Specialty Ophthalmic Products
Specialty lenses, sports vision, occupational designs, low vision aids, and advanced lens technologies.
Occupational and Task-Specific Lenses
Computer/Office Progressives:
- Optimized for intermediate (50-70cm) and near (30-40cm) distances
- Wider intermediate and near zones than general-purpose progressives
- Limited or no distance zone — NOT for driving
- Examples: Zeiss Office, Essilor Eyezen, Shamir Computer
Golfer Lenses:
- Amber/brown tint enhances contrast on green grass
- Progressive designs with wide distance for the course and near for the scorecard
- Consider wrap protection and polarization
Musician Lenses:
- Need clear intermediate vision for sheet music (arm's length)
- Progressive designs with extended intermediate zone
- Occupational progressive or degressive lens often ideal
Near-Variable Focus Lenses:
- For patients who work at multiple near distances (dentists, jewelers)
- Provides near + extended near range
- Not suitable for distance or driving
Sports Vision and Protective Eyewear
Sports Eye Protection Standards:
- ASTM F803 — Standard for eye protectors used in selected sports (racquet sports, basketball, baseball, field hockey)
- ANSI Z87.1 — Industrial safety standard (also used for sports in some contexts)
- Polycarbonate minimum 3mm thickness for sports
Sport-Specific Recommendations:
- Racquet Sports — ASTM F803 rated goggle with polycarbonate lenses
- Basketball/Soccer — Sports goggles with padded bridge and strap
- Baseball/Softball — Face cage or polycarbonate shield
- Swimming — Prescription swim goggles available
- Skiing/Snowboarding — OTG (over-the-glasses) goggles or prescription inserts
Tints for Sports:
| Tint | Best For |
|---|---|
| Gray | General outdoor, true color perception |
| Brown/Amber | Golf, baseball, contrast enhancement |
| Yellow | Low light, overcast, indoor sports |
| Rose/Vermilion | Shooting, skiing, enhances targets against backgrounds |
| Green | General outdoor, reduces glare |
Wrap Frame Considerations:
- High wrap angles require Rx compensation
- Decentration changes with wrap
- Many athletes prefer contact lenses under non-Rx protective eyewear
Low Vision Devices
Optical Magnifiers:
- Hand-held — Portable, adjustable distance. M = F/4 (25cm reference).
- Stand — Fixed focal distance, hands-free. Good for sustained reading.
- Bar/strip — Laid flat on page, magnifies one line at a time.
- Spectacle-mounted — High plus lenses or loupes. Hands-free but close working distance.
Telescopic Systems:
- Galilean — Plus objective, minus eyepiece. Compact, upright image. Lower magnification (2-4x).
- Keplerian — Plus objective, plus eyepiece with erecting prism. Higher magnification, wider field. Heavier.
- Bioptic — Small telescope mounted in spectacle lens. Used for driving in some states, reading signs, watching TV.
Electronic Magnification:
- Desktop CCTV — Camera on XY table, monitor display. Up to 60x+.
- Portable electronic magnifiers — Handheld with LCD screen. 2-20x.
- Tablet/smartphone — Camera zoom, high contrast, text-to-speech.
- Advantages: adjustable magnification, contrast, polarity (white-on-black), font size.
Choosing Aids:
Consider: task requirement, acuity level, field of vision, manual dexterity, cognitive ability, motivation, and budget.