How Nikon makes ophthalmic lenses
Have you ever wondered how your spectacle lenses are made?
Advanced material
Today, while some glass lenses remain, spectacle lenses are virtually all made from plastics. But, not just any plastic! Made from advanced components that include nanotechnology, your lenses stand out from the moment they’re created.
Fully optimized
Once Nikon Lenswear receives your order and individual measurements, production begins to create your very own, custom-made lenses.
Each lens is one of a kind, customised for you. Nowadays, the production process of spectacle lenses is largely automated. Each step optimises your lenses for a different aspect of your vision, starting from the prescription your optometrist found as part of your eye examination .
In detail, your lenses are manufactured using first a moulding process. The advanced plastics, in a liquid state, are heated and then poured in a mould, to make very thick lens (about 10 – 18 mm), with a particular curve or curves on the front This step requires heavy machinery and precision to obtain the perfect lens shape. This thick lens is then transformed in one of our state-of-the-art laboratories using digital free-form technology to add your prescription and other optical features, creating the best looking lens possible for your glasses
Ultimate protection
Uncompromising performance is a promise. The last and most technologically demanding step in the production process is the application of coatings onto the lenses. Our coatings make the lens scratch-resistant and durable. They also help: ensure clear, sharp vision; repel water and dust; cut irritating reflections and offer many functional benefits such as when driving or going outdoors protecting your eyes from UV or making working on your computer more comfortable by filtering blue light
Tested coatings
The anti-scratch coating is applied like a varnish to the lens, then many different nanolayers are fixed one onto the other through a vacuum deposition process. This is the same process used for camera lenses. The last coating layer will give the lens its extremely smooth surface, making it particularly resistant to dirt and water. The coating applied to your lens is then tested and proven in rough conditions.
Final touch
Your vision is almost ready. Your lens is checked one last time before it is cut out precisely to fit the frame you have chosen.
Only if the lens is flawless, it is then delivered to your optometrist or optical dispenser.