Southcoast Eye Care, Inc.

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We offer the most extensive selection of lenses and frames for every prescription need from every major optical manufacturer.

Our trained staff of optical experts are here to service your every optical need. We provide the finest selection, quality and service to help every customer look and see their best.

Our Optical Services

* Free 1 Year Warranty on All Frames and Lenses.
* Free Adjustments at any time.
* We accept MasterCard, Visa and American Express
* Please ask us about the courtesy discounts that we offer! Also check our internet discount
coupon page.
* If you have a question regarding your insurance, please feel free to call and ask!

New Additions

* Sports Goggles� We now carry Protective Sports Glasses for preventing injury to the eyes during sports play.

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Frames

We carry frames in all different shapes, styles, colors and sizes. We have Children's, Men's, Women's and Unisex frames available from your favorite designers! Visit our Optical Shop to view over 700 models of designers frames including:

	Calvin Klein
	Nike
	FENDI
	Flexon
	Nautica
	Coach

	Ellen Tracy
	Guess
	Tommy Hilfiger
	Jessica McClintook
	Clear-Vision
	BCBG Maxazria

	Marchon
	Candies
	Disney
	Fisher-Price
	and more...

Accessories

* We have the following accessories available:
* Sunclips
* Cleaning Cloths
* Cleaning Solution
* Eyeglass Chains
* Eyeglass Cases

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Optical Terms

Vision is clear and sharp when the eye is able to focus images correctly onto the retina. If your vision causes the image to "miss the target" on the retina, lenses can help the eyes to function normally. As we age, most of us require some sort of visual correction.

Farsightedness or Hyperopia

Is a common vision problem, affecting about a fourth of the population. People with hyperopia can see distant objects very well, but have difficulty seeing objects that are up close. This vision problem occurs when light rays entering the eye focus behind the retina, rather than directly on it. The eyeball of a farsighted person is shorter than normal.

Nearsightedness or Myopia

Is a vision problem experienced by up to about one-third of the population. Nearsighted people have difficulty reading highway signs and seeing other objects at a distance, but can see for up-close tasks such as reading or sewing. Myopic people often have headaches or eyestrain, and might squint or feel fatigued when driving or playing sports.

Astigmatism

Occurs when an irregular cornea causes images not to reach a sharp focal point. Vision is distorted in some directions more than others and the perceived image has a doubled edge.

Presbyopia

Is a hardening of the lens in the eye occurs as a natural aging process usually after age 40. The result is decreasing ability to focus clearly on reading material and close-up objects.

Solutions:

	Bifocals ~ The gradual decrease in ability of the eye to focus is a natural part of the aging process. Bifocals contain two prescriptions for correcting vision at different distances. Bifocals aid both near and far vision, with a visible line dividing the two areas of power prescription.
	Trifocals ~ Trifocals are prescribed to aid near, far and middle distance seeing. The trifocal lens design has three distinct areas of power to be used, with visible lines dividing the three distinct areas of power prescription.
	Blended Multi~focals ~ These lenses have two focal corrections without the noticeable lines. The area that fuses the two powers together is unusable area.
	Progressive No Lines ~ Advanced technology allows these lenses to gradually change in power from the distance segment to the near vision segment. Your specific prescription is ground from a series of custom lens designs and powers.
	Single Vision ~ One focal distance is required for your eyes to make adjustments at differing focal distances.

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Lenses

Lens Materials

Southcoast Optical offers many different lens materials. The material you choose for your eyeglasses is based on comfort, durability, weight and safety factors. The knowledgeable staff at can help you with this decision and ensure the eyeglasses you decide on are just right for you.

Glass
The original lens material. Rigid. Scratch resistant. Heavy.

Plastic
Approximately 50% lighter in weight than glass in same power prescriptions. Lenses are coated to improve scratch resistance. Can be tinted to any color with uniform density and coated to filter ultraviolet light.

Polycarbonate
The lightest material available. The most impact resistant, strongest and safest material. Coated to improve scratch resistance. Absorbs 99% of ultraviolet light. Up to 25% thinner and 35% lighter than plastic. Recommended for children, when safety is the major concern.

Tec-Lite: 1.57, 1.60, 1.66
Thinnest lens materials available. Designed to minimize thickness and improve the cosmetic effect of the glasses Scratch resistant coated. UV protection is inherent in this lens material.

Lens Types

Polarized
Polarized sunglass lenses are tinted lenses that block vertical light from hitting your eye and causing eye strain. Polarized lenses function similar to window blinds with horizontal slats when open. Polarized lenses block the vertical light that tries to enter your eye from down below or up above, and it only allow the horizontal light to pass through the lens. Any surface can create glare including water, sand, snow, windows, vehicles, and buildings. Polarized lenses ease eye stress and fatigue in the sun, and polarized lenses are available in many colors and density options.

Transition
Transition lenses automatically darken to a moderate shade when they are exposed to direct sunlight. When the direct sunlight is removed, the lenses lighten again. Early transition were strictly glass lenses, but today you can choose from regular plastic, polycarbonate and high-index glass and plastic. Most transition lenses are grey, but they are also available in brown, green, and other colors.

Anti-Reflective coating
You can also get your lenses with an Anti-Reflective coating that reduces the amount of glare you see and improves your driving ability at night.

We recommend all lenses be coated with Essilor's new Crizal Alizé anti-reflection coating. It is 10 times easier to clean than standard anti-reflective lenses and offers outstanding clarity and scratch-resistance. Crizal Alizé is available on a wide variety of lens materials and designs, including Varilux progressives such as the Physio. Our staff would be happy to answer any further questions and show you lenses coated with Crizal Alizé, letting you compare then to traditional anti-reflective coated lenses for yourself.

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Sunglasses

Southcoast Optical carries a huge assortment of quality name brand sunglasses for sport and driving needs. We also carry a variety of Fashion Sunglasses that not only protect your eyes, but look great too. Stop by and see our selection today.

Results from a dozen studies over the last 10 years suggest that long hours in the sun without proper eye protection increase your chances of developing eye disease. Long term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight is linked to eye disease.

Almost every pair of sunglasses we sell has a scratch coating applied to the lenses. However, secondary coatings you choose for your sunglasses are based on your visual demands, expected comfort level, and the environmental conditions you will encounter. Coatings are chemical oxides applied to lenses, which may make them stronger in protection, less reflective, or more scratch-resistant. The knowledgeable staff at Southcoast Optical can help you with this decision and ensure the sunglasses you decide on are just right for you.

Sunglass Types

Amber Lenses
Lenses that block all blue light are usually amber and make your surroundings look yellow or orange. The tint supposedly makes distant objects appear more distinct, especially in snow or haze. For this reason, amber sunglasses are popular among skiers, hunters, boaters and pilots.

Photochromic Lenses
A photochromic glass lens automatically darkens in bright light and becomes lighter in low light. Most of the darkening takes place in about half a minute, while the lightening takes about five minutes. They come in a uniform or gradient tint. Although photochromic lenses may be good UV-absorbent sunglasses (again, the label must say that), it takes time for them to adjust to different light conditions.

Polarized Lenses
Polarized lenses are the ultimate in sunglass lenses because they are the only lens that can actually cut reflected glare - sunlight that bounces off smooth surfaces like pavement or water. They can be particularly useful for driving and fishing. Polarization has nothing to do with UV light absorption, but all polarized lenses block harmful UV light. Polarized lenses are available in almost all prescription and nonprescription frames.

Mirror Finish
Mirror finishes are thin layers of various metallic coatings on an ordinary lens. Although they do reduce the amount of visible light entering your eyes, do not assume they will fully protect you against UV radiation.

Wraparound
Wraparound glasses are shaped to keep light from shining around the frames and into your eyes. Studies have shown that enough UV rays enter around ordinary eyeglass frames to reduce the benefits of protective lenses. Large-framed wraparound sunglasses can protect your eyes from all angles.

Designer Lines Available:

	Nike
	Flexon
	Nautica
	Coach
	BCBG Maxazria

	Ellen Tracy
	Guess
	Jessica McClintook
	Maui Jim

Lens Tint
Whether you're changing your look or optimizing your vision for changing light conditions, we offer a full spectrum of lens color options. Lens color is a key element to improving your vision and the tint color that you choose for your sunglasses is based on desired comfort, visual expectations, and environmental conditions. When designing prescription sunglasses, this same wide spectrum of lens colors can be added to custom-ground optical lenses. We can help you with this decision and ensure the sunglasses you decide on are just right for you.

Gradient Tint
A gradient tint describes a lens with a full color tint at the top, fading gradually to no tint at the bottom of the lens. This is an excellent option for those who like to read outside, where the tint in the top of the lens protects from the sun above, but the clearer lens at the bottom allows one to read more comfortably. A “double gradient tint” describes a lens with one full color tint at the top and another full color tint at the bottom of the lens, separated by a medium tint in the center of the lens. Double gradient tints are popular with skiers, because the lenses block glare coming from above (sun) and below (snow), while allowing for a clearer viewing area in the middle.

Constant Tint
The tint in these lenses are a fixed color that has a characteristic level of light absorption and light transmission. Tint density is defined as a percentage, where 0% is completely clear, and 100% permits no light to pass through (solid). A 10% to 20% tint is used for a “fashion” tint, and a 50% to 80% tint is used for outdoor protection from the sun. Constant tinting is the most economical and most common approach to sunglass design, providing excellent glare protection and are a good choice for those who are often in bright sunshine.

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300A Faunce Corner Road, Suite 101, North Dartmouth, MA 02747
Office Hours: 8:30am to 5:00pm
Tel. (508)995-8200 ~ Fax. (508)995-4631