How Nikon makes ophthalmic lenses

Have you ever wondered how your spectacle lenses are made?

Advanced material

Your spectacle lenses are made from silica sand or plastics. But, not just any plastic! Made from advanced components that include nanotechnology, your lens stands out from the moment it is created.

Fully optimized

Once Nikon Lenswear receives your lens order and individual measurements, production begins to create your very own, custom-made lens.

Your lens is one of a kind, customized for you and your everyday lifestyle. Nowadays, the production process of spectacle lenses is largely automated. Each step optimizes your lens for a different aspect of your unique vision, starting from the prescription you got from your Eye Care Professional.

In detail, your lenses are manufactured using free-form technology and created through a moulding process. This is a state-of-the-art production technique developed in our laboratories. The advanced materials are heated to a liquid state and then poured in a mould, which has the shape of a very thick lens (about 10 mm). This step requires heavy machinery and precision to obtain the perfect lens shape and aesthetics possible.

Ultimate protection

Uncompromising performance is a promise. The last and most technologically demanding step in the production process is the application of a coating onto the lens. Our coatings make the lens scratch-resistant and durable. They also help ensure a clear and bright vision, repel water and dust, reduce irritating reflections and offer many functional benefits when driving, going outdoor or working on your computer by protecting your eyes from UV and filtering blue light¹.

Tested coatings

The coating is applied like a varnish to the lens. It is in fact composed of many different nanolayers, fixed one onto the other through a vacuum deposition process. This is the same process used when making a camera lens. 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 best vision is almost ready. Your lens is checked one last time before it is cut out precisely for the spectacle frame you have chosen.

Only if the lens is flawless, it is then delivered to the optician who will fit and trim it for the frame you have chosen. If you have not done it yet, check out what sets a Nikon frame apart.

1. Blue light between 380nm to 500nm (with blue-violet light between 400 and 455nm as stated by ISO TR 20772:2018).