How Are Lenses Made for Glasses?

Glasses are used to help focus images and reflect those images back on the retina. Once the image is reflected on the retina, the retina works with the brain to process the image correctly.

Strength of Prescription

• Before a pair of lenses is made, an optometrist will need to assess your vision during a routine exam. The doctor will test your eyes and then send the numerical value of your prescription to a laboratory.

Lens Blanks

• Once the lab technician has the prescription number they will select a lens blank that is close to matching the thickness of the prescription. The technician then places the lens blank into a machine and grinds the lens to the required curve according to the prescription.

Frame Fitting

• The lenses are put through a fitting process known as "edging." During the process the lenses are tailored to fit into the frames chosen by the patient.

Insertion

• The final step in the process is to fit the lenses into the frames and ensure they fit securely. The frames are usually heated up to make them more flexible and easier to insert the lenses into.