Advancements in Lenses TSO of Laredo has invested in the WECO lens edger. This technologically advanced German made machine can digitally reproduce the shape of any frame or lens and then cut and polish a new lens in under 2 minutes. The advancements in lenses for eyeglasses can make a difference in the way you look and feel, and also in how well they fit into your lifestyle. With the variety of lenses available today, deciding which one is right for you can be confusing. After your complete eye exam at TSO, Dr. Barrera will ask you a series of questions about style, comfort, fit and safety requirements that will help you make the right lens choices. Dr. Barrera will recommend the lens that not only enable you to enjoy the best possible vision, but will work best with your job functions and leisure activities. OPHTHALMIC QUALITY LENSES  Are your lenses too thick to wear in public?  Our office specializes in thinner and lightweight lenses. We use only the best, after all, aren't your eyes worth it? Remember, premium lenses look and help you see better and more comfortably. When it comes to the lenses that you will insert into your frames we make no compromise. We offer the best no-line progressive available...Varilux Kodak also offers progressive in lightweight thin materials. PENTAX. The thinnest lens available in the United States. 1 mm thin center thickness. Available in single vision and progressive bifocal styles. Optima 166 is another thin lens we utilize and is available in more varied prescriptions, including single vision, straight top, and progressive bifocals. We also offer the Silor Thin and Lite Lens. THESE ARE THE THINNEST LENSES AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES! ALL OF OUR STAFF WEARS THEM. IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THINNER WE WOULD BE WEARING IT!!!!! Of course, you are not limited to only certain types of lenses. We have access to any lens that happens to meet you particular needs best. LENS TREATMENT Among the treatments available to complete the package are scratch resistant coatings that help resist scratching and are warranted by the manufacturer for 1 year. Crizal anti-reflection coating all but make reflections and glare disappear. Ultraviolet protection can also be added to your lenses to complete your protection against the elements. Thin and Light High Index Lenses Many TSO patients who are extremely nearsighted or farsighted feel they have little choice but to wear thick, heavy lenses with a limited selection in frame styles to hold lenses - often uncomfortably- in place. They're now finding at TSO new and advanced High Index lenses made with flatter curves. Their precision designs reduce unwanted magnification and peripheral errors. The flatter curves decrease the center's thickness and reduce lens volume and weight. High Index lenses offer patients a slim, attractive lens whether you're nearsighted or farsighted. The lens minimizes magnification and improves the appearance of your eyes behind your glasses. The added bonus is a wider selection of stylish and fashionable frames from which to choose. Polycarbonate Lenses If sports, safety and children's lenses are part of your everyday priorities, consider polycarbonate lenses because of their superior impact resistance and ligher weight. According to Prevent Blindness America, appropriate eyewear could reduce sports related eye injuries by 90%.  Occupations that involve some risk of eye injury, such as welding or working in a machine shop, also should signal the use of polycarbonate lenses. All polycarbonate lenses are designed with scratch coating on both surfaces. Beacuse the materials used to make polycarbonate materials also block UV light, this added protection is automatically built into all polycarbonate lenses. From Light to Dark ''Sun-Sensitive'' Moving outdoors to the bright sunlight often meant carrying a pair of sunglasses in your pocket or purse. Now sun-sensitive lenses change naturally from light to dark automatically. What's more, they are made in lightweight plastic - up to 50% lighter than glass - and because they're lighter on your nose, they're much more comfortable. Sun-sensitive lenses are also durable and come in fashionable gray or brown tints. You'll notice how fast the transition from virtually clear to dark happens. Sun-sensitive lenses also feature a built-in scratch protection and 100% UV protection. If style, comfort, and convenience in eyewear are important to you, come into a TSO office and ask your Doctor of Optometry about how sun-sensitive lenses can simplify your life. Progressive ''No Line'' Lenses Single vision lenses offer vision correction for people who have only one vision problem, are nearsighted, farsighted or need help with reading. If you have more than one vision problem, you need multifocal lenses, which include bifocals that offer near and distance vision, but no mid-range viewing, and trifocals which offer near, mid-range and distance vision in one pair of lenses. Is there anything at TSO more advanced than bifocals or trifocals? How about a lens that's making bifocals a thing of the past? A lens that offers you a sharp, full range of vision at all distance with 'no lines' separating the ranges of vision? Today's progressive lenses are designed for vision near, far and in-between. Progressive lenses, also called 'no line bifocals', duplicate the natural movement of your eyes giving you a full range of focus so you see clearly and comfortably at all distances, including those in-between areas that bifocals miss. Good candidates are people in their early 40s just beginning to have a problem with seeing well close up and people who switch between reading and distance glasses and want an alternative. Progressive lenses offer clear vision at that difficult arm's length range; a slight head movement makes all distances clear. Ways to Make Your Lenses Even More Beneficial Anti-Reflective Treatment Reduces Glare There are two benefits with anti-reflective (AR) treatment - cosmetic and visual. With AR treatment, the eyes - not glare - are visible through lenses. You vision is better, too because the coating eliminates distracting reflections. Anti-reflective treatment is an important safety feature for people who have problems with night vision, especially while driving. Night vision improves and power rings are eliminated. Add Protection with Scratch Resistant Treatment and Fashion with Tints. An important and cost effective way to preserve your lens investment is to add a scratch coating. The harder surface protects your investment longer by giving you longer wear. Also consider adding a lens tint that adds fashion to your lens choice. A tint or surface coating blocks hazardous ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Polycarbonate and other high-index lenses have built-in UV protection. Ask Dr. Barrera for more information on your choice of lenses.