While you may not think there is much that goes into making a pair of prescription eyeglasses, the crafting process is more complex than you’d imagine. Modern glasses are customized to the wearer’s needs and are capable of being able to accommodate a wide variety of prescription needs. If you are curious about the process used to design eyeglasses or you are trying to better understand how to choose glasses that best fit your style and lifestyle, this guide explains how prescription glasses are manufactured.
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The components of prescription eyeglasses
Understanding the different parts of eyeglasses can help you choose a pair that is the most comfortable, stylish and functional for your needs. While the main components of every pair of Glasses include the frame and the lenses.
Frames
Eyeglass frames serve the main function of holding the lens in place and staying secure on the wearer's hand. The front section of the frame includes the rims which surround and hold each lens. A bridge piece connects both lenses to each other and the end is on each outer section of the rims allowing the front of the frame to be attached to the arms and temples with hinges.
Frame material
There are many different types of material used to make the frames of eyeglasses, which vary in durability, flexibility, also wood.
Several of the most widely used metal frame types include:
- Nylon: durable, lightweight plastic frame material often used for safety glasses or sports frames.
- Aluminum: A popular metal used for its minimal weight and anti-corrosion properties.
- Titanium: an alternative to aluminum, Titanium glasses are also lightweight, resistant to corrosion and flexible.
- Stainless steel: these glasses are made from a combination of metals including Manganese chromium and Nickel. They are an affordable option for metal frames while they are also durable and lightweight. However, some people have an allergy to nickel and chromates.
- Cellulose acetate: affordable and customisable acetate glasses are made from plant-based hypoallergenic plastic. This material can be made in almost any color combination with varying levels of transparency and finishes
Frame Style
Frames are in many different shapes and style, which are designed to meet a variety of taste and complement different phase shapes.
- Rectangular
- Oval
- Round
- Square
- Cat eye
- Browline
- Aviator and etc.
Lenses
Eyeglass lenses are designed to fit the size and shape of the frame they come with. While lenses were first made out of glass, they are now for less often. Instead, plastic lenses are most widely used as they are less likely to break and cause eye injury.
Columbia resin-39, CR-39 is the most common affordable material used for eyeglasses lenses.
High-index plastic lenses are the thinner, lighter option that has come out in more popular demand for high prescription power.
Polycarbonate lenses are incredibly strong, scratch-resistant and UV resistance. The same material is used for military-grade helmet visors and sports glasses.
Manufacturing process
The first step when making a pair of eyeglasses is to make the frame. While the process varies depending on the material used, die-cutting is a common way frames are manufactured of a certain style is design. A variety of steps are taken to cut and smooth the material into the final product including riveting, curving and polishing.
Additional resources:
7 Reasons to Choose Metal and Acetate Optical Frames for Your Style
Link to SCM GROUP LIMITED COMPANY
When making lenses, both human interaction and machinery are used to ensure precision and quality. The lenses must first be measured and shaped to match the frame. A block of plastic is selected and cut to fit this measurement. For glasses that require prescription lenses, this information is entered into a computer system which is used to carve and put the lenses to the appropriate thickness to accommodate the prescription. The lenses are then polished, engraved and inspected to ensure they meet quality expectations. Next, any tint or putting is applied before the lenses are heated or chemically treated to easily insert them into a frame.
Introduction
Understanding the process of how eyeglass frames are made can equip frame sales representatives with knowledge that can increase their sales numbers, but it can also provide opticals with the information they need to inform their patients about the brand story of the frames they are recommending.
High-quality eyewear frames begin their life by selecting the best materials available. After material selection, design teams work together to craft frame styles that represent the brand’s identity and are inspired by current trends, harmonious color palettes, and other elements. After the frames are designed and manufactured, it is time to effectively communicate their value to the opticals and their patients.
Keep reading to dive deeper into how frames are made and how the process can lead to better sales in your practice.
The Eyeglass Manufacturing Process
Eyewear frames begin as sketches created by a brand’s design team. These sketches are then converted into CAD (Computer Aided Design) drawings, which are utilized by the multi-axis milling machines responsible for shaping the frames. These CAD drawings provide more in-depth details about the frame’s dimensions, allowing the machines to make more precise products.
Material Selection and Usage
Eyewear manufacturing utilizes a wide variety of materials, such as carbon fiber and aluminum, to create long-lasting, comfortable frames. Of these materials, metals and acetate tend to be some of the most commonly used.
Acetate comes from cellulose powder, and these frames also usually include a mixture of pigments, solvents, and plasticizers. Because of their extended drying time, these frames take about 45 days to complete. Acetate frames are then rounded and smoothed using a tumbling process and then hand-polished by operators.
This material’s color blending and layering process is an artistic endeavor that requires an expert touch and plenty of patience. The result is a myriad of color combinations and patterns.
Metals, like stainless steel and Monel, are wrapped into spools or flattened into sheets to be used as eye wire or the actual frame of the glasses. Recently, titanium eyeglass frames have also grown in popularity because of their durability and long-lasting quality. Using the details from the CAD drawings, eye wire is wrapped to the necessary diameter for the frames, and frames are shaped and stamped. After being shaped and cut, the frames are ready to be plated.
Assembly & Inspection
After the cutting and shaping process, the frames are then assembled piece-by-piece. Nosepads and embellishments are added, and screws are adjusted to the correct torque. Once assembly is finished, the frames are inspected one last time before packaging to ensure that the final product matches the initial CAD renderings.
Marketing & Sales Impact
Once frames reach the optical practices, marketing materials should be strategically utilized to convey the uniqueness of the frames and highlight the qualities and craftsmanship that set them apart. Communicating brand story and having messaging reach across multiple channels is crucial to effectively reaching your target audience.
It’s also essential to educate your patients about the intricate manufacturing process and craftsmanship that goes into creating a pair of high-quality prescription frames. Helping patients understand the production process can increase the product’s perceived value, leading to higher sales margins and increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Conclusion
Understanding the art and technology that goes into the manufacturing process of eyeglass frames can benefit every level of the optical sales funnel. Sales representatives can better articulate the quality of their product and improve sales metrics, optical offices can make better recommendations to their patients, and patients feel more confident in the quality of the frames they are purchasing.
Choosing A&A Optical for High-Quality Frames
If you’re looking to bring higher-quality frames to your optical practice, look no further than A&A Optical’s premium eyewear frames. Add some variety to your boards with some titanium eyewear options from the XXL collection, or find the perfect women’s frames for every type of head with the Alexander collection. With nine fashion brands and hundreds of styles to choose from, you can ensure that every patient can be fit with the perfect set of frames, even if they require special fitting needs. Visit our website to learn more about how to bring A&A frames to your practice today.
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