Lense Fundamentals
Lens Materials & Digital Options
Compare impact resistance, optical clarity, comfort, and prescription performance.
Trivex Lens Materials
Trivex offers impressive impact resistance and durability while remaining lightweight and comfortable. Its high Abbe value helps reduce chromatic aberration and halos around lights, supporting sharp, distortion-free vision. Trivex also offers useful chemical resistance, including resistance to substances such as acetone and isopropyl alcohol.
Polycarbonate Lens Material
Polycarbonate is a strong, high-impact-resistant material with scratch resistance, excellent light transmission, built-in UV protection, weather resistance, and the ability to withstand high temperatures without melting or deforming. Its insulating properties and durability make it useful in oil and gas, automotive, agriculture, aerospace, construction, manufacturing, medical, energy, government field work, and other environments where eye protection is a priority.
High-definition Digitally Designed Lenses
High-definition lenses use digital manufacturing to improve clarity, peripheral vision, night vision, and the usable visual field while reducing distortion and addressing higher-order vision aberrations. They can be especially useful for medium-to-high prescriptions, significant astigmatism, progressive wearers, and wrap-frame users. Progressive designs may provide a wider reading channel and crisper distance vision, with smoother adaptation and less head movement. Safety Rx manufactures high-definition lenses for demanding users, including NASA astronauts, and offers wholesale pricing that may be substantially below retail.
Prescription Designs
Types of Prescriptions
Different lens designs support distance, near, intermediate, and progressive vision needs, including solutions for office work, control rooms, computer use, room-distance tasks, and reading.
Single Vision
Single-vision lenses use one prescription power, usually for distance or near vision. They can help the wearer see clearly at one primary range, but they do not provide separate distance and reading zones in the same lens.
Bifocal — One Visible Line
Bifocals contain two optical powers. The upper portion is generally used for distance, while the lower portion supports near vision. A visible line separates the two zones.
Progressive or Multifocal — No Line
Progressive lenses gradually increase magnification from top to bottom, supporting far, intermediate, and near vision without visible dividing lines. The design provides a smoother transition when looking from distant objects to intermediate work or reading.
Trifocal — Two Distinct Visible Lines Separate 3 Zones
Trifocals contain distinct zones for distance, intermediate vision at approximately arm’s length, and near tasks. They are often used by people with advanced presbyopia who need additional support for reading or computer work.
Light & Color
Photochromic, Polarized, Clear, and Tinted Lenses
Lens color and UV response influence glare control, visual comfort, and outdoor performance.
Transition or Photochromic Lenses
Photochromic lenses automatically darken in direct sunlight or UV exposure and return toward clear indoors. They reduce glare and bright-light discomfort while combining clear indoor wear with non-polarized sun protection in one lens. Multiple transition colors may be available.
Polarized Gradient Lenses
Polarized gradient lenses are darker at the top and lighter at the bottom. Some designs respond to sunlight or UV exposure and return toward clear indoors while reducing glare and preserving a lighter lower viewing area. Color choices may be available.
Polarized Lenses
Polarized sun lenses reduce glare and eye strain, improve outdoor detail, and enhance visual comfort for activities such as driving, fishing, boating, and other outdoor recreation. They are available in gray or brown lens colors, each offering unique visual benefits. Gray lenses provide true color perception while reducing overall brightness, making them ideal for driving and everyday outdoor use. Brown lenses enhance contrast and depth perception, making them a great choice for activities where distinguishing details and changing terrain is important.
Clear and Tinted Lenses
Clear lenses are colorless and suitable for everyday indoor use. Tinted lenses have a colored treatment that reduces incoming light and can provide UV protection. Tint intensity is available in Light (1), Medium (2), and Dark (3) levels, allowing you to choose the shade that best fits your work environment, outdoor activities, and personal preference.