Overall, public eye health seems to be steadily declining across the globe. The number of people suffering from vision issues has grown exponentially in the past decade.
Currently, approximately 64% of the world’s adults wear prescription glasses. This has boosted the eyewear market size to $183 billion globally.
Given this demand, one emerging market trend in the eyewear industry is the number of lens innovations that have been gaining popularity.
Lenses are continuously being upgraded to ensure durability and provide the best possible vision for wearers.
Additionally, there has been an increasing awareness among the public regarding quality eye care.
Over a billion people have developed impaired vision or blindness due to overlooked refractive errors.
Thus, eye experts emphasize getting the right pair of glasses for each person. If you’re considering buying a new pair of glasses, here are some lenses you should consider to improve your vision.
Blue Light Lenses
Blue light lenses are one of the most popular choices in today’s digital age. Almost five billion people worldwide are avid social media users, averaging an hour of screen time per day.
In line with that, these lenses were designed to combat the eye strain associated with using such digital devices.
Blue light glasses filter out harsh blue light emissions that cause eye fatigue and disrupt sleep schedules.
This is important because getting sufficient sleep reduces the chances of developing various health risks such as heart disease, stroke, and depression.
Ray-Ban’s Wayfarer Optics over at LensCrafters offer a blue-violet coating that also blocks out ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun for added protection.
These blue light glasses can also have prescriptions for those who need vision correction.
Transition Lenses
Long-term exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause various eye conditions, such as cataract development, macular degeneration, and basal cell carcinoma.
Sunglasses were made for this purpose, but they may be challenging for those needing prescriptions.
Transition lenses are convenient options for those who want to protect their eyes from the sun while still seeing clearly.
These lenses are typically clear indoors but darken outdoors as they react to direct sunlight.
For extra coverage, Zenni Optical has a Transitions line with wide square lenses that protect most of the wearer’s eye area.
So if you want to eliminate the need to switch between prescription frames and sunglasses, then transition lenses are for you.
Polarized Lenses
Polarized lenses take UV protection one step further, as they also enhance visual clarity. These glasses improve vision by reducing glare and preventing eye strain.
This makes them suitable for many outdoor activities like driving, fishing, and hiking. Therefore, polarized lens wearers can see clearer and sharper images.
It is currently one of the leading market segments in the eyewear market. A polarized coating can be applied to most sunglasses and transition lenses.
You can find polarized lenses for everyday use over at Eyebuydirect. Their best-selling Cortez frames are fit for any style and activity.
If you generally enjoy being outdoors, then polarized lenses would be the best choice.
Tinted Lenses
Many assume that lens tints are mainly for style, but each one serves a distinct purpose. Lens tints can enhance different aspects of vision, from reducing glare to improving the field of depth.
For example, blue lenses increase contrast, making them suitable for cold climates and the winter season.
Yellow lenses are recommended for hazy or cloudy conditions, and they also improve visual depth of field, which is why they’re a favorite among golfers.
Brown-tinted lenses are great for bright environments. This can be observed in Oakley’s recent eyewear collaboration with world-renowned French athlete Kylian Mbappe.
Many of the lines’ frames are tinted brown to increase color vibrancy. This type of enhanced visual clarity is recommended for most sports and hobbies, so look for the right tinted lenses to improve your performance.
Anti-reflective
Anti-reflective lenses are often mistaken to be the same as anti-glare, but there is a distinction.
Anti-glare glasses reflect light, whereas anti-reflective lenses let light pass through the lenses. This is how it reduces the amount of reflections that can be a source of distraction.
Thus, wearing anti-reflective glasses can optimize your vision. This is also part of the reason why they are one of the most popular lens coatings for prescription glasses today. Currently, all Warby Parker glasses come with an anti-reflective coating.
So you can choose any that would fit your style, like the flattering Esme frames, and enjoy its anti-reflective properties. These lenses are especially recommended if you do a lot of night driving.
Enhance your vision in more ways than one. Use the tips above to determine which lens type is best for you.