You have discovered that large numbers of people selling glasses these days
are not very well qualified.

However, what you were probably offered was Sola Spectralite, which is
available on Sola PAL lenses like the Solamax, Percepta, VIP Gold, etc. The
reason I say that is that Spectralite has the identical 1.5370 index.
Although other companies make mid-index lenses, it is unlikely they have the
identical index since Spectralite is proprietary (unlike polycarb or regular
plastic). You could confirm this by inquiring about the lens manufacturer
and PAL design.

Spectralite is a very good material with an abbe value of 47 (regular
plastic is 58, but much heavier and thicker with an index of 1.5). It would
be very appropriate for someone with an Rx like yours.

I don't know about the platinum finish, but I would be wary of any cheap AR
applied because it could easily be damaged, which would ruin your lenses.
The better AR coatings from the manufacturers are more durable. Crizal/Alize
is one of the most durable. Sola has a AR coating called UTMC. If the
coating is applied at an in-store lab, don't get it. However, not too many
AR coatings are free, so it may be an anti-scratch coat which comes with
most lenses, or it may be an edge finish. But it is possible that Platinum
is the name they use for UTMC to make it more difficult to compare prices.

Usually there is at least someone in an optical store that knows what is
going on, so ask another person, or ask when the manager will be available
if a salesperson cannot answer your questions.

I don't know about the price, but Wal-Mart has offered Sola products in the
past, so you could compare prices there. But they don't always offer all
materials in all lenses, even if they still offer Sola.

Is there some reason why you didn't disclose the name of the optical? Unless
it is an OD office or a local optical with only 1 store, then it helps us to
know who you are dealing with.

I can't help you with the frame, but make sure it is fitted to your face
comfortably before you buy the lenses (and before they measure the fitting
height, etc).

1.537 is Spectralite by Sola, now owned by Carl Zeiss Co. Optical Dynamics makes
a cast PAL in a 1.56 index. I believe that Rodenstock might still make a cast
lens (AT or Life C) in about the same index.

No idea. If you are saying you can get a PAL (progressive addition lens) with an
AR (anti-reflection) coating for $150 then caveat emptor. There are going to be
defects in the materials and the fit.

Much less adjustable than regular nosepads. This type of bridge tends to force
the glasses out and away from the eyes resulting in decreased field of vision.
Has to fit "by the book" off the shelve.

Hope this helps

Robert Martellaro
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Optician/Owner
Roberts Optical
robopt@execpc.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field."
 - Niels Bohr

Today I tried a local optical shop. They will also do Spectralite
bifocals, at almost exactly the same price per lens as Wal-Mart. They
even know what the material is ;-)

The frames are slightly more expensive, but they are better frames, so
that is OK. They are offering the same frame I now use. It says
"Cottet" and Tech 21 50 19 140, whatever all that means.

The big difference is what they offer for AR coating. They say they
use "Crizal Alize", which I guess is good stuff, but is $95! This is
compared to Wal-Mart's "Platinum", whatever that is, for free.

I asked about durability of the coatings and he said that it was
"better than they used to be", and that they very rarely have
problems. He also said that you cannot just "clean them on your shirt
tail" (why not, its just cotton?).

What are the experiences with this AR coating? Is it worth all that
money? Will it stand up to reasonable use? Will it tolerate hot water
rinses for grease removal?

Bob S