How is it possible to have 20/20 vision and still complain that images are not sharp or that overall vision is not clear enough? Why are some people with 20/20 vision unable to comfortably read a street sign or menu? In real life objects we look at are not all in black and white. There are lots of greys, shades and colours in the images we try to see. Contrast varies widely from one situation to another. Lighting is a major factor and as sunlight fades into twilight or near dark conditions it becomes even more difficult to see.

The key to understanding the problems some people have with their vision is the inability of some eyes to pick up the details due to poor contrast sensitivity. Another factor that reduces image quality are aberrations (image distortions) — which can compromise night vision, with more glare, halos, blurring, diplopia and starbursts — which are created by irregularities of the tear film, cornea, vitreous humor, aqueous humor and crystalline lens, including cataracts. These health factors may or may not be treatable for all people. The end result of these and other factors are reduced visual quality.

In a previous article on High Definition Vision, laser refractive surgery is one way to help the eye see better and clearer in most cases. For the majority of people who wear spectacles, the lenses that are prescribed and worn are the key to better vision. For those with relatively normal eyesight and mild prescription glasses the need for high quality vision is not as critical. The individuals who truly benefit with High Resolution Lenses are those who wear their glasses full time, who wear invisible multifocals or require a stronger than average prescription. Your Optometrist is in the best position to advise you specifically regarding the need and the benefits of these lenses.

The vision is modified by changing the image quality through these significantly improved ophthalmic lenses. Objects will appear clearer, sharper and have a greater depth and dimension than before. As with other types of lenses, some patients may require a short adaptation period.

Even the best progressive eyeglass lenses slightly distort light waves as they pass through the peripheral optics of these lenses, reducing visual quality. Some of the best progressive lens designs that minimize many of these distortions in the lens apply a technology known as Wavefront Advanced Vision Enhancement (WAVE) to identify and compensate for aberration deformities by controlling the quality of the wavefront that passes through the eyeglass lens. The result is a progressive lens with enhanced central and peripheral vision, a 30% wider corridor, and more contrast and greater acuity in all fields of vision. These lenses were clinically tested in studies with the results indicating a significantly higher vision satisfaction than with standard lenses.

We have been increasingly using these lenses in our office. I personally have been wearing invisible multifocal high definition lenses for three years and notice a large improvement in vision, sharpness, contrast sensitivity and comfort with them compared to the older lens designs. Discerning people today are looking for precision, and a true visual sharpness, rather than just comfortable vision. We want to have the best vision quality when reading a restaurant menu under dim light, reading the smallest product label in the supermarket, or looking at road signs when driving at dawn.

Another key to having the image sharper is to use high quality antireflection coatings. These new coatings are available with several different options such as a scratch and smudge resistance among other features making them easier to care for. In sunlight this AR coating with a polarized tint gives an amazing vision quality. The next time you have your eyes examined ask about high definition lenses and find out if you need to see the difference.