Lenses for Eyeglasses & Sunglasses in Jacksonville

In addition to one of the largest selections of frames in Jacksonville, VAL-Uvision uses only top quality lenses in all of their frames. From Essilor Varilux progressive lenses to Crizal anti-glaring products, VAL-Uvision uses the best materials for you and your family.

Our lenses come in all different materials, including plastic, high index plastic, Trivex, and shatter-resistant polycarbonate, and can be enhanced with a number of coatings to increase performance.

Some popular options in lenses include:

• Single Vision Lenses
• Bifocal Lenses
• Trifocal Lenses
• Multifocal/Progressive Lenses

Single Vision Lenses

Single Vision lenses have the same focal power throughout, from top to bottom. They can be used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or a combination of these disorders. Most people who wear glasses before the age of 40 have single vision lenses.

Bifocal Lenses

Bifocal lenses have two parts: an upper part normally used for distance vision and a lower part used for near-vision tasks such as reading. After the age of 40, many people develop a condition called presbyopia, a deterioration in the ability of the eye’s natural lens to expand or contract in order to focus on close objects.

People with presbyopia need a special lens for reading, which can become cumbersome when one is trying to do near-sighted and far-sighted tasks at the same time. For this reason, Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals so that he would not need to switch glasses when reading. These lenses serve the same purpose today.

Until recently, bifocal eyeglasses had a line going across the lens. Now there are a number of variations on the theme. All work the same way, by reserving part of the lens for near-vision correction. The rest of the lens can be used for distance vision correction or can have no correction at all.

The segment for near-vision correction can have one of several shapes:

• Half-moon, or flat-top segment
• Round segment
• Narrow rectangular area called a ribbon segment
• The entire bottom half of the lens, in what is called variously the Franklin, Executive, or Ribbon style Progressive Multi-focal lenses

Trifocal Lenses

Trifocal lenses have three different focus areas: the top for distance vision, the center for intermediate vision, and the bottom for near vision. Although bifocal lenses usually are designed so that the line of division is at the level of the lower eyelid, trifocals are fitted higher, with the top line of the middle region at the level of the pupil.

Multi-focal or Progressive lens

Multifocal literally means “having more than one focus,” so bifocal and trifocal lenses are actually types of multifocal lenses. In addition to bifocal and trifocal lenses, the other multifocal is a progressive addition (no-line bifocal) lens that increases in power from top to bottom. Progressive lenses have no clear dividing lines as the focus changes from bottom to top. They have become popular in recent years because they look like single vision glasses.

Transitions® or Photochromic Lenses

Photochromic lenses are lenses that darken on exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Once the UV is removed (for example by walking indoors), the lenses will gradually return to their clear state. Photochromic lenses may be made of glass, polycarbonate or other plastics.

Lens coatings and options

Another popular option for lenses is any of a variety of coatings that can make eyeglasses more comfortable and functional.

• Polarizing materials protect the eyes from reflections and are particularly useful when skiing or participating in water sports
• UV protective lenses keep the eyes safe from ultraviolet sun rays which have been shown to cause cataracts and certain disease of the eyes. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, UV protection is a very good idea for the long-term health of your vision and eyes
• Mirror coating on lenses reduces the amount of heat entering one’s eyes but can also affect visual acuity
• Anti-reflective (A-R) coatings are metallic oxide coatings that are vacuum-applied to the lens surface to reduce reflections from the front lens surface and eliminate reflections from the back
• Scratch-resistant coatings are applied to the front and back surfaces of lenses to protect against accidental scratching and to improve durability

No matter what kind of lens you need, VAL-Uvision of Jacksonville can help you find the right ones. You can rely on the experience and quality of service our team has been providing for over 40 years.