When glasses were first invented, people feared that wearing them would distort their vision. That was the time when specs were made from thick frames and lenses. However, a lot has changed since then.
The manufacturers not only paid attention to the design of glasses but also addressed other issues that people had with their glasses. The innovations in the eyewear industry are focused on providing a comfortable vision to the users. For instance, innovations in the form of lens filters such as anti-glare and blue light ease night driving and reduce eye strain.
Over 59% of the UK population wear glasses. And these numbers don’t include people who wear fake glasses just to make a style statement.
Technological advancements in optometry don’t just affect the glasses; they also affect the people who wear those glasses. Due to tech upgrades, it’s now possible for kids to get an eye test. You can schedule the first eye exam for your kid when they’re one year old. This allows eye doctors to spot potential issues in your vision ahead of time.
Let’s have a look at some innovations in technology related to optometry and how they shaped the eyewear industry in recent years.
Real-time try-on feature at online eyewear stores
So many people in the UK shop for glasses online. But, the major setback of this type of shopping is that it lacks a personal touch and the user cannot try on the glasses before buying them.
However, with the help of a virtual mirror, people now can try glasses in real-time to choose the best option for them based on their face shape. This feature is available on most of the websites selling glasses and sunglasses online.
This innovation has eliminated one of the most common concerns of people during online shopping – not being able to try on the product. This new try-on module will allow the customer to see how a particular frame looks on their face.
High performing optical lenses
One big advancement in the eyewear industry is that there are high-performing lenses available that are tailored to your vision to meet your needs. For instance, some lenses can filter out bad lights such as blue light and UV400.
Natural sunlight and some artificial lights can be dangerous for your eyes. They can cause problems in the functioning of your eyes and even bring about serious eye diseases. For example, it’s believed that constant exposure to UV400 increases one’s risk of developing eye cancer.
Moreover, there are photochromic lenses that change colour in the presence of sunlight and go from clear to dark. Using photochromic technology, these lenses react to UV rays and go dark in daylight to give you the best sun protection. Thus, you can now have glasses that change to sunglasses when the need arises.
And even you don’t need vision correction, modern glasses with advanced filters can environmental protect your eyes from harmful environment lights as well. For instance, having a blue light filter on the lenses eases eye strain and increases your productivity during screen time.
No more bulky lenses
Earlier, people with high prescriptions used to have thick lenses that were able to bend light rays more effectively. But, it used to bring down the look of the glasses and make their specs look bulky. Moreover, it also increased the overall weight of the glasses which was one of the reasons why people used to shy away from using glasses.
But today the lenses can have a slim profile even if you have a high prescription. High index lenses are made with advanced technology and are thinner and lightweight than regular lenses.
If you have a complex prescription, you can go for high-index lenses so you get the best vision without compromising your comfort.
Augmented reality (AR) glasses
The influence of technology in eyewear will be incomplete without the mention of AR. These are smart glasses that provide you with visuals in front of your eyes.
With AR, you can connect your glasses with your smartphone or any other digital device. It will project the information digitally in front of your eyes. For example, you’ll be able to see, open and read your emails without even touching your phone. You’ll also be able to check messages, navigate to different locations and listen to your playlist everything by only looking at your lenses.
Eyewear industry and the smart future
Changes in technology trends in optometry have been successfully addressed by the eyewear industry. New innovations and advancements are coming up every year such as 3D printed frames and AR/VR glasses.
These innovations have opened opportunities for eyewear labs and tech companies to offer more value to the customers via customisation.
Not only this, but the eyewear industry also realises how many people use glasses and what a huge amount of glasses at landfills can do to the environment. This is why wooden glasses have become popular recently and almost every good brand is promoting wooden glasses to reduce waste to the environment.
