Prism Lenses, What are they?

customeyeswolosin

4 days ago

4 min read

What is a prism lens and who needs it?

A Prism is a special type of prescription lens/es that alter and redirect light before it reaches the back of your eye, so that it can correct eye alignment and movement problems rather than standard refractive errors like nearsightedness or farsightedness. Custom Eyes in Henderson, NV has been the Ophthalmic communities go-to for very high prescription needs. Since 2008 Custom Eyes has built a strong reputation for delivering very complicated prescription eyeglasses that big box eyeglass retailers will not bother with. “We are the experts when it comes to your eye-wear needs.” Says David Wolosin, proprietor of Custom Eyes. “We are a house of expert, independent Opticians, with NO ceilings or restrictions for prescription eye-wear. I guess our name speaks volumes”

**Side view of a 22 Diopter (Base-Out) Prism. Fitted by expert Opticians at Custom Eyes in Henderson,NV**

How A Prism Lens Works

• Light is Bent in the direction of the base of a lens. Try to visualize a triangle sitting on a table. As a light ray passes through it, from one direction, the light ray will pass through the triangle and alter course, toward the base (of the triangle). A prism will shift the incoming image so it lands on the correct spot of the retina in each eye.

• Image Fusion: By aligning the two separate images your eyes see, the lenses "trick" or assist the brain into fusing them into a single, clear image.

• Prescription & Orientation: Prisms are measured in prism diopters and directed by their base orientation—Base In, Base Out, Base Up, or Base Down—depending on how your eyes are misaligned

• Lens Design Options: They can be ground permanently into custom prescription, bifocal or progressive lenses, and/or temporarily applied as a sticker-like Fresnel prism. Fresnel prisms stickers are only recommended with very high prism prescriptions, usually over 20 diopters.

**22 Diopters of Base-Out Prism. Trust the Expert Opticians at Custom Eyes, Henderson NV**

What Prism Lenses Treat

Prism lenses are commonly prescribed by eye doctors or neuro-optometrists/ Ophthalmologists for conditions including:

• Diplopia (Double Vision)

• Strabismus (eye turns or misalignment such as crossed eyes)

• Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD) and vertical heterophoria

• Convergence Insufficiency

• Eye strain, dizziness, or headaches linked to neurological issues, stroke, traumatic brain injury, or multiple sclerosis

Prism lenses can be effectively used to treat vision conditions, such as double vision and other binocular vision difficulties.

One of the most common uses for an eye doctor prescribing prisms is to treat a condition known as Binocular Visual Dysfunction (BVD).

Prisms, by definition, are triangular in shape, and made of plastic or glass for the purpose of dispersing light into a spectrum, or changing the direction in which light is reflected.

Prism lenses are special lenses that are prescribed by eye doctors and infused into regular lens prescriptions. They do not contain any focusing power, and therefore cannot correct any refractive errors.

Prisms “trick” the eye into believing that an object is in a different location in order to improve eye alignment. This helps the eyes to perceive images in a way that single vision can be achieved— improving binocular vision, and reducing double vision, headaches, reading difficulties, and more.

**7 Diopters of Base-Out Prism in both eyes using a special blending technique to offset the thickness. Trust the Optician experts at Custom Eyes in Henderson, NV.**

A prism lens can be base out, base in, base up, or base down, depending on the way the eye is turned or misaligned.

When are prism lenses prescribed?

Prism lenses are prescribed for patients who suffer from severe binocular vision difficulties and double vision, most commonly resulting from:

Visual problems caused by:

Binocular Visual Dysfunction

Strabismus

Myasthenia gravis

Graves’ disease

Convergence insufficiency

Neurological problems caused by:

Stroke

Migraine

Head injury

Tumor

Diabetes mellitus

Multiple sclerosis

Are prism lenses a long term solution?

A question that is asked quite often! Some cases may be prescribed permanently and other cases may find there use to be temporary. I dear personal friend of mind will experience Diplopia on occasion. He has found it to be most beneficial to carry two pair of glasses with him as he travels. When he is experiencing Diplopia (double vision), he will wear his prescribed glasses with prism, and the rest of the time he will use his regular glasses (with out the prism). Prism lenses will help to relieve double vision while you are wearing your glasses, they cannot help your double vision when you remove your glasses. Therefore, prisms may only be a temporary solution.

Vision therapy

If you are searching for a long term solution for your double vision or binocular vision difficulties, speak with your doctor about vision therapy.

Vision Therapy for Double Vision

If you are searching for a long-term solution for your double vision or binocular vision difficulties, consider discussing vision therapy with your doctor. Here are some key points to understand:

What is Vision Therapy?

Vision therapy is a customized program designed to improve visual skills and processing. It often involves exercises and activities to enhance coordination, focusing abilities, and eye movement control.

Benefits of Vision Therapy

Reduces symptoms of double vision
Improves binocular vision
Enhances visual processing skills
Increases comfort and ease in visual tasks

Who Can Benefit?

Vision therapy may be beneficial for individuals of all ages experiencing:

Strabismus (crossed eyes)
Amblyopia (lazy eye)
Convergence insufficiency
Post-concussion vision issues

Consultation with Your Doctor

Speak with your doctor to determine if vision therapy is a suitable option for your specific condition. They can provide a comprehensive evaluation and tailor a treatment plan to meet your needs.

Vision therapy retrains your eye-brain connections to improve your visual skills for clearer, single vision, with or without your eyeglasses.

Visit the Expert Opticians at Custom Eyes

At Custom Eyes, we pride ourselves on providing top-notch optical services tailored to your needs. Our team of expert opticians is dedicated to ensuring you receive the best care for your vision.