Advances in eye wear

Dr. Michael Monson, an optometrist in Butte, said the latest options in lenses include: Driveware that changes color in response to light, small environment lenses which are suited to those working on computers in small offices and cubicles, and progressive designs which offer the benefits of bi- or trifocals, without the visible lines.

Drivewear Available in single vision and progressive designs in both prescription and nonprescription lenses, Drivewear is the newest lens cate-gory for sun protection. Monson described it as a multi-layered lens that’s similar to transition lenses, which react to UV light — only better.

“The basic thing on the Drivewear is that it’s a polarized lens that changes color in response to UV and visible light,” said Monson.

Monson explained that the polarization gives the driver added benefits when dealing with glare and will even eliminate the reflections of your dashboard in the car’s windshield.

Another benefit the new Drivewear lenses have over transition lenses is that many of today’s car windshields have a UV filter, so transition lenses don’t always darken appropriately, Monson said. An additional benefit noted by the manufacturer, Younger Optics, is the lens’ ability to provide a polarizing effect in both bright and low light situations through NuPolar technology. Monson is a Drivewear convert and owns his own pair.

“These are great for being outside or on the water,” he said. What they aren’t great for is artificial lighting.

“It does better in natural light instead of inside of buildings,” he said. Drivewear sunglasses are pricy and averages between $250 for single vision lenses to $400 for progressive lenses. The technology has been on the market for a little less than a year.

“It’s so new we haven’t sold a lot,” he said.

Small Environment Lens On the market for approximately two years, small environment lenses are tailored to meet the needs of those who do computer and office work, said Monson. Affordable and practical, the small environment lenses range in price from $135 to $175 and are covered by most vision plans, he said.

Designed for a distance of 7 to 8 feet or closer, the lens offers the wearer three distances for focus, without the obvious lines of older trifocal lenses.

“Straight ahead is for computers. As you move your eyes down into the lens, you get the reading distance power,” explained Monson. Looking through the top of the lens gives the wearer the ability to focus at a small distance of 7 to 8 feet.

“This kind of lens is really good for people who are on the computer all day,” he said.

Monson added that the lens is also beneficial for people who work in a cubicle setting and do work on a computer for more than an hour at a time. Monson said that small environment lenses can help decrease work-related symptoms such as neck pain, headaches, eyestrain, dry eyes and blurred vision, caused by holding the head or neck in an uncomfortable positions during the day to accommodate vision difficulties.

Progressive Designs An alternative to traditional bi- and trifocals, Monson said that companies producing progressive lenses are coming out with new and improved designs.

“It’s really in its own category,” said Monson.

With a traditional bi- or trifocal, Monson said the wearer would see a slight jump in the image as they cross over lines that separate the prescriptions in the lens.

“With progressive lenses its’ a gradual smooth change,” he said.

Earlier designs required larger lenses and larger frames and had areas of the lens that had unwanted distortions. Newer designs have developed better ways to produce lenses that have helped reduce both the size and the unwanted distortions in the lens, said Monson. As with bi- and trifocals, Monson said that progressive lenses do have a bit of a learning curve when it comes to having the wearer adjust to the lenses. On average, progressive designs range in price from $180 to $280, he said.