Advice on new Eyeglasses

Hi, I'm considering buying new eyeglasses from the web after some bad
experience at a local Optical shop (paid $320 for frame and generic
high index (?) lens, probably 1.60 (1.59?), which edge measures 7.5
mm):

My prescription is:

R -8.25 -2.75 14
L -8.25 -2.00 167

I'm interested in the thinnest possible lens that would be
comfortable. I'm willing to spend as much as $300 for the lens alone.
Looking at Eyeglasses.com choice of ultra-high lenses, they have
optima 1.66, pentax 1.67, and hoya 1.71. Given my prescription would
these lenses give any trouble. Should I forget ultra high index and
go with high index instead.

Any personal experience or help would be appreciated. Any other good
places to shop besides Eyeglasses.com (they seem to have the best web
site)? Also what kind of frames / frame size would you recommend for
my prescpription. I have a oval face shape. The one I got from my
local shop (I think the frame is called Baron?) seems too small and
feels uncomfortable.

Thanks for your help,

Mike

 

As the index increases, there is usually more chromatic aberration (a form
of distortion). This is measured by abbe value (the higher the better).
There are exceptions to the general relationship between index value and
abbe value. For example polycarbonate (1.59 index) has an abbe of 30, which
is lower than most all ultra-high index lenses. Abbe is the main issue with
going to a higher index lens. In choosing a ultrahigh index lens, see if you
can find out the abbe value.

Pentax and Hoya have a good reputation, but there are others. However, since
these lenses are aspheric, fitting is extremely important, and buying via
mail order is risky. If the lens is not placed correctly in the frame (as it
sits on your face), you could have big problems.

You might check other opticals locally for the same lenses. Wal-Mart carries
many Sola products and the 1.66 VIZIO Atoric is a good lens for many people.
I believe that COSTCO carries some Seiko lenses. You might also check out an
independent optical shop and see if the will match or come close to the
on-line price. Independent opticals (unlike chains) normally sell name brand
lenses and can get just about anything because they use several independent
labs (although they tend to steer customer to a certain brand).

If it has been awhile since your last exam, it might be worth $50 to get a
new one before spending bucks on new lenses.

 

For your astigmatism look at the Sola Vizio 1.66 atoric. It has
noticeably better peripheral clarity compared to my aspheric
(non-atoric) lenses. It came recommended by a lab owner and is
usually highly spoken of here.

Lens size... I have the Vizio in both a 48mm and 52mm dia. lens in the
same frame designs. The 48mm edge is significantly thinner. Lens
diameter will have much more impact on edge thickness than 1.60 vs.
1.71 index.

To polish the edges or not? I have 6 eyeglasses, 5 of them rimless,
1.53 to 1.70 index... polished edges definitely make those lenses
appear thinner. The clarity of the polished edge blends with the lens
surface, whereas the frosted edge throws thickness into sharp relief.
An optical compromise but I find the cosmetic difference is worth it.

Good luck.

 

I'm no professional here, but I used to be very myopic, with some
astigmatism, and wore very thick glasses for many decades. The key here
is shape and size. For the thinnest lens, you want a circular shape and
the smallest lens that is comfortable for you. Keep in mind that most
people can get used to a different shape and size, but it takes time. The
high index lenses are more expensive, have more distortion and don't help
enough to make the lenses thinner. That isn't to say that you shouldn't
get them, but there is no "magic bullet". If you get large, rectangular
lenses, it doesn't matter what the index is, they will be thick, and give
you problems with glare and reflections. If you get the edges polished,
to make them less obvious, then you will have even more problems.


Have you considered contacts? That was my solution. I actually got them
for a different reason, but once I got used to them, they were so much
better than glasses that I basically didn't wear glasses. Since they move
with the eye, the area that is used for correction is very small. Even
with your level of myopia and astigmatism, the thickness is just not an
issue. Everybody always says that you look better in contacts than with
glasses. I always thought that was ridiculous, but it is actually true
for people with high myopia. The glasses for high myopia make the eye
look much smaller. Ever notice that the villain in a story always has
"little, beady eyes" and the good guy has "big, blue eyes"? Since the
contacts ride on the eye, they do not make the eye look smaller.

 

Thanks for all your responses.

Thank you Robert for showing the relationship between the index, shape
and the lens thickness. My lens is rectangular (with polished edges)
and the edge thickness is 7.5 mm! My PD is 61. I got these at a mom
and pop shop without doing any research and I guess I got what I
deserved. Do you think that the lens I purchased is even 1.60? By
the way, I'm in the Los Angeles area, so if anyone knows excellent
opticians, let me know please.

I wore contacts for ten years (with no astigmatism correction) before
switching to eyeglasses some five years ago. I had to stop wearing
contacts because the astigmatism started to really bother me and I
just coudn't wear the contacts w/ astigmatism correction. Have the
contacts improved significantly in the last five years?


Mike

 

I don't know if they have improved, but they certainly have changed! I
wear a Focus Toric now, and they are monthly lenses (wear for a month, and
then toss). When I started wearing contacts, they had only the
"permanent" contacts for astigmatism.


I don't know whether it would be worth trying them again. If your
problems were due to junk buildup, then you may be OK now. If you just
couldn't tolerate the shape, then I would guess you would still have
problems.