Memo to Google:

I recently tried Google Glass, and it was a fascinating and fun experience. I can see why so many people are excited about this new wearable technology.

But now I see you’ve been trying to trademark the term “Glass.” Well, I hate to break it to you, but you can’t have Glass to yourself. We in the optical industry have already laid claim to it. And although your Glass technology is impressive, ours boasts some high-tech features too. Granted, our glass can’t take videos or translate languages at the swipe of a finger. But consider the following:

• Some major prescription labs have recently installed equipment that can produce glass lenses in state-of-the art progressive and single-vision free-form designs. Some labs have even developed their own special technologies for processing super-thin glass lenses, which minimizes the weight issue associated with stronger prescriptions.
• When it comes to optical performance, glass has long been acknowledged as having superior optics. It is also the most scratch-resistant lens material and does not require scratch coating. That’s why some of the top sunglass companies in the world use glass lenses. That’s also why glass remains the favorite lens material of farmers and other workers who are tough on their eyewear.
• Glass is more stable than other lens materials and resists warping or twisting in a frame.
• Glass has excellent photochromic properties.

In short, glass, the original high-performance lens material, is still a great choice for many lens wearers. So… sorry Google. The optical industry has first dibs on glass, and we’re not about to give it up.

—Andrew Karp
Group Editor, Lenses and Technology
[email protected]