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Chameleon glasses for vision and driving. Photochromic lenses for glasses: features and selection rules Monochrome lenses for glasses

How is photochromism used in optics? What are chameleon glasses? What are their advantages?

A person indoors wearing transparent glasses reads or looks into the distance, and when he goes outside, the lenses instantly become dark and protect his eyes from the sun. Magic? Not at all! Elementary photochromism.

Tags medicine glasses glasses lenses vision vision correction lens coatings

Smart molecules

The phenomenon of photochromism is based on the ability of the molecules of certain substances (for example, silver and copper) to change their structure under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. In their initial state, these molecules have high degree light transmittance (the glasses are transparent), but as soon as UV rays hit them, they are activated and transmit much less light (the glasses become gray or brown). If the sun disappears, the molecules return to their original state, and the glasses again turn colorless.

It's convenient. Firstly, vision correction occurs continuously. Secondly, you don’t need to take off your glasses and put on sunglasses when going outside, and do the reverse process when going indoors.

The phenomenon of photochromism was discovered in late XVIII century. In the twentieth century, not only physicists, but also manufacturers became interested in it spectacle lenses.

In 1964, Corning Glass Works released the first photochromic-coated lenses, Photolite. These were glasses with glass lenses on which silver and copper halides were applied. In the 1980s, photochromic coatings began to be applied to organic lenses.

But the real “revolution” occurred in 1991, when PPG Industries and Essilor International merged (Transitions Optical) and jointly developed Transitions technology. This technology has become one of the most popular.

Glass or plastic - what to choose?

Mineral (glass) and organic (plastic) photochromic lenses differ in the production method and some properties. Therefore, the question often arises - which is better?

In glasses with mineral lenses, the photochromic elements are “inside” - they are added when the glass is melted. On organic lenses, photochromic molecules are usually applied “on top”.

In terms of properties, modern inorganic and organic lenses with photochromic coating are practically indistinguishable from each other. However, polymer spectacle lenses “darken” more evenly; in mineral lenses, darkening sometimes “accumulates” along the edges or in the center of the lenses.

In principle, it is not so important what material the glasses are made of - lenses with photochromic coating will in any case protect the eyes from ultraviolet radiation.

Alone instead of a couple

Many people choose glasses with photochromic coating, believing that they will replace prescription glasses and sunglasses. This is true if you alternate between being indoors and outdoors.

Depending on the type of photochromic lenses, they can provide up to 90% darkness, which means they are, in principle, suitable for wearing on the beach. However, most often photochromic lenses are inserted into frames for permanent wear, which are smaller in size than the frames of beach glasses. But this is a matter of aesthetics and personal preference.

The “behavior” of photochromic lenses depends on the air temperature: they darken in the heat, but more slowly and less; in cold weather, on the contrary, the darkening occurs more intensely.

Manufacturers of spectacle lenses are actively working to improve photochromic coatings. Over a million chameleon glasses are sold annually, and demand is only growing. Photochromic lenses are appearing for people who spend a lot of time driving or outdoors, in bright sunshine and high temperature. These lenses provide greater darkness and maintain it in hot weather.

There are also lighter photochromic lenses for people who spend a lot of time indoors. Tinted photochromic lenses and lenses with unusual curves are appearing for fashionable frames.

Overall, it is now easy to find photochromic lenses that will suit your lifestyle and the frames you want to wear. And modern coatings will help protect your eyes from UV rays and bright light.

How often do people with low vision face the problem of choosing glasses? Photochromic glasses or chameleon glasses can solve this issue. They perform two functions - they improve visibility and protect against ultraviolet radiation when necessary.

Chameleon glasses: operating principle and types

The special photochromic mass in chameleon glasses allows them to change their color depending on what light source you are under. Photochromic lenses become lighter indoors and darken outdoors in sunny weather. In conditions artificial lighting they remain light.

Old generation lenses were temperature dependent and could not darken as much as possible at t>30°C. Thanks to the efforts of scientists, this problem has ceased to be relevant.

Chameleon lenses for vision are divided into 2 types: organic (plastic) and mineral (glass). Their differences are as follows:

  • in organic - photochromic substances are mainly applied to the surface. For this reason, they change their color evenly and at a faster rate;
  • in minerals, such substances are distributed throughout the glass mass. This means that the degree of darkness is not uniform. The “minus” lens in the center is thinner than at the edges, which means the edges will darken for a longer time. Conversely, the edges of the “plus” one will react to light faster than the middle.

Pros and cons of photochromic glasses

Although photochromic glasses are popular, there are still people who doubt whether they are worth purchasing. To do this, you need to consider all the disadvantages and advantages of such a product.

Significant benefits

Chameleon glasses have many advantages. Let us list the most significant among them.

  1. You instantly no longer need to carry 2 pairs of glasses with you every day: for vision and for sun protection. The exception is when you spend your leisure time somewhere on a sunny beach. Sunglasses are more suitable for this.
  2. Glasses with photochromic pigments are indispensable for people who have pathologies and diseases of the visual organs, have had eye surgery, and often work at a computer.
  3. Tinted glasses will be needed for those who suffer from photophobia and frequent tearing. In addition, the darkening intensity of the glasses will change in accordance with the degree of illumination.
  4. The design of the lenses can be chosen according to your preferences.
  5. DriveWear polarized photochromic lenses are available especially for drivers. They remove glare in any lighting, protect your eyes from direct sunlight and light flux inside the car.

Barely noticeable flaws

With each new discovery, the quality and properties of photochromic lenses for vision are improving. Negative qualities Such goods are gradually disappearing. One of the shortcomings is narrow range of colors. There are only three of them: gray-green, gray and brown.

The disadvantage of mineral lenses also lies in the choice of frame. Since they are very fragile, they cannot be inserted into forest or rimless frames. In addition, they are heavier and more dangerous than organic samples.

Purchasing old-generation organic lenses is fraught with a short service life. From frequent wearing and wiping, the substance that is applied to the surface quickly wears off.

The new technology for manufacturing organic lenses is that the photochromic layer is coated with a special optical varnish. It protects them from minor scratches and abrasion and extends their service life.

This innovation improves the quality of the goods, but increases their cost. High price The product, unfortunately, serves as a disadvantage for those who cannot afford to pay big money for glasses.

To choose chameleon glasses for your vision, first decide which type you like best. To distinguish one species from another, you do not need to have special devices or be a master of optical affairs.

Take a look at the rib. If the cut is white, then you have an organic lens with a surface coating. A cut that has dark color, indicates that the photochromic substance is inside, which means what you have in front of you is most likely glass.

Photochromic Lens Manufacturing Methods

Transitions is a technology that produces surface-coated organic lenses. Companies such as Seiko, Hoya, Essilor, Sola, Zeiss produce photochromic lenses based on this technique.

SunSensors technology pioneered the production of lenses with a volumetric distribution of photochromic pigments, which extends their service life. This technique allows the lenses to be colored evenly. This technology is used by Hoya, Rodenstock and Kodak.

Choose photochromic glasses after weighing the pros and cons. Let your new acquisition be a continuation of your image. You should feel comfortable in any situation with these glasses. Take care of your health and the health of your eyes!

Sunglasses have become an indispensable accessory for most modern people. They are very popular among people of any age and gender. Properly selected glasses help many girls and women correct their face shape and often add a special charm to a woman’s or man’s look. In great demand use glasses with photochromic lenses. What are such products, what are their features and advantages?

Photochromic glasses

According to experts, ultraviolet radiation is harmful retina of the eye. Causing burns, radiation is bad for vision and can lead to vision deterioration and even loss. In summer sunny days when there is a lot of sunlight without sunglasses we squint our eyes because we want to protect our eyes from the sunlight. This makes the eyes quickly begin to tire, and constant squinting leads to the appearance of premature wrinkles in the eye area.

Sunglasses should be an essential item that you will always need:

Specialists It is not recommended to wear it all the time sunglasses, because wearing them indoors or on cloudy days can lead to a fear of light. After this, the light begins to cause discomfort. Conventional lenses with dark glasses cannot always fully protect from bright sunlight, so you need to choose this accessory correctly for yourself.

Chameleon glasses have property of changing its color directly from indoor or outdoor lighting. These products are equipped with photochromic lenses. They got the name chameleons because of their ability to darken when exposed to sunlight and begin to gradually lighten when the light is not so bright. These lenses can be made from glass and polycarbonate.

Glasses with photochromic lenses have appeared on the market not so long ago. This happened in the 90s and since then the technology for their production has been practically brought to perfection. Nowadays, chameleons are a very fashionable and useful accessory.

What are photochromic glasses?

Since the advent of glasses with photochromic lenses, they have become one of the main trends in modern optics. Except, properties of dimming light Depending on the lighting, the lenses tend to improve vision to its maximum sharpness. They are hypersensitive to light streams, so glasses with such lenses can be used indoors to correct vision. In bright sunlight the lenses change color and become darker.

Your The lenses are required to react quickly molecules of substances with a photochromic structure that are part of the material. In normal lighting they have their usual color, but in bright sunlight they begin to react quickly and become darker. In fact, an accessory with photochromic lenses simultaneously performs two functions - they correct vision and serve as sunglasses.

In old chameleon models dimming speed depended on the degree of illumination and temperature environment. Thanks to modern innovative technologies The ambient temperature no longer affects the response speed of the optics.

Most models have two shades in a darkened state:

  • brown;
  • grey.

All of them can be produced with different indicators darkening, from weak to strong - 10–15% and 80–85%.

Most companies use lenses based on Sun Sensors technology, such lenses are called volume-colored. Leading companies such as Hoya, Kodak and Rodenstock began to produce glasses from their own polymer materials, in which photochromic agents are distributed throughout the mass.

Benefits of photochromic glasses

For people with poor eyesight Such products will be a real find on warm sunny days. They usually buy sunglasses with diopters and, but then, when going outside, they are forced to change them. Chameleons make it possible to combine several pairs of glasses at once. Such products have many advantages:

  • can be with diopters, which is very convenient and practical for people with poor vision;
  • even without diopters, such glasses are convenient because they respond well to the level of illumination; there is no need to change glasses when leaving the room;
  • eliminate glare and provide good clarity of vision.

Many companies produce glasses with photochromic lenses for drivers. There is no strain on the eyes at the slightest change in illumination outdoors or indoors. Visual fatigue is also reduced, and visual contrast is increased. These properties of photochromes are very important for people with photophobia of the eyes and with increased tear production.

In addition to convenience and comfort indicators, photochromic lenses have certain medical indications:

  • they are a great alternative to sunglasses;
  • recommended for patients with dystrophic disease retina;
  • reduce the risk of developing cataracts.

Features of photochromes

In the optical market photochromic spectacle lens sector Today it is developing very quickly. Such lenses can be polymer, mineral and polycarbonate. Sometimes a special multifunctional coating is applied to the lenses, which can give the lenses a lot of useful properties. Modern chameleons come in different designs:

  • traditional;
  • monofocal;
  • aspherical;
  • progressive.

Buyers have the opportunity to choose any refractive index for their lenses and, if desired, give them a more sophisticated look.

These products are very popular in the consumer market. This is especially true for those people who are concerned about their vision and value high protection against UV radiation in sun-protection optical products.

Chameleon glasses are in demand among people who need eye health prevention or purchase them for medical indicators. But fashion-conscious people often buy these accessories for everyday protection of the retina from ultraviolet radiation. The uniqueness of chameleon sunglasses lies in the glasses containing a photochromic substance (silver or copper hologenide), due to which, when exposed to sunlight, the degree of darkening of the lenses changes. Indoors, chameleons remain light-colored.

Chameleon glasses: purpose and types

In chameleon sunglasses, along with UV protection, there is a vision correction function, so they are also produced with different diopters. Photochromic lenses for vision correction or without it can be mineral (glass) and polymer (plastic). Glasses with mineral glasses Doctors recommend wearing it to patients with eye diseases. They are also suitable for daily UV protection, but glass lenses can break at the slightest impact even after anti-shock treatment.

Chameleons with polymer lenses are more suitable for everyday UV protection because the plastic is durable and lightweight. Moreover, new technologies are constantly improving polymer coatings - even more durable materials are created every year. If mineral lenses are not tinted, then plastic lenses can be chosen with any degree of coating. For more information about photochromic lenses, watch the video presentation by M. Blagovestny, head of BBGR (France):

For vision with diopters

Most chameleon glasses are commercially available - these are products with conventional photochromic lenses intended for normal vision. For people with low vision, farsightedness, myopia, and age-related eye diseases, models with diopters are recommended, the purpose of which is aimed at neutralizing all of the above diseases with the help of collecting or diffusing glasses.

When choosing diopters, each eye is examined separately, first weak and then strong convex glasses are applied to them in turn, with the help of which the patient reads the lines on a special table. The strongest convex glass shows the degree of farsightedness or nearsightedness of a person. Quality sunscreen chameleon Diopters can also be used in extreme sports, such as skydiving, skiing, cycling and motorcycling. These models are made of very durable material to protect your eyes from particulate matter.

When buying chameleons with diopters, you should consult an ophthalmologist for correct selection lenses The specialist will determine the degree of darkening individually, desired type and lens color. When choosing the shade and shape of the frame, a person can rely on his own taste. To eliminate discomfort, it is better for people with low vision to choose flat-shaped models, when the lenses are in front of the eyes in the same plane.

Sunscreens without diopters

Chameleons without diopters make it possible to feel comfortable both indoors and outdoors. In winter, they protect from bright snow, in the spring-summer period they make it possible not to squint on hot days, when sun rays penetrate everywhere. The highest quality sun protection chameleons are considered to be models from Ray-Ban and Polaroid. Their glasses are equipped with lenses with high quality polarizing filter, which 100% protects the eyes from ultraviolet radiation, unlike low-quality Chinese fakes.

Special glasses for drivers

There are chameleon sun protection models designed specifically for drivers. Anti-headlight lenses react to weather conditions, changing its color under different degrees of illumination. The anti-glare properties of these glasses allow much more light to pass through, so the driver's eyes adapt faster after being blinded by the headlights of oncoming cars. Chameleons designed for driving cars are great help in poor visibility conditions, greatly improving the quality of vision.

Beautiful male and female models with photos

Fashionable sun chameleons are divided into two types: women's and men's. Glasses designed for women have a more elegant design, small size, thin arms and frames with various decorative elements. Male models are different a small amount varieties of shapes, massiveness, inlay on the frame (if any), as a rule, restrained. Sunglasses from Polaroid or Ray-Ban, both men's and women's, have a classic design, so they ideally complement the image of a business person, matching the color scheme with different accessories.

Lens darkening levels

The degree of darkening of sun chameleons varies, so they are divided into three types:

  1. Low dimming 10-55%. The color of the lenses in these glasses is brown, and this type is intended for daily wear by people with normal vision.
  2. Average dimming 15-65%. Glass is usually gray. These models are designed for drivers.
  3. Strong darkening 30-85%. Glasses have green. These models are designed for people with a high degree of photosensitivity.

How to choose chameleon sunglasses

High-quality chameleon sun protection optics differ from cheap analogues in the following parameters that you need to pay attention to when choosing:

  • A real lens has a dark edge, but if its color is light, then it is only sputtering and not photochromic glass.
  • Quality glasses preserve the naturalness of colors, whereas a fake will distort them.
  • The “native” coating will lie perfectly evenly. If it has an uneven application, then you have stumbled upon a fake.

Do you need chameleons: reviews

Daria, 30 years old

First I bought Ray-Ban chameleons as a stylish accessory so that I could sit with my computer at work. businesslike. I really liked the look of the model, and the colors are very natural. Then I started going outside in them and using them as sun protection - they become darker in the sun. Now I never part with these glasses and haven’t bought others for several years.

Nikolay, 43 years old

I work as a truck driver, and a colleague advised me to buy chameleons for flights. At first I was skeptical, but then I purchased it and was very pleased. Besides solar radiation During the day, glasses protect my eyes and me at night from the headlights of oncoming cars. I don’t take them off day or night while I’m driving.

Anastasia, 27 years old

I received chameleons as a birthday present. At first I didn’t understand why they were white indoors, because sun-protective models should be darkened. But when the glasses changed color in the sun, I really liked the result. I wear them in winter and summer with any style of clothing, since the classic frame gives this opportunity.

How much does it cost to buy such glasses - approximate prices

Chameleon glasses in Russia, as well as in other countries, are sold at different prices. If you prefer a quality product, then you should pay attention to the models of the Polaroid company, the cost of which will range from 2000 to 5000 rubles, depending on the store’s policy. You can easily find Ray-Ban glasses at prices ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles. Cheap Chinese analogues can be found in online stores and in markets of any city at prices ranging from 500 to 1000 rubles, depending on the model.

We don't know which frame you will choose, or even bring your own * . For this reason, we are now giving the price only for lenses and processing and installation work.

  • 2 mineral lenses from 0.00 to +/- 10.00 = from 1,200 to 2,200 rubles
  • 2 polymer lenses with no coating from 0.00 to - 6.00 = 3,000 rub.
  • 2 polymer lenses with anti-reflective coating from 0.00 to - 6.00 = 3,800 rub.
  • 2 polymer lenses with anti-reflective coating from - 6.50 to - 8.00 = 4,000 rub.
  • 2 polymer lenses with anti-reflective coating from - 8.50 to - 10.00 = 4,400 rub.
  • 2 polymer lenses with anti-reflective coating from 0.00 to - 6.00, cyl 0.50 to - 4.00 = 5,000 rub.
  • The work of a master turning and inserting into a frame costs from 300 to 500 rubles. It depends on the complexity of the frame and lens mounting.

    * If you want us to insert photochromic lenses into your frame, we don't mind. There is only one condition - the frame must withstand the new lenses. Those. be no older than 5 years, without damage.

Attention: We we don't give a guarantee for glasses made from your (customer’s) frames. We don't know their quality. And even a completely new-looking frame, " famous brand", purchased from a reputable optician, in 5% of cases can crumble in the hands of a specialist. This happens due to various reasons, ranging from hidden defects to fakes.