Spectacles

• Refractive index: plastic lenses come in 1.49, 1.523, 1.59, 1.6, 1.61, 1.67 and 1.74. A higher index is not always thinner or better; the right index depends on your power and frame size.
• Abbe value: how much a lens splits colour. Higher Abbe lenses give sharper vision but cost a little more; high-index lenses have lower Abbe values.
• Impact resistance: lenses are breakable, impact-resistant or unbreakable. Unbreakable is ideal for everyone, though these come in lower indices and can be thicker in high powers, and some types scratch sooner. Good middle options exist: a mid-index impact-resistant lens, or a lower-index unbreakable lens with excellent scratch resistance.
• Scratch resistance: decides how long lenses last. Good branded lenses resist scratches well but none are scratch-proof. Glass lenses resisted scratches better, but they are no longer used because they shatter and can injure the eye in a fall or accident.
• Asphericity: fully aspheric designs give better side vision and thinner lenses in high powers, at a noticeably higher cost. Single-surface or partly aspheric designs cost less, but the vision is not as good as a fully aspheric lens.
• Weight: unbreakable lenses such as Hoya PNX are among the lightest available.
• Light transmission: an anti-reflection coating lets more light through, and we believe every lens today should have an anti-reflection coating.

Oleophobic coatings repel oil, hydrophobic coatings repel water and antistatic coatings repel dust. Photochromic lenses darken in sunlight and clear indoors, so they double as sunglasses. Polarised lenses cut glare and make driving safer.

When you buy spectacles from us, we help you choose the lens that suits your needs and fits your budget, and we explain every detail so the decision is yours.

Frame selection is an art too. Colours, patterns, temple joints and nose bridges all change how a frame sits on your face: a keyhole bridge makes the nose look longer, a saddle bridge does the opposite.

Tell us your comfortable budget and we will help you choose the right spectacles. Sometimes we will suggest spending a little more, and sometimes you will save. Your needs come first, then your wants.