by Katie Coleman

Look no further than Costco Optical if you’re due for a visit to the eye doctor. Not only can you get your eyes checked by an independent doctor of optometry, but you can also shop for the latest frames and pick up contact lenses as well.

And now, thanks in part to a relationship with a leading global optical manufacturer, Costco lenses just got a premium upgrade that’s sure to make you look twice.

“As technology advances, so do the materials used for the lens blanks that make eyewear,” explains Marc-André Bourgeois, optical buyer for Costco Canada. To offer better value to members, Costco decided to upgrade from polycarbonate to high-index 1.60, the material used to produce their Accolade Freedom and Kirkland Signature™ lenses.

What makes these high-index lenses so special is that they use a more refined and thinner plastic than lenses crafted from polycarbonate. Bourgeois says, “With Costco’s state-of-the-art optical labs, which craft lenses through high-definition technology, we’re now able to provide members with glasses that offer sharper and clearer vision in all lighting conditions. Our superior manufacturing is still in place, but the high-index lens material that the eyeglass lens is crafted from is different.”

Costco is also able to offer these lenses as part of a standard purchase at no additional cost. “This is an exciting upgrade for our members,” says Bourgeois. “It’s definitely something you have to see to believe.”

If you have a strong prescription due to astigmatism, nearsightedness or farsightedness, high-index lenses will have you seeing life more clearly.

“With the newly introduced Accolade Freedom 4.0 progressive lens, we can provide our patients with optimal visual comfort, better fluidity when moving [their] eyes and an optimized reading zone,” Bourgeois says. “We also provide a blue light filter at no additional cost for additional protection.”

Set up an appointment with the independent doctor of optometry at your local Costco warehouse today, or go to Costco.ca and click “Optical” to find your nearest Costco Optical location. If you have a valid prescription, visit your Costco Optical department to learn more about the high-index lenses or the new Accolade Freedom 4.0.