When purchasing glasses, you want them to be fashionable, provide you with great vision, and look good for the structure of your face. Your optometrist will measure the lens width, bridge width, and temple length for the particular glasses that you have chosen.
What does it mean when your optometrist refers to pantoscopic and retrospective lens tilts?
The bottom of most eyeglass frames tilt a bit closer to your face than the top. We get the best optics by looking through our eyeglass lenses “straight on”. Since we spend most of our time looking slightly downward, this slight tilt of your eyeglass frames aligns your lenses in front of your eyes so you can look through them “straight on” and have the best optics. Adjusting your glasses so the bottom sits closer to your cheeks is done by adding more pantoscopic tilt. Adjusting your glasses so the bottom sits further away from your cheeks requires adding a more retrospective tilt.
Depending on the anatomy of your cheeks and face, having too much pantoscopic tilt will make your glasses touch your cheeks. This can be uncomfortable, it can cause your lenses to fog, or pick up oils from your skin. So getting the right amount of pantoscopic tilt is important for fashion and comfort too, not just for optics.
Should your eyelashes touch the lens of your glasses?
No! Your eyelashes should clear the lens of your glasses to eliminate any issues with dirty lenses, and eyelash tickle. This can be achieved through proper frame choice and frame adjustment. Getting the right amount of pantoscopic tilt will help you find the best fit for your particular situation. The staff at your optometrist’s office can help you with the best frame choice and adjustment.
What is one of the most important aspects of eyeglasses?
Pantoscopic tilt is usually the most important of the frame adjustments to help ensure speedy adaptation to a new pair of eyeglasses, especially if they are made with Progressive Lenses. Ideally, your Optometrist will adjust your frames for optimal fit and measure the pantoscopic tilt of the frames as you wear them. This information can be used when ordering your new eyeglasses in order to design a lens with a simple adaptation profile. Pantoscopic tilt is one of the most important of the Position Of Wear (POW) measurements made in “As Worn” lens design.
The other important measurements are Vertex Distance, which is the distance between your eyes and your lenses, and Panoramic or Wrap angle. These Position of Wear measurements are combined with the as worn, monocular interpupillary distance, and optical center height in premium lens design. That’s how premium “as worn” lens designs help you get the optimum vision with each pair of glasses.
Pantoscopic Tilt and As Worn Design improves vision in all types of lenses. It doesn’t matter whether your eyeglasses will be used for reading, driving, T.V., Computer or sports, lenses with optimal As Worn design will give you the best optics for optimal visual function. Ask about As Worn lens design next time you see your Optometrist for new eyeglasses.
Contact Doig Optometry in SW, Calgary for a consultation or appointment booking.