Lens Material & Coating advice needed

[teager]

I need some advice on choosing lenses for my 2 new pairs of glasses - 1 regular opthalmic and 1 Rx sun. Both will be 3-piece drill mounts, and the sunglasses are wrapped (8 base, I think). Here's the Rx (I know it's not strong, but bear with me):

R: -.5 sphere, -.25 Cylinder, 075 axis
L: -.75 sphere

I'm actually far-sighted, but I get headaches if I focus to 20/20 without glasses. My doc explained it this way: No matter how well they can focus on their own, my eyes try to make everything just a little sharper, and that extra effort is what gives me the headaches. (He said it's almost more a personality trait than an optical issue - my wife wasn't suprised by this - but it's involuntary neverthless). So, to prevent my eyes from working so hard, he gave me a minus in addition to my usual plus. These will be my second pair of distance lenses (slightly stronger Rx). If it makes a difference, I'm 28 years old.

My top priorities are clarity and scratch-resistence. For lenses, I've had both polycarbonate and high-index in the past, and I can definitely tell a difference between the two (images through the poly seem markedly softer and less distinct), to the point where I sent my last pair back because they were poly. I'd be very tempted by glass, except I don't think it would work in my frames (both are rimless Silhouettes).

As for coatings, I've had issues with AR coatings in the past where I could detect a slight tint (greenish-yellow) - I'm assuming that this was actually a quality issue, but it's something I definitely want to avoid.

What lens material would be best? I'm assuming thickness shouldn't be an issue with my script, and neither should weight. Of the best material, which brand/product, or group thereof, is best? Are there specific strengths and weaknesses between the different brands (beyond overall quantity)? From what I've read, I think I want aspheric lenses on both frames - is there any reason I wouldn't want an aspheric...or is there something better? What about for the sunglasses?

Based on the lens info, what coating package (AR, hardness, hydrophobic) would be the best choice? Also, are there any coatings choices to be made for the sunglasses? I think I want AR on the back - should I choose the same AR as for the opthalmics?

Thank you in advance for any advice you can give (and just for reading this whole post)!!

[shellrob]

First of all, I'm not a doctor but the whole prescription thing sounds crazy to me. I've never heard of such a thing, giving a minus prescription to a far-sided person.

Second, does your doctor sell glasses? If not, you need to find a reputable Optician and believe me there are plenty good ones in New York.They will be able to tell you, based on your rx and what frame you choose what the best lenses will be.

[teager]

First of all, I'm not a doctor but the whole prescription thing sounds crazy to me. I've never heard of such a thing, giving a minus prescription to a far-sided person.

Second, does your doctor sell glasses? If not, you need to find a reputable Optician and believe me there are plenty good ones in New York.They will be able to tell you, based on your rx and what frame you choose what the best lenses will be.

Thanks for the reply. I agree it's a strange concept, but it makes more sense to me than the earlier explanations I'd received - my first optician basically told me I would get used to wearing my plus Rx all the time...it never happened. My problem, apparently, is that my eyes are unusually adaptive - if rested, and given enough effort, they can focus in almost any circumstance - near objects included. This makes me difficult to refract (if I blink or let me gaze shift during refraction, my eyes will sometimes adjust to the changed lens before I can decide if it is better than the one before).

By default, my eyes prefer to focus in the distance, so I'll get headaches faster if I'm reading with uncorrected vision than if I'm driving without glasses, but I'll eventually get a headache either way (it's much worse if I'm tired or if light levels are low).

Also, my Dr. does sell glasses, but I actually work for Silhouette, so I'll buy the glasses at work. I feel bad bugging him about this info, since he won't really get anything out of it (although I'm sure he would answer if I asked). I can also ask our lab, but I like to get as many opinions as possible before making this kind of decision.

[Dave Nelson]

prescribing minus lenses for far-sightedness is a bit like trying to remove a hole in a pair of pants by cutting it out with a pair of scissors.

[teager]

prescribing minus lenses for far-sightedness is a bit like trying to remove a hole in a pair of pants by cutting it out with a pair of scissors.

That may well be, but it resolves my headache issues by relaxing my eyes. Nothing else seems to do that. (If you have any recommendations on how to "patch" or replace my "pants", to continue your analogy, I'm definitely open to new ideas :D )

I should make it clear that I have TWO scripts - 1 minus and 1 plus. Neither one is very strong (+.75 L&R, same cylinder and axis as above ). I wouldn't be suprised if the astigmatism is the root cause of my headaches, but I still see better by using 2 seperate Rx.

Anyway, does anyone have any recommendations for lenses, assuming I do need the minus script? I would also be interested in alternative theories about my eyes, but all I know is that I've been to 4 different ODs (2 in St. Louis and 2 in the Albany, NY area) since my first Rx at age 21, and this is the only explanation that made sense to me both intellectually and empirically (basically, it seems plausible enough, and it helped my headaches significantly).

Thanks again for all your help / advice.

[shellrob]

*****I must have posted at the same time as you. How old are you? This might explain a few things.



I'm sorry, but you need to see a another doctor for a second opinion. None of what this doctor is saying makes any sense. Like I said, I'm not a doctor, but in the 10 years I've been doing this, I have never heard of such a thing. Maybe I'm wrong here....but I don't think so.


In the case that I am wrong (which I very well could be, I've heard weirder) thickness isn't an issue with that rx if it's a reasonable size frame. I wear trivex and love it with super high vision ar. I have a higher rx and no thickness issues here. I also have poly w/carat advantage which I like too. Both are drill mounts. Some labs don't like to do poly in drill mounts anymore but the lab I use does and they and I don't seem to have quality issues with them like some do.

[Jim Stone]

NO poly, NO aspheric. Most all ARs are quality now days. Go for a good warrenty with unlimited replacements.

[teager]

I'm sorry, but you need to see a another doctor for a second opinion. None of what this doctor is saying makes any sense. Like I said, I'm not a doctor, but in the 10 years I've been doing this, I have never heard of such a thing. Maybe I'm wrong here....but I don't think so.

Actually, this is the 2nd doctor who prescribed a plus and a minus, he's just the first to be able to explain it to me coherently. The first doctor I saw in Albany also gave me a minus rx in response to two specific complaints:
1) while driving in the rain, my eyes were shifting focus between the raindrops sliding down the windshield and the road ahead, and 2) I got bad headaches when driving, especially at dusk/night. Most of the time, my headache could be alleviated by wearing my plus Rx (they successfully relaxed my eyes), but with the side effect that I couldn't see clearly enough to read road signs at a reasonable distance, except possibly during the very brightest sunlight (even then, I could read them from farther away without the glasses).

To help, she prescribed a minus correction for driving at night, still saying that I should eventually adjust to my plus rx for all day use. This was 6 years after my first + rx, and I still hadn't adjusted, even though I wore the glasses most of the time (driving and dark nights being the only notable exceptions).

A few weeks after getting the new minus glasses, I wore them while driving during a hazy afternoon, and they made a world of difference. It didn't take me long to start wearing them almost all the time (I switch to my + glasses when doing a lot of reading or working at my computer).

I sincerely appreciate your concern w/regards to suggesting a 2nd opinion, but I'm not sure what the other options really would be at this point (diagnosis/treatment, I mean, not doctors). If I was going to adjust to all-day + correction, I think it would have happened before now, and I'm not very keen to see the return of the daily headaches. I still occasionally will wear plano sunglasses on bright days, and I'm OK for a while (how long varies), but eventually I do get a headache.

I guess there is one thing I've left out to this point, so maybe this will make the diagnosis more believable (or maybe it will sound even crazier, who knows?): My current doc did say that eventually the focusing muscles in my eyes (ciliary muscles, I think?) would fatigue to the point that I would no longer have the "over-exertion" headaches that I do now, so I might be able to finally adjust to using the + Rx all the time. If that seems insane, I might not be paraphrasing him properly.

In the case that I am wrong (which I very well could be, I've heard weirder) thickness isn't an issue with that rx if it's a reasonable size frame. I wear trivex and love it with super high vision ar. I have a higher rx and no thickness issues here. I also have poly w/carat advantage which I like too. Both are drill mounts. Some labs don't like to do poly in drill mounts anymore but the lab I use does and they and I don't seem to have quality issues with them like some do.

Thanks! Does the brand of trivex make a difference, especially re: the coating you suggest? Who makes super high vision AR, and does it also include good hardness and hydrophobic elements? Sorry that I need more explanation on this type of thing than most posters - since starting at Silhouette, I've become reasonably well-versed in frame-speak (I think :) ), but I'm a little deficient in other aspects of the industry...as people tend to say in my field (computers), I know just enough to be dangerous. :shiner:

[teager]

*****I must have posted at the same time as you. How old are you? This might explain a few things.

I'm 29. [EDIT: For anyone who notices the discrepancy with my first post, I forgot my recent birthday. :hammer: ]

[teager]

NO poly, NO aspheric. Most all ARs are quality now days. Go for a good warrenty with unlimited replacements.

Thanks...I have a question on the asperics, though - I thought the benefit of aspheric lenses was improved refraction when viewed off-center? I tend to look out the sides of my glasses (I wear a wide shape), probably as a result of 20 years of not wearing glasses, so I thought there might be some benefit. Did I misunderstand the concept, or does it just not work in the way I expect with a Rx like mine?

Thanks!

[Jim Stone]

Thanks...I have a question on the asperics, though - I thought the benefit of aspheric lenses was improved refraction when viewed off-center? I tend to look out the sides of my glasses (I wear a wide shape), probably as a result of 20 years of not wearing glasses, so I thought there might be some benefit. Did I misunderstand the concept, or does it just not work in the way I expect with a Rx like mine?

Thanks!

Theoretically only. I just have to disagree for weaker RXs in particular. I think most of the experience on this optiboard will agree with me here. Maybe the amount of aspherisity is too much for weaker RXs.

[Robert Martellaro]

Thanks...I have a question on the asperics, though - I thought the benefit of aspheric lenses was improved refraction when viewed off-center? Thanks!

Only if flatter than normal base curves are used, primarily with medium and high plus lenses. I would use Trivex if your Silhouette is a drill mount. Ask to see a sample of the AR coating.

I've heard that convergence insufficiency might result in a slight amount pseudomyopia, and might explain your comfort with an over-minused Rx.

Regards,

[JerryR]

Take your prescriptions to DiNapoli, explain your concerns about lens material and AR and let them help you. Doing this face to face is far better than trying to filter the info you get long distance. Trust them to do the right thing. I do not work for DiNapoli.

[Jim Stone]

I'd suggest ALWAYS to buy your glasses face to face. That way if you get a bum pair, you can go back and at least slap the chicken spit optician on the nose.

[teager]

Thanks for all of your advice! I'll do some in-person shopping.

One more general question on Trivex: my understanding is that different brands have different abbe values - which brands would you recommend and why? Are there other variations between the different brands, and are these differences with the Trivex itself, or some sort of finishing/processing difference?

Thanks again!

[shellrob]

My trivex lenses are phoenix with super high vision made by Hoya. I don't endorse the company in anyway, jusut happy with my glasses. I've sold the younger as well, so I don't prefer one brand over the other. Good luck to you.

[loncoa]

That's perfect, every whacko that decides their specs are no good, slapping someone on the nose. Yee Haw.

I forecast the number of injured wrists is about to increase exponentially.


Sorry- sense of humor shot off in one war or another, I guess. Hee hee.

[Jim Stone]

That's perfect, every whacko that decides their specs are no good, slapping someone on the nose. Yee Haw.

I forecast the number of injured wrists is about to increase exponentially.


Sorry- sense of humor shot off in one war or another, I guess. Hee hee.

Only the incompetent ones that do not resolve the issues.