Lenses and Frames

The basics

The design, material type and treatment options of your frame and lenses are the three components that make up your eyewear. It is important to select the right combination of these elements for your particular visual needs and eye health protection.  Our knowledgeable staff at Alabama Vision Source will consider long-term wearing comfort, style, lens features and function when suggesting a new pair of eyeglasses. With our help, your eyeglasses become as unique as you.

Eyeglass Lenses

Thin and lite lens plastics, anti-glare night lenses, polarization for glare free driving and outdoor vision, blue light blocking for protection from macular degeneration, new Transitions lenses for any changing light levels, progressives for all range vision, safety materials for work protection, a wide variety of sports lenses, computer lens designs for comfortable all-day vision, and the truly amazing Shaw lens (a revolutionary lens design for lazy eye and high prescriptions).

There is a lens design and feature for any need you have.  Selecting the right eyeglass lens depends largely on its function and how that matches your wants and needs. Our optical staff are experts at helping you with your selections once Dr. Chandler gives you his recommendations.

Frame Styles

When choosing a frame, the shape and size of the frame should enhance the color of your eyes, complement your skin tone and play up the best features of your face shape.  There are so many materials and designer lines today it’s hard to know what to choose.  Many people need more than one pair of glasses, such as one for everyday wear and another for outdoor activities. Having different style frames for different activities and moods makes wearing glasses more fun. Our optical team understands how to maximize your functional performance and enhance your fashion desires with frames complementary for those needs.

Sunglasses

With the wide variety of lens options available, you can customize your sunwear to meet your visual, protection, performance and comfort needs. Sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is present even on cloudy days. Quality sunwear provides 100 percent UV protection and can significantly reduce the risk of vision problems caused by sunlight such as cataracts and external damage.  Today, we also have blue light blocking lenses to protect from the macular degeneration causing blue light that arises from computer screens, cell phones, tablets, TV screens and the sun.

Daytime Anti-Glare Lenses

Glare, an issue that makes it difficult to see objects clearly by washing out colors and details, can be combated in the daytime by polarized lenses. Looking at a scene with polarized lenses, you’ll notice the colors are deeper, richer and bolder, and details are clearer and more distinct. Polarized lenses also help reduce squinting, which, in turn, reduces eye fatigue, tension, and eyestrain.  You can now get a Transitions polarizing lens called the Vantage lens that not only darkens outdoors well, but also polarizes.  These are EXCELLENT lenses for indoor and outdoor use.

Night-time Anti-Glare lenses

Wearers of prescription glasses and sunglasses commonly encounter annoying glare and reflections caused by light bouncing off their lenses. This glare makes it more difficult to see, especially at night. Anti-reflective lenses reduce these reflections allowing more light to pass through to your eyes.

All lens surfaces naturally reflect light and this reflection can prevent about seven of the light needed for optimal vision. Wearing non-AR lenses is like trying to read a book in a dimly lit room. Since AR lenses allow more light to reach your eyes by reducing reflections, it’s like turning up the lights in a room, making it easier to see.

High Index lenses

Lenses today can be made as thin and light as you want.  They also impact resistant when the thinner and lighter lenses are chosen.