When it comes to crafting prescription lenses, there are two primary surfacing methods: digital and traditional. Digital surfacing has gained popularity because of its precision and flexibility, especially for complex prescriptions. Unlike traditional surfacing, which typically works to a precision of 0.12 diopters, digital surfacing achieves accuracy as fine as 0.01 diopters, providing an incredibly detailed customization for each lens.
At RX-Safety, we use both traditional and digital surfacing methods, giving us the best of both worlds. Our traditional surfacing line allows us to offer high-quality lenses at an economical cost, ensuring our customers have access to affordable eyewear without compromising on quality. Meanwhile, our state-of-the-art robotic digital surfacing line enables us to provide advanced solutions for progressive bifocals and digital single-vision lenses, offering the highest level of precision and customization available.
Here’s what sets digital and traditional lens surfacing apart:
Efficient Prescription Polishing
In traditional surfacing, a prescription is polished into a lens using a “tool” tailored to that prescription. These pre-made tools are stocked for nearly every prescription imaginable.
Semi-Finished Progressive Lenses
For progressive lenses, traditional labs use semi-finished progressive lenses with the bifocal already molded on one side. The prescription is then surfaced onto the opposite side. While this process can limit the size and shape of the bifocal to pre-made designs, it ensures a consistent and proven result.
Reliable for Simpler Prescriptions
Traditional surfacing is reliable for simpler prescriptions, such as single-vision or lined bifocals, and works well with standard frame styles.
Cost-Effective Quality at RX-Safety
At RX-Safety, we maintain traditional surfacing to keep costs down while delivering good-quality lenses at an economical price.
Exceptional Precision for Complex Prescriptions
Digital surfacing achieves up to 0.01 diopter precision, significantly finer than the 0.12 diopter accuracy of traditional surfacing, making it ideal for more complex prescriptions.
Fully Customized Progressive Lenses
This method can surface both the progressive bifocal and the prescription on the same side of the lens, offering fully customized progressives that adapt to an individual’s pupil distance, frame size, and visual needs.
Optimized for Wraparound Frames
Digital surfacing is highly advantageous for wraparound frames or larger eye sizes. It allows for compensation of the frame’s curvature and prescription, ensuring optimal clarity and comfort for these designs.
Simplified Induced Prism Alignment
Wraparound frames often require induced prism to shift the ocular center for proper lens alignment. Digital surfacing simplifies this process, making it far more efficient and accurate compared to traditional surfacing.
Advanced Solutions at RX-Safety
At RX-Safety, all our progressive bifocals and digital single-vision lenses are crafted on our advanced robotic digital surfacing line, providing superior results for customers who need precision and customization.
While both methods deliver high-quality lenses, the right choice depends on your prescription needs and preferred frame style.
When to Choose Digital Surfacing:
Digital surfacing is the better choice for:
Highly curved wraparound frames; Frames with larger eye sizes; Progressive lenses with small pupil distances; Prescriptions requiring high customization or complex adjustments.
When Traditional Surfacing Works Just as Well:
For standard eyewear or safety frames with simpler prescriptions, traditional surfacing remains a cost-effective and reliable choice. It delivers excellent results for single-vision or standard lined bifocals without requiring the complexity of digital methods.
At RX-Safety, we are proud to offer both traditional and digital surfacing options. This ensures that we can meet the needs of all our customers, whether they are looking for economical, high-quality lenses or advanced, customized solutions. By leveraging both technologies, we ensure every customer receives the best lenses for their prescription and lifestyle needs.
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My eyes will not adjust to digitally-surfaced lenses, and I find very few opticians such as you all who recognize that “traditionally-surfaced” lenses work well and are better for some people. Opticians these days simple do not believe me when I ask for traditionally-surfaced lenses. So my question is: can I get lenses made by you all even if I live in Arizona? I cannot find anyone here who has the understanding you do.
hi LNelson,
We understand your preference for traditionally-surfaced lenses, and we’re here to help. We can ship to Arizona. Please reach out to us at SERVICE@RX-SAFETY.COM if you need any further assistance our dedicated customer service team would be happy to help you
My chart at my Ophthalmologist’s office says that I cannot wear digital progressives but my new lenses are giving me a fish bowl effect. Can I obtain the work order that was sent to the lab stating no digital Lenses? Thanks.
Hi Patty,
Yes, you can request it to the lab that worked on it.
Would digital surfacing be needed for single vision glasses with base curve 6? My PD is 56
You don’t Need it but its a higher quality lens than traditional lenses and it is far more accurate as well.
Do digital lenses provide a bigger area for reading? I have progressive bifocals and have a hard time finding the area to read. They are great for distance but for reading, the area is very small.