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Why must the optical centers of spectacles lenses be properly aligned?

  1. To enhance aesthetic appearance

  2. To avoid prismatic effect

  3. To ensure comfort for wearers

  4. To improve lens durability

The correct answer is: To avoid prismatic effect

The alignment of the optical centers of spectacle lenses is crucial to avoid prismatic effects. When the optical centers of the lenses are misaligned, it can cause light to be refracted incorrectly, leading to unwanted prismatic effects. This refraction can result in double vision, distortion of images, or the need for the eyes to work harder to focus, which can cause discomfort and strain. Therefore, proper alignment helps ensure that light passes through the lenses as intended, maintaining clear and single vision for the wearer. While aesthetic appearance, comfort, and lens durability are important factors in eyewear, they are secondary to the significance of avoiding prismatic effects. Misalignment primarily impacts visual clarity and the overall effectiveness of the correction that the lenses are meant to provide, which is why aligning the optical centers is fundamental in lens fitting and design.