The Visible Shift In Spectacles
Spectacles have evolved tremendously over the past few decades from being just vision correction devices to lifestyle products that now even prevent harm to the eyes. There is no one-fits-all approach to spectacles today. Not only have spectacle lenses evolved into better looking eye accessories, they have also evolved in terms of usage and need. In tact, people today shop for spectacles that suit not just their eye correction needs but also their personality and some go further and choose spectacle lenses that also prevent eye diseases.
If you are a technology addict and spend most of your waking hours in front of digital screens, or if you are an active outdoor enthusiast or a busy mom who needs strong spectacles, a senior citizen or a student – no matter what your job profile is or what kind of lifestyle you lead, today your vision correction needs can be customised.
The availability of new lens designs, new technology, and innovation not only help people see better and appear more attractive but also protect the eyes and prevent eye diseases. New age lenses are thinner and can be fitted in any type and size of designer frames, and can be customised to suit individual requirements.
Visual Fatigue
The digital revolution of the 1990s has not only accelerated the pace of our lives and changed the communications paradigm, it has also radically shifted the way we work and live. Ten years back, mobile phones were just meant for talking, the concept of smartphones was yet to catch up; laptops were not a common accessory and most of us searched for cyber cafes to send e-mails.
Clinical evidence suggests that an increasing number of people are suffering from visual fatigue. Today, life revolves around digital devices like tablets, smartphones, LED screens etc. and these devices emit UV light and blue light which in turn causes a lot of stress and fatigue to the eyes. If you calculate your daily activities, you would be surprised to find how much time your eyes spend gazing at digital devices and the fatigue and strain your eyes are subjected to. Even people who do not need correction or have eye power but spend a lot of time in front of the computer, often experience eye fatigue symptoms such as red eyes. itching, burning, and headaches.
Preventive Devices
New discoveries in the field of ophthalmology have also propelled innovation in lens designs and construct. For example, the breakdown of light spectrum in to its components and the analysis of the effect of each on the eyes is a recent phenomenon. The harmful effects of UV radiation on the eyes is well-known. Long-term exposure to UV radiation is linked to carcinomas as well as cataracts.
This light emitted by the sun, by artificial light sources such as LEDs and computers or smartphones is in the range of the visible light spectrum with wavelengths between 380-500nm. Some of this blue light plays a beneficial role ¡n our health in particular, by regulating the internal biological clock that controls, sleep, hunger and moods. However, a specific band of this light might have a harmful effect on the eyes and this harmful blue lights lead to retinal cell death, There are new age lenses available in the market that offer selective protection against harmful blue light and UV rays. These preserve overall wellbeing by letting essential visible light pass through and provide optimal vision and durable transparency.
Style Statement
About 20 years back, people avoided wearing spectacles, but today, people readily opt for stylish and smart spectacles. While spectacles earlier offered the precise visual correction needed, the glass lenses were heavy, breakable and were not equipped to provide additional benefits such as protection from UV radiation. For people with high prescriptions, glass lenses also had the effect of magnifying the eye, resulting in what is often referred to as, the ‘coke-bottle’ look. The new age polycarbonate material lenses have made such inconvenience and aesthetic concerns a thing of the past.
For professionals who wish to avoid full frames, rimless and three-piece mountings are readily available alternatives More than ever before, people today use spectacles as a style statement to add character to their personality. Apart from innovation in lenses, a lot of design and technical innovation has also been made to make frames more versatile and colourful. A number of people today keep more than one kind of spectacles to complement their different looks, much like people keep more than one pair of shoes.