How Technology Leads Eyewear Industry New Vision

Some claim eyeglasses or sunglasses have not changed much over the years. Neither has the shopping experience. Well, opticians and eyewear companies beg to differ on this. In this article, we’ll share how technology leads the eyewear industry new vision.

Both eyeglasses and sunglasses have made their way into fashion, just like any other fashion accessory. In the year 2018, The value of the global eyewear market was estimated at 131.32bn USD. It includes spectacles, sunglasses, and contact lenses. This growth supports the fact that people expect more than just an arrangement of metal frames and curved lenses. And as technological advancements have touched every business, the eyewear industry is not a stranger to it. Ranging from clarity lenses to fitting a minicomputer on the frame, the industry has officially removed the “boring” tag from the glasses.

Things that are making a difference in your eyewear

When I was advised to wear spectacles in 2001, my mother was worried that the specs would distort my looks. That was the time when glasses were made with thick, round metal frames and lenses. But now, there are drastic changes.

The innovators have not only changed the design of the frames and lenses, but they have also tried to overcome other issues. For example, lens companies added an anti-glare material in the lenses to ease night driving. People have made it a style statement by wearing zero power lens glasses. In addition, if you need a better one you should try to, which you could purchase from contactlenses.co.uk.

Apart from prescription glasses, 83% of men and 89% of women in the US use sunglasses regularly. There are options, depending upon their frame– Aviator, butterfly, Cat eye, Clubmaster, oval, rectangle, shield, round, square, and Wayfarer.

The material for the lenses technology eyewear

Modern-day lenses are made of high-tech plastics instead of plain glass. It provides durability and makes them less fragile. Also, they are lightweight and shield the eyes for protection against harmful ultraviolet rays.

Crystal clear night vision and for rainy days – Polarised lenses

Most importantly, the lenses add an anti-glare feature to have a clear vision underwater or during rain. An anti-reflective coating makes it easy to see in bright light, especially during driving.

Omnifocals

Remember, your grandparents have a bifocal lens, i.e., lenses in one frame to help with farsightedness and short-sightedness. They were a little uneasy as it took some time to adjust between the two.

Omnifocal lenses were with one smooth lens having a transparent liquid crystal that bends the light which passes through it. They are with a processing unit to determine the distance between the eye and the object under focus. With these, people can switch between two types of vision more swiftly and without focusing on one lens area.

Easy on your eyes technology eyewear

Around 64 percent of Americans have experienced digital eye strain due to the over-use of screen devices. It is the leading cause of retina damage and macular degeneration. Eyeglasses have a protective coating to protect your eyes against the glare, reflections, and high-energy blue light emitting from digital screens.

Sports eyewear for athletes

The eyewear industry has a separate range of eyeglasses and sunglasses for sports enthusiasts. Their design and lens technology are sport-centric, be it golf, cycling, water sports, winter sports, running, and more. Along with providing lenses with crystal clear and anti-glare vision, this eyewear also protects against the sudden change in light conditions, speed, and airborne particles.

Real-time try-on feature on online eyeglasses stores

According to a Statista survey, about 9.3% of prescription glasses in the United States were sold online in 2019. A person can try different sunglasses frames on sites to choose the best suitable one, based on their face shape.

Moreover, real-time glasses try-on features can use FitMix of HTML5. This is a try-on module that provides a virtual mirror on the browser’s screen in real-time via webcam.

Customization

The power of 3D printing and the luxury of customization exists in the eyewear industry as well. People can order custom 3D printed frames fully tailored to fit their face or desired style.

Added augmented reality technology eyewear

The discussion of technology in the eyewear industry is incomplete without a mention of augmented reality. Smart glasses with AR functions provide you visuals right in front of your eyes, on-demand by connecting your glasses with your phone or other digital devices. You can check your Email, make and receive phone calls. So, check messages, take pictures, listen to your playlist, and navigate places by looking at your wearable lenses.

Before taking your leave

The eyewear has put in a lot of effort and made strides in protecting your eyes, getting the right style, and improving the shopping experience. Whether your glasses are store-bought or you have ordered them online, the best part is, companies have a lot to offer.