What you don't know about eyeglasses could affect your vision

(BPT) - For most people, selecting eyeglass frames is the highlight of the eye appointment and the lenses are seen as pieces of plastic or glass that don't involve a lot of buyer choice. But on the contrary, the best eyeglass lenses today are as hi-tech as any smartphone, and the visual difference between adequate lenses and great lenses can be as pronounced as the difference between a standard TV and your new HDTV. Once you've experienced the latter, you'll never want to watch TV the old way again.

The first step toward getting the best possible vision is, of course, a visit to your eye doctor. Even if you don't see any vision problems, it is still important to have your eyes checked often. Children should be checked at ages 6 months, 3 years and when beginning school. Adults and children who are school-age should get an eye exam once every two years, even if they aren't having any vision issues. People age 40 or older should get an eye exam annually.

At the doctor's office, keep in mind that selecting the right lenses is the key to the best vision, just as the right frames are the key to the best look. Carl Zeiss Vision has created some tools to help you get the most from your eye exam, including some useful questions to ask:

1. Are all eyeglass lenses the same?
2. Is there a difference in quality of lenses?
3. What are the best lenses for my vision needs?
4. Why are these lenses best for my vision needs?
5. Can customized eyeglasses improve my vision quality and comfort?
6. Will one pair of glasses meet all of my vision needs?
7. Are there different methods to perform an eye exam? What method do you use and why?
8. What do you check for during an eye exam besides my prescription?

Customized lenses like Zeiss Individual can enhance your visual experience because the optics of the lens are designed based on your personal parameters. This includes your prescription, of course, but also factors like the size and shape of your frame and the way it positions the lenses in front of your face. Surprisingly, these factors also affect the optical performance of your eyewear. By incorporating them into the lens design, Zeiss Individual lenses can offer sharper vision and greater viewing comfort.

According to a study conducted by University of California at Berkeley's School of Optometry, patients preferred Zeiss Individual customized progressive lenses over conventional progressive lenses, and had a wider field of view when looking at close-up objects (for example, the page of a book). To find an eye doctor who creates custom eyeglass lenses, visit www.better-vision.zeiss.com.

Like many eyeglass wearers, you may feel like the vision you're getting now is good enough. But chances are you were also pretty satisfied with your old TV before you saw how much better everything looked with HDTV. Many people are having a similar breakthrough with customized lenses - not just during prime time, but every waking hour.