Light Adaptive (Photochromatic) Lens Coating

Transition lenses are created by applying a light adaptive photochromatic lens coating to prescription glasses, allowing them to lighten or darken automatically in response to your indoor or outdoor environment.

Light adaptive transition lenses are beneficial for people who frequently move between indoor and outdoor environments, and those who spend a lot of time outdoors in bright sunlight. The lenses are clear when you're inside or in low light conditions, but when exposed to UV light, they become darker, providing you with the necessary protection against harmful UV rays. The photochromic coating on the lenses is made up of photochromic molecules that react to UV light by changing their shape and absorbing more light, causing the lenses to darken. When the UV light is removed, such as when you go back indoors or it becomes cloudy outside, the molecules return to their original shape, and the lenses become clear again.

One of the benefits of transition lenses is that they provide a convenient all-in-one solution for people who need prescription glasses and also require sun protection. They eliminate the need for carrying separate prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses, making them a cost-effective option for many people. Additionally, they may help reduce eye strain and fatigue caused by excessive exposure to bright light. Transition lenses come in different colours, with brown and grey being the most common. Some models of transition lenses may also be polarised, which can reduce glare and improve visual clarity in bright conditions.

Transition lenses are suitable for people of all ages and are compatible with most lenses and prescription types. The speed of the transition from clear to dark and back again varies depending on the intensity of the UV light and temperature, but generally, the transition is completed in under a minute.

The benefits of having a photochromic lens includes:

• They provide daily protection against harmful UV rays, by absorbing 100% of both UVA and UVB rays, which help support your long-term vision and eye health
• They transition in a minute or less (though they generally darken fastest and lighten more slowly)
• They eliminate the need for putting on separate indoor glasses and sunglasses when you move from inside and outside, or even when driving in ever-changing weather and lighting conditions
• They provide greater comfort than standard glasses by reducing eye strain, squinting and glare in the sun

To learn more about light adaptive photochromatic lens coatings, contact one of our Queensland clinics by selecting your preferred location here.