SHAW Lenses: Helping your glasses experience
What Makes SHAW Lenses Different?
Not all spectacle lenses are designed the same way, and achieving clear vision is about more than simply getting each eye into focus.
According to Optometry Australia’s 2022 Vision Index Report, 66% of Australians have worn glasses. While conventional spectacle lenses are primarily designed to provide clear vision for each eye individually, some people may benefit from a lens design that considers how both eyes work together.
At Elevate Eyecare, we offer SHAW™ lenses, an advanced spectacle lens technology designed with binocular vision in mind.
Designed for Both Eyes, Not Just Each Eye
Our eyes don't work independently. For comfortable vision, the brain needs to combine the images received from the right and left eyes into a single, coordinated visual experience.
This can become more challenging when there is a significant difference between the prescription of each eye, known as anisometropia. Spectacle lenses can sometimes cause the image seen through one lens to differ in size from the image seen through the other. This is known as aniseikonia.
For some people, these differences can make it more difficult for the visual system to comfortably combine the two images and may contribute to symptoms such as visual discomfort, eyestrain, distortion or difficulty adapting to glasses.
SHAW lenses are specifically designed to address these binocular considerations.
How Do SHAW Lenses Work?
SHAW uses specialised lens-design software to create lenses based on more than your spectacle prescription alone.
The SHAW design process can incorporate factors including:
Your individual spectacle prescription
Differences between the prescription of each eye
How your eyes work and move together
Your measured binocular vision and motor fusion
The size and shape of your chosen frame
How the frame sits on your face
Lens curvature, thickness and material
The position of the lenses in relation to your eyes
Using sophisticated modelling and ray-tracing technology, the software calculates a customised lens design intended to reduce differences in image size and unwanted prismatic effects between the two eyes.
The result is a lens designed around your prescription, your frame and the way your two eyes work together.
Understanding Aniseikonia
Aniseikonia occurs when there is a difference in the perceived size or shape of the image seen by each eye.
SHAW describes two important components:
Static aniseikonia refers to a difference in image size between the two eyes when looking straight ahead. This may occur when there is a significant difference in prescription between the eyes.
Dynamic aniseikonia relates to differences that occur as the eyes move away from the optical centres of spectacle lenses, such as when looking sideways or down to read.
The SHAW lens system is designed to model these effects and optimise the lenses with the aim of improving binocular visual comfort.
Who May Benefit from SHAW Lenses?
SHAW lenses may be considered for people with more complex prescriptions or binocular vision requirements, including those with:
Anisometropia — significantly different prescriptions between the two eyes
Aniseikonia — differences in perceived image size between the eyes
Strabismus or amblyopia
Binocular vision difficulties
Reduced or problematic depth perception
Difficulty adapting to a new spectacle prescription
Visual discomfort when wearing glasses
Difficulty changing between contact lenses and spectacles
Keratoconus or irregular prescriptions
Previous corneal or refractive surgery
Certain retinal conditions or previous retinal surgery
Acquired brain injury where binocular vision has been affected
More complex multifocal or progressive lens requirements
Suitability will depend on your individual eyes, prescription and binocular vision findings. Not everyone requires a specialised binocular lens design.
SHAW Progressive and Single-Vision Lenses
SHAW technology isn't limited to one type of spectacle lens.
SHAW designs are available across a range of lens options, including single-vision, progressive and bifocal lenses. The design can also account for the position of the frame on your face and, for progressive lenses, the way your eyes move into the reading area.
This allows your optometrist to consider both the optical prescription and binocular demands when designing your spectacles.
A More Individualised Approach to Spectacle Lenses
At Elevate Eyecare, we believe that prescribing glasses should go beyond simply determining which lenses make the letters on the eye chart clearer.
For patients with more complex prescriptions or binocular vision needs, SHAW technology gives us another way to consider how your eyes work together through your finished spectacles.
By combining detailed clinical measurements with sophisticated lens-design technology, SHAW lenses can be individually designed around your eyes, prescription and chosen frame.
Could SHAW Lenses Be Right for You?
If you've struggled to adapt to glasses, experience discomfort with your current prescription, have a significant difference between your two eyes, or have more complex visual needs, SHAW lenses may be worth considering.
Book an appointment with Elevate Eyecare to find out whether SHAW lenses may be suitable for your eyes and visual needs.
Individual results and suitability vary. SHAW lenses are not required for every spectacle prescription. Your optometrist can assess your prescription, binocular vision and visual requirements to determine whether a specialised lens design may be appropriate.
References
Optometry Australia. (2022). 2022 Vision Index Report.https://www.optometry.org.au/wp-content/uploads/GVFL/Vision_Index/2022-Vision-Index-Report.pdf
SHAW Lens. (n.d.). What Makes the SHAW Lens Different?https://shawlens.com/the_shaw_lens/the_science/
SHAW Lens. (n.d.). Aniseikonia – What Is Aniseikonia?https://shawlens.com/aniseikonia/what_is_aniseikonia/
SHAW Lens. (n.d.). Sophisticated Lens Design Tool.https://shawlens.com/the_shaw_lens/lens_design_tool/
SHAW Lens. (n.d.). Lens Options.https://shawlens.com/the_shaw_lens/lens_options/
SHAW Lens. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions.https://shawlens.com/about_us/faqs/
SHAW Lens. (n.d.). Dr. Shaw and the SHAW Lens.https://shawlens.com/about_us/dr_shaw_and_the_shaw_lens/
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