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Dr. Barrie Soloway, Surgical Director of Vista Alliance Eye Care Associates and Director of the Autonomous LADARvision Center of Excellence at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary's Vision Correction Center, appeared on the front page of Investor's Business Daily, a respected national financial newspaper.

Investor's Business Daily, February 3, 1999

What To Look For In The Latest Eye Wear

New Frames And Special Coatings for Lenses Are the Rage

By Larry Olmsted

If it's been a few years since you bought a pair of glasses, it may be time to pick out a new pair.Today's frames and lenses are more durable and lighter than ever. They also come with a wide variety of features and in an increasing array of styles.

"A lot comes down to your prescription," said Donna Venema, an optician at Clompus & Retro Vision Associates in West Chester, Pa. "Lenses are thinner than ever.  But for a high prescription with thick edges, I guide customers to frames that will work for them."

If you're nearsightedwhich most people arethe lens is thinner in the middle and thicker toward the outside, says Dr. Barrie Soloway of the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary."  To minimize thickness, minimize the width of the lens from one edge to the other," Soloway said.  "Smaller frames are popular now because the lens can be thinner."

In plastic frames, matte black is in strong demand, and tortoise has made a big comeback.  Frames made of lightcolored metals are growing in popularity, says Sandy Likes, an associate vice president for LensCrafters Inc. "This reflects a trend in jewelry and watches towards silver," Likes said.

At LensCrafters stores nationwide, ovals are the bestselling shape.  Geometric frames, such as those shaped like rectangles or octagons, are also hot. But the hottest trend is the widespread use of titanium. "Titanium is growing tremendously," said Frances Nuelle, editorinchief of Eye Wear magazine. "It's thinner, lighter and stronger, and it's hypoallergenic. As people become older, their skin sometimes becomes sensitive to the nickel alloys that most frames are made of."

Picking the right pair of glasses can be more complicated than choosing your favorite frame, experts say.  Glass is a highindex material, meaning it provides the same prescription a thinner lens than plastic or polycarbonate. It is also difficult to scratch, but is heavier and can shatter.  Lenses made of plastic tend to be the thickest of three types. Polycarbonate is shatterproof plastic. But you can buy it in a thinner, highindex version. The higher the index, the more expensive the lens. Polycarbonate lenses are very popular today, but scratch easily. You can get them with scratchresistant coatings. "There are some new generation coatings, like Crissal from Essilor and UTMC, ultra tough multicoat, from Sola USA," Nuelle said. "Word on the street is that they do perform well."

Antireflective coatings are also taking off. They serve to reduce glare seen by the eyeglass wearer and also diminish glare on your lenses, making them appear clearer and thinner to others. "If you have any kind of role where you speak to the public or to cameras," Nuelle said, "they're almost a given."

For bifocals, you may want to look at progressive lenses.  "A usual bifocal with the line polished out is called a blended bifocal," Soloway said.  "It's inexpensive.  But there is a zone of blurriness."  The alternative is a progressive bifocal, which keeps a zone of clarity from top to bottomso something is in focus at every point. These lenses are quite expensive.  "When you put on progressive lenses for the first time, it can be very disorienting, " Nuelle said. "In the last year, softer designs have been introduced that produce a less jarring effect. The Verilux comfort lens was the first soft design to really take off.  The newest is the Multigressiv from Rodenstock, a German company, which is very expensivearound $400." A quality frame with antireflective and scratchresistant coatings, highindex lenses and clipon sunglasses can cost $400 to $500. Progressive bifocals with these features are over $800.

If you don't want to be dependent on glasses or contact lenses call Vista Alliance Eye Care Associates, The New York LASIK doctors toll free at 1-888-NYLASIK (1-888-695-2745) for more information on any of our Vision Correction procedures (LASIK, INtacs, ICL or SRP), to schedule a personal evaluation to help you determine the right prodecure for you, or to register for one of our classes or  seminars