Dispensing spectacles

Dispensing spectacles

Plastic or Glass lenses

Tints and Coatings
Spectacle frame considerations
Single vision or Bifocals
 Glass lenses

Advantages
Scratch resistant
Thinner than plastic lenses

Disadvantages
Shatter into sharp pieces
Heavier than plastic
More difficult to glaze
More difficult to tint
 Plastic lenses
Advantages
Lighter than glass
Safe – greater impact resistance
Easy to glaze
Easy to tint

Disadvantages
Scratch more easily than glass
Thicker than glass
 Tints and coatings

Plastic lenses are tinted by dipping them into

a tank of hot dye. Depth of tint determined by
time in the dye.

Glass lenses may have a solid tint (tinted

glass) or coated tint.

Photochromic lenses contain silver halide

crystals so that they become darker in
sunlight. Now available in glass and plastic.
 Tints and Coatings

Transmittance of tint depends on proposed

use. Bright sunshine : 5-10%

Important that sunglasses have effective UV

block
 Anti-scratch coating

Coating of hard material applied to plastic

lenses to improve scratch resistance
 Anti-reflection coating
Quarter wavelength thickness coating applied
to glass or plastic lenses to reduce surface
reflections

Destructive interference

Reflected light ½ wl out of phase

¼ wavelength coating

Lens
 Anti-reflection coating

Nowadays, multi AR coating used

Improved cosmetic appearance (especially
for higher powered lenses)
Improved performance under some
conditions, e.g. driving at night
Must be kept very clean
 Spectacle frame considerations

A good fitting frame is vital to obtain the best

performance from spectacle lenses

Alignment and stability is particularly

important with high cyls

Small frames should be selected for high

minus prescriptions to reduce edge thickness

Small frames and small uncuts should be

selected for high plus prescriptions to reduce
centre thickness
 Spectacle frame considerations

Plastic frames are good for high minus

prescriptions because they help to conceal
the edges

Metal frames with pads give more scope for

adjustment on the nose

Higher prescriptions require robust frame for

stability
 Basics of Frame fitting

Size of frame
Fit of the bridge
Side length
Rx required
 Select a frame that is of the correct size and
fit.

The bridge must fit the nose snugly

– not too small or large and the eye size
must be large enough for it to be centred in
front of the eye.
Measure the distance pupillary distance (PD) for a
distance prescription and near PD for a
reading/near prescription.

PD

Outer limbus to inner limbus

or pupil centres ( more difficult to measure)

Adjust the side lengths as necessary so that
the glasses do not slip down the nose when
the patient leans forward.

A snug fit with the side angled behind the

ear.
If the prescription is high plus, then use the
smallest frame suitable to avoid problems of
thick heavy lenses.

If a glasses are required for distances and

near then provide different colour or style of
frame to help the patient distinguish between
them.
 Bifocals

Contain two focal powers – usually distance

Rx in the top, reading Rx at the bottom
 Bifocals

Original Franklin bifocal consisted of two

lenses cut in half and bonded together
 Fused bifocals

Button of higher refractive

index fused into a glass lens

No ledge at border – good

cosmetic appearance

Only possible with glass

lenses
 Solid bifocal

Two surfaces formed on

one lens
 Bifocal shapes

Round segment (24mm, 38mm, 45 mm)

Disads: Jump
 Bifocal shapes
D segment (D25, D28, D35)

Small amount of jump

Wide field of view at top of segment
Ledge
 Bifocal shapes

Executive bifocal

No Jump
Wide field of view through segment
Ugly Ledge
 Choosing a bifocal shape

Consider visual requirements – reading,

deskwork, computer

D25 good general purpose bifocal. D28 for

those who require a larger field of view for
reading

Executive for those requiring large field of

view for reading
 Dispensing bifocals
Decide on most appropriate design

Adjust frames to correct height

Measure bifocal height – base of frame to lower

lid

h h
 Dispensing bifocals
Heights may be different in the two eyes
Take account of intended use
Take account of bifocal type
When in doubt – aim low

h h
 Dispensing bifocals

Typical bifocal prescription

R -1.00/ -1.25 x 180 ADD +2.25
L -1.50 / -1.50 x 180 ADD +2.25

CR39 (material)
CD 64 (centration distance)

R D25 x 18
L D25 x 16
 Dispensing Varifocals

Decide on appropriate type

 Usually dependent on visual function
required
 Used more for general use or concentrated
reading?
 Wide or narrow reading area

 Choose frame carefully

 Dispensing Varifocals

Advantages

 No dividing line so no jump

 Focus on distance, intermediate and near

 Cosmetically improved
 Dispensing Varifocals

Disadvantages

 May induce peripheral distortion

 Occasionally difficult head posture

 Expensive
 Varifocal measurement

Ensure frame is well fitted

Take monocular PD’s
Measure height s to pupil centre
Specify where it is measured e.g. From lower
edge of lens
Check by marking pupil centres on the
dummy lenses
 Monocular heights

h
Monocular PD’s