Glasses and lenses guide
14 guides on lens types, materials, coatings, choosing frames, contact lenses and caring for your glasses.
- Lens Types Explained: Single Vision, Bifocal, Progressive and OfficeA practical guide to spectacle lens designs: what single vision, bifocal, trifocal, progressive and office lenses do, who each one suits and the trade-offs to expect.
- Lens Materials and Index: CR-39, Polycarbonate, Trivex, High-Index and GlassHow spectacle lens materials differ in thickness, weight, optical clarity and safety, and how to choose the right refractive index for your prescription and lifestyle.
- Lens Coatings and Treatments: Which Ones Are Worth Paying For?An honest guide to spectacle lens coatings: what anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, hydrophobic, UV, photochromic, polarised and mirror treatments really do, and which ones are worth paying for.
- Blue Light Glasses: Does the Science Actually Back Them?Blue light glasses are heavily marketed for eye strain, sleep and eye protection. Here is what the research really shows, who might reasonably choose them anyway, and what works better.
- Glasses Frame Guide: Face Shapes, Frame Sizes, Materials and FitA practical guide to choosing spectacle frames that look good, fit well and suit your lenses: face shapes, the three numbers on the temple arm, frame materials and fit checks.
- Sunglasses Guide: UV400, Polarisation, Lens Categories and ColoursGood sunglasses protect your eyes from UV damage and glare. Learn what UV400 means, how filter categories 0 to 4 work, which lens colours to pick and when polarised or prescription lenses make sense.
- Contact Lenses Guide: Types, Fitting, Hygiene and RisksEverything you need to know before wearing contact lenses: the main lens types and who they suit, what happens at a fitting, the hygiene rules that prevent infection and the warning signs to act on.
- Reading Glasses: How to Choose the Right Strength and TypeReady-made readers or prescription glasses? How to pick the right strength, which frame style suits your day, what to do about screens, and why a reading-glasses purchase should never replace an eye exam.
- Glasses for Children: Frames, Lenses, Fit and Getting Kids to Wear ThemHow to choose safe, comfortable glasses for babies, toddlers and school-age children, keep them on their faces, and understand modern options such as myopia control lenses and sports goggles.
- Computer and Office Glasses: Lenses for Screens and Desk WorkWhy your normal glasses may struggle at screen distance, how single-vision computer lenses, office progressives and anti-fatigue lenses differ, and how to tell whether you need them.
- How to Read Your Glasses Prescription: SPH, CYL, Axis and MoreA plain-language guide to every abbreviation and number on a glasses prescription, from SPH and CYL to prism and PD, plus why your contact lens prescription is not the same.
- Pupillary Distance (PD): What It Is and How to Measure ItYour PD tells the lab where to place the optical centre of each lens. Learn the difference between single and dual PD, how it is measured, and why progressive lenses need extra precision.
- Caring for Your Glasses: Cleaning, Storage, Adjustments and ReplacementSimple daily habits that keep lenses clear and coatings intact: the right way to clean, what to avoid, safe storage, when to have frames adjusted and when it is time for new glasses.
- Safety and Sports Eyewear: Standards, Impact Ratings and ChoicesHow to choose eye protection that really protects: what EN166 and ANSI Z87.1 markings mean, impact ratings, prescription safety options and sport-specific goggles and shields.