightweight and accurate due to thinning out lens both front and back, great for all prescriptions

Vision Clarity

Traditional Lenses often result in aberrations like starbursts, halos, glares and comet-shaped distortions around lights, especially at night or blurriness in different light conditions

Digital Lenses eliminate aberrations of all kinds, including sharp in any light condition, 20% wider vision channels for intermediate and near distances, and provide greater peripheral vision and contrast sensitivity

Focusing Power

Traditional Lenses are surfaced in 0.125 to 0.25 or 25/100th diopter increments of focusing power

Digital Lenses are surfaced in power increments of 0.01 (1/100th) diopter, or about 6x more accurate than traditional

In fact, digital lenses have been called the single greatest advancement in eyewear in the past 100 years. Let’s put it this way - digital lenses are like a bespoke suit, while traditional lenses are “off the rack.”  A racing car instead of a family sedan. Or, a super crisp HD TV instead of an old tube television.

Traditional lenses can be perfect for many, but the next time you’re ready to update your lenses, talk to us about an upgrade in quality too. It might just be time to say goodbye to the old tech and get your vision on the digital, HD train!