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Prescription glasses: how to choose the right ones
Choosing prescription lenses means finding the solution best suited to your everyday needs, your habits and your chosen frames. In this guide, we provide a clear and professional analysis of all the factors that influence the final quality of your vision, covering materials, lens geometries, coatings and customisation in accordance with the method of theIsolani Experience™.
1. Lens materials: what really makes a difference
The material of a lens determines its thickness, weight, durability and optical quality. There is no single ‘best’ material: there is simply the one best suited to your prescription, your lifestyle and your chosen frames. To find out more about the technical concepts, you can consult our glossary dedicated torefractive index, to the organic materials and to the mineral materials.
Main materials
- CR-39: lightweight, excellent optical quality.
- Polycarbonate: highly impact-resistant, ideal for children and sports enthusiasts.
- Trivex: a combination of lightness, strength and superior optical quality.
- High indices (1.67 – 1.74): thinner, ideal for high prescriptions and for reducing the lens thickness.
2. Lens designs: single-vision, bifocal, progressive and beyond
Single-vision lenses
They correct vision for a single distance (far or near). They are the most common solution for short-sightedness, hyperopia and presbyopia. Find out more in the glossary dedicated to single-vision lenses.
Bifocal lenses
Two distinct zones: far and near. These are less common nowadays, having been replaced in most cases by progressive lenses.
Progressive lenses
Three integrated vision zones: distance, intermediate and near. Quality depends on the width of the fields of vision, customisation, centration and geometry. Discover our service dedicated to progressive lenses.
Anti-fatigue lenses / for digital use
Designed for those who spend many hours in front of screens. They offer gentle accommodative support that reduces eye strain. Find out more in the feature on lenses for digital use.
Office lenses
Optimised for intermediate and close-up distances, ideal for working at a computer. Discover the service dedicated to office lenses.
Lenses for managing the progression of myopia
Designed to slow the progression of short-sightedness in children and adolescents. Find out more in the feature on children's lenses.
3. Treatments: protection and comfort
These treatments improve the visual quality and durability of the lenses. You can find out more about each technology in our glossary:
- Anti-reflective: reduces glare and enhances sharpness.
- Hardener: protects against scratches.
- Blue light filter: useful for those who spend a lot of time in front of screens.
- Photochromic: they darken in sunlight.
- Polarised: they reduce glare and improve contrast.
4. Customisation: the real added value
Two people with the same prescription may have completely different needs. Personalisation takes into account factors such as ocular dominance, accommodation, convergence, base curve, posture and visual habits.
In the Isolani Experience™, personalisation is supported by advanced services such as the behavioural alignment and the Simulation Room.
5. Lenses and frames: an inseparable pair
The frame affects thickness, weight, appearance and stability. An excellent lens may not look its best in an unsuitable frame, whilst a well-chosen frame enhances the quality of the lens. Find out more in the feature dedicated to bespoke glasses.
How do we tackle all this as part of the Isolani Experience™?
Choosing lenses is not a one-off technical process: it is a journey. As part of the Isolani Experience, we follow a structured approach that combines listening, professional expertise and advanced technology.
- Needs analysis: Let us understand what your day is like.
- Comprehensive professional assessment: Opticians, optometrists and contact lens specialists work together. Find out more about the advanced contact lens practice.
- Technological measurements: advanced instruments for measuring precise parameters, such as in the Simulation Room.
- Customisation: each lens is tailored to the frame and lifestyle, thanks to the behavioural alignment.
- Review and adaptation: let’s make sure everything is just right, including through our in-house laboratory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best materials for prescription lenses?
There is no single ‘best’ material: the choice depends on your prescription, your lifestyle and the frames you choose. Find out more in the glossary dedicated to organic materials and to the mineral materials.
Are single-vision or varifocal lenses better?
It depends on your needs: the single-vision correct only one distance, whereas the progressive cover distant, intermediate and close ranges.
What are anti-fatigue lenses used for?
They offer gentle accommodative support and are useful for those who spend many hours in front of screens. Find out more in the lenses for digital use.
What are office lenses?
These lenses are optimised for intermediate and close-up distances, making them ideal for working at a computer. Discover the office lenses.
Are there any lenses that can slow down the progression of short-sightedness?
Yes, there are lenses designed to help manage the progression of myopia in children and teenagers. Find out more in the children's lenses.
The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and relates to the fields of optics and optometry. It is in no way a substitute for the advice, diagnosis or recommendations of an ophthalmologist, who is the specialist to consult for the assessment and management of eye conditions.