TINTED & PROTECTIVE LENSES

UNIT-4
SONALI THAKUR
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DELHI SKILL & ENTREPRENEURSHIP UNIVERSITY
& LENSKART ACADEMY
ABSORPTIVE GLASSES

► Absorptive glasses are tinted glasses that improves a person's visual clarity by
reducing glare and increasing contrast. Their purpose is to filter out excess
light and transmit only a certain amount of visible light through the lens.
► Absorptive lenses are classified by two variables. The first is the tint of the
lens itself, and the second is the lens transmission.
► An absorptive coating may be added to a lens through the use of a metallic
oxide applied to the lens in a vacuum.
► Types of absorptive lens coatings
Mirror coating: A reflective layer on the front of the lens that increases surface
reflectance.
Anti-reflective coating: A thin, multilayer coating that reduces reflections from
the front and back surfaces of the lens.
Polarized coating: Reduces glare and makes images sharper and clearer.
Photochromic coating: A chemical coating that darkens the lenses in response to
ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Anti-fog coating: An optical coating that helps prevent glasses from fogging up.
 TINTED LENSES

► Tinted lenses feature the ability to selectively filter certain wavelengths of

light, providing benefits like improved vision clarity, increased color
contrast, reduced light sensitivity, essentially allowing users to see more
comfortably in bright conditions while potentially enhancing specific
aspects of their vision depending on the tint color chosen.
► If patient has a field Job and needs to move in day light, photochromatic or
tinted lenses are a good option to avoid photophobia.
FEATURES OF TINTED LENSES

► Filtering of light:
The primary function is to filter out specific wavelengths of light, reducing
glare and intensity depending on the tint color.
► Color enhancement:
Different tints can enhance specific colors, improving contrast and visual clarity
in certain situations.
► UV protection:
Most tinted lenses are designed with UV protection to shield the eyes from
harmful ultraviolet rays.
FEATURES OF TINTED LENSES

► Filtering of light:
The primary function is to filter out specific wavelengths of light, reducing
glare and intensity depending on the tint color.
► Color enhancement:
Different tints can enhance specific colors, improving contrast and visual clarity
in certain situations.
► UV protection:
Most tinted lenses are designed with UV protection to shield the eyes from
harmful ultraviolet rays.
► Tinting of lenses can be carried out by following procedures:
• Mixing dye to molten glass material integral tints,
• Blowing a layer of colored glass on white glass (flashing),
• Deposition of fine layers of tint on the surface by vacuum process or
electron-beam process,
• Deposition of mirror-like coatings,
• Dipping plastic lenses into molten dye
TYPES OF TINTS

PINK TINT
► Pink is a tint that has been widely used in the past and continues to be used,
but in a limited amount. The lightest shades are referred to synonymously as
pink, rose, or sometimes, flesh. Pink tints have a uniform transmission across
the visible spectrum and therefore do not cause any color distortion for the
wearer.
► Pink tints are occasionally used for unfavorable indoor lighting situations,
such as bright fluorescent lighting or glare in the work area.
YELLOW TINT
► yellow lenses have the advantage that they selectively darken the bright blue
sky without reducing the luminance of green, yellow, and red targets on the
ground.
► For example, yellow lenses are traditionally used in competitive shooting.
Many sportsmen believe their shooting ability is improved by a yellow tint.
 BROWN LENSES
► Brown lenses are most often used for sun lenses in Germany and other
middle-European countries. Brown lenses have some of the same characteristics
as yellow lenses in that there is a higher absorption of shorter visible
wavelengths.
► By reducing the transmission of the blue end of the spectrum, brown lenses,
like their yellow counterparts, are also commonly thought to improve contrast
on bright hazy, or smoggy days.
GREEN TINT
► Green sun lenses have a transmission curve that closely approximates the color
sensitivity curve for the human eye. They were first made popular through use
in the military, but have now been fairly well replaced by the neutral gray lens.
The green-tinted glass lens obtains its color and characteristic transmission
curve from ferrous (iron) oxide.
► There is good absorption for the green glass lens in both the IR and UV regions.
 GRAY TINT
► Gray is a tint most popular for sun protection and with good reason. It has
evenness of transmission through the whole visible spectrum. This
characteristic allows colors to be seen in their natural state relative to one
another.
► For this reason, neutral gray is quite satisfactory for use by those with color
vision deficiencies. Gray lenses will not help a color-defective individual in his
or her perception of colors, but neither will it cause further misjudgment of
colors as often happens to a color-defective individual.
POLARIZING LENSES

► Polarized sunglasses are types of sunglasses designed to protect the eyes

from UV radiation and to reduce glare. Polarized sunglass lenses work by
having a coating or filter that stops horizontal light, the type of light that
causes glare, getting through the lens to the eye, in turn lessening the effects
of glare.
► As spectacle lenses are designed to eliminate the polarized light in the
horizontal plane, the filter is placed vertically in the eyewear or eye rim.
► Boaters, fishers and water sports players have used polarized sunglasses to
reduce the effect of glare from water surface.
► Skiers, golfers, bikers, and joggers can also enjoy a clearer view and
elimination of glare from polaroid lenses. It is also suited for patients with
eye ailments like cataracts, albinism, aniridia etc.
► Reduce glare: Polarized lenses are designed to reduce glare, which is one of their
biggest benefits. Polarized lenses will reduce glare from surfaces such as water and
snow.
► Protect the eyes from UV rays: Protecting the eyes from UV rays is one of the biggest
benefits of polarized sunglasses. Like most sunglasses, polarized sunglasses are
designed to help protect the eyes from UV rays emitted from the sun. UV can be
harmful to the eyes if they are exposed to it for long periods of time.
► Improved vision clarity: Improved vision clarity is one of the biggest benefits of
polarized sunglasses. Polarized sunglasses may allow for greater color contrast and
clearer vision in bright light.
► Reduce eye strain: Polarized sunglasses help reduce eye strain that can be caused by
extended periods of time in bright light which is one of their major benefits.
► Protect the eyes from the elements: Protecting the eye from the elements is one of
the major benefits of polarized sunglasses. Polarized sunglasses that fit the face well
should help protect the eyes from potentially damaging or irritating elements such as
wind and sand as they provide a barrier in front of the eyes.
PHOTOCHROMIC & REFLECTING FILTERS

► Photochromic lenses, also known as light-adaptive or variable tint lenses, are

optical lenses that automatically change in response to different light
exposures, usually ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
► A "reflecting filter" in a lens refers to a type of optical filter that works by
reflecting a specific portion of light rather than absorbing it.
► A photochromic glass lens contains billions of microscopic crystals of Silver
Halide. When exposed to direct sunlight or UV light, these crystals absorb
energy and cause the formation of metallic silver deposit on silver halide
crystals. It is this metallic silver that absorbs the light. This reduces the
amount of light passing through the lens and the lens turns darker.
► Photochromic lenses are just like normal lenses but they automatically become dark when
we move in the sunlight. Ultraviolet rays coming from the sun affect the molecules present
in the photochromic lenses therefore, these lenses change their colors. These lenses get
darker in bright lights and vice-versa.
► These lenses, therefore, provide the best vision in all lighting conditions. These lenses are
also known as “transition lenses”.
ADVANTAGES

► Helps in reducing eye strain and eye damage by blocking up to 100% harmful
UVA/ UVB light.
► Better light transmission, decreased glare, and improved night vision
► These glasses are very convenient to carry as you do not need different glasses
for different lighting conditions.
► These lenses also protect our eyes from the high risk of cataracts by blocking
out as much light as possible.
► Photochromic lenses are cost-effective. It has the feature of both the lenses
(normal lens and sunglasses).
► These lenses are available in different shades, tints, and styles suitable for your
taste.
DISADVANTAGES

► Smudges are more visible than with uncoated lenses.

► Photochromic lenses get darken when coming in contact with the sunlight,
blocking your windshields. Therefore, they are risky to wear while driving.
► These lenses are also affected by the weather. This means that it takes more
time to get dark in the winters.
► Some photochromic lenses are not polarized, leading to harsh glares of
sunlight.
ANTIREFLECTIVE COATINGS

► An Antireflecting coating is a thin, clear layer or layers applied to the surface

of a lens.

[Link] unwanted reflections from the lens surface

[Link] the amount of light that actually passes through the lens to the eye
-The higher the index of refraction, the more light is reflected. For this reason,
those who wear high-index lenses will like their lenses much better with an
antireflection coating that removes these annoying reflections.
ANTIFOG

► Anti-fog coatings are used for individuals who are constantly going into and
out of changing temperature environments or who are exposed to other
environmental conditions that would fog lenses.
► Wearers who may appreciate anti-fog coatings include cooks, ice skaters, and
skiers.
► Anti-fog coatings can be made as permanent coatings applied directly to the
lens during manufacture.
► It is much more common to find permanently applied anti-fog coatings in
sport eyewear, such as swimming goggles.
► A mirror coating can be applied by a vacuum process to the front surface of
the lens, causing the lens to have the same properties as a two-way mirror.
When applied as a full-mirror coating, the observer is unable to see the
wearer’s eyes and sees his or her own image reflected. Night driving is where
many experience a notable difference between uncoated and AR coated
lenses.
► Mirror coatings alone do not reduce the amount of light coming through the
lens to the level of regular sunglasses. Mirror coatings may be used in
combination with a tinted lens to provide more protection from intense
sunlight than the mirror coating alone can provide.
SAFETY LENSES

► Safety eyewear has been an extremely important factor in reducing eye

injuries.
► Now safety eyewear is a must in various occupations which can damage eye.
► Eye injuries most often occur because of a failure to wear eye protection at
the time of the accident or because the wrong kind of eye protection was
worn.
► The standards used for safety lenses and frames are given by ANSI.
► They have high impact resistance.
► The 1998 standard had a single set of requirements for all safety eyewear,
The 2003 standard has two levels of safety standards. One level is called basic
impact; the other, high impact. The Z87.1 1998 standard is identical to the
basic impact level for the 2003 standard.
PROPERTIES OF SAFETY LENSES

► Impact resistance
► Chemical resistance
► Surface hardness
► Thermostability
LAMINATED LENSES

► Lenses that are made from two or more layers of material are called
laminated lenses.
► Lamination can be used for several purposes. Before dyed plastic lenses, clear
glass lenses were sometimes laminated with a thin layer of tinted glass to give
an even tint across the lens.
► Polarizing lenses have a stretched polarizing film sandwiched between two
layers of regular lens material to cut out reflected glare. Lamination can also
be used to increase impact resistance.
CR-39

► CR39 was introduced by the Columbia Chemical Division of the Pittsburg Plate
Glass Company in 1941 and first became available as a spectacle lens material
in 1950s.
► The word “CR” stands for Columbia Resin and it was the 39th batch or
formula made by the laboratory.
► It is a thermosetting material and offers greater impact resistance.
► The scratches on the lens surface do not obviously affect the impact
resistance.
POLYCARBONATE LENSES

► Polycarbonate material was first produced in the late 1950, polycarbonate

lenses are readily available, not only as safety lenses, but also as high quality
spectacle lenses for dress wear/day to day wear.
► Polycarbonate lenses are thermoplastic polymer that melts at a fairly low
temperature and can be molded and remolded easily by a process of heating
and cooling.
► Have high impact resistance.
► The surface of polycarbonate is fairly soft and scratches very easily.
SPORTS LENSES

► In sports, vision is maximized by the correct use of lenses and trauma is

avoided by the correct use of lens material. Everything that is being to
protect and enhance vision has a bearing on safety.
► Their features:
-Impact Resistant Material
-Ultraviolet Protection
-Anti-reflection Coating
-Anti-mist Coating
-Scratch Resistant Hard Coating
► Golf : Green tint
► Tennis : Yellow tint
► Clay pigeon : Orange tint
► Target shooting : Yellow tint
► Fishing, Sailing : Polaroid lens
► Skiing : Polaroid lens, orange or yellow tint.
► Scuba diving : Blue, or bluey grey tint
► Table tennis : Yellow tint
► Cricket : Photochromatic or orange, red tint.
► Driving : Polaroid lens, or brown tint
► Cycling, skating : Brown tint
► Swimming : Blue, or bluey grey tint
TOUGHENED GLASSES

► Spectacle glass lenses can be strengthened by toughening process. The

finished lens is heated to its softening point and is followed by rapid cooling,
either by a stream of cold compressed air directed at the surfaces or by
submerging the lens in oil.
► This results in greater compressive strength in the glass since outer region of
the lens material cools more rapidly than the interior, which remains hotter
and more fluid for some time. When the interior finally cools, it contracts and
exerts tension on the rigid outer surface to produce an envelop that encloses
the interior under great tensile stress.
► Toughened glasses are far more durable and more resistant to scratches
because of increased surface hardness.