Arlington, VA · In-house lab since 1954
High-prescription & custom lenses, cut by hand.
A strong or complex prescription deserves more than a mail-order lab. Ours are shaped and finished in-house in Arlington — so demanding prescriptions come out right the first time.
The strongest prescriptions are the easiest to get wrong — and the most rewarding to get right.
If you have a high prescription, you already know the frustration: lenses that come back thick at the edges, heavy on your nose, swimming at the periphery, or — worst of all — just not sharp. Too often that's because the lenses were cut somewhere far away, by a machine that never saw your face. A number was off. A measurement was rushed. And you're the one left squinting.
At MacPherson Opticians, strong and complex prescriptions are a large part of what we do — and we do them in our own lab, here in Arlington. Our master lens crafter shapes, edges, and verifies every lens by hand, to tolerances a good pair of eyes can feel. This is a different role from the experienced optician who helps you choose and fit your frame; together, they make sure the prescription that leaves our door is one you can actually see through.
The result is the thing that should have been simple all along: glasses that are thin, light, comfortable, and genuinely clear — made right the first time.
Why It Matters
Why a strong prescription needs a real lab.
A high prescription magnifies every small error. A fraction of a millimeter in the wrong place — or the wrong lens design for your power — is the difference between glasses you love and glasses you tolerate.
- Precise, in-person measurementsPupillary distance, optical-center height, vertex distance, and pantoscopic tilt — measured on your face, in your frame, not estimated.
- The right lens design for your powerAspheric and atoric curves to flatten thick lenses; lenticular and myodisc designs for very high powers that would otherwise be unwearable.
- Hand cutting & edgingEvery lens is edged, beveled, and seated by hand so it fits the frame perfectly and sits correctly in front of your eye.
- Verified before you leaveWe check the finished prescription against what your doctor wrote — power, axis, and prism — so nothing goes out wrong.
What We Make
Lenses for the toughest prescriptions.
High-index lenses
1.60, 1.67, and 1.74 materials that keep strong prescriptions thin and light, without heavy edges.
High myopia
Very strong near-sighted prescriptions, kept flatter and more flattering with aspheric and lenticular designs.
High hyperopia
Strong far-sighted and post-cataract prescriptions, made thinner and easier to wear.
Astigmatism
High-cylinder prescriptions cut and axised precisely for sharp, stable vision at every angle.
Prism correction
Prescribed prism for double vision and eye-alignment, ground and verified by hand.
Progressives & no-line
Modern digital freeform progressives, fitted so near and far feel like one natural view.
Anisometropia
Two very different eyes, balanced carefully for comfortable, usable binocular vision.
New lenses, your frame
Love your current frames? In many cases we can re-lens them — bring them in and we'll assess.
Materials & coatings that earn their place
The material is half the comfort of a strong prescription. We match it to your power and how you live — not to whatever's cheapest to stock.
- High-index (1.60 – 1.74): the thinnest, lightest option for strong prescriptions.
- Trivex & polycarbonate: impact-resistant choices for active wearers and kids.
- Premium anti-reflective: cuts glare and reflections so more light reaches your eye and your lenses look nearly invisible.
- Photochromic & polarized: light-adaptive lenses and true glare-cutting sun lenses.
- Blue-light & anti-fatigue: for long days on screens.
- Scratch-resistant & easy-clean: hard coatings that keep lenses clear for years.
Not sure what you need? That's exactly what the appointment is for. We'll walk you through the trade-offs in plain language and recommend only what genuinely helps.
- Since 1954Independent in Arlington
- In-houseLenses cut & finished on-site
- By handShaped & verified, one at a time
Good to Know
High-Rx questions, answered.
Anything else, just call — we're always happy to help.
(703) 536-7800Can you make lenses for a very strong prescription?
Yes. Very strong near- and far-sighted prescriptions are a large part of what our lab does. We use high-index materials and, where it helps, aspheric and lenticular designs to keep lenses as thin, light, and flattering as the prescription allows.
Will my lenses be thick and heavy?
Much less than most people expect. The right high-index material, an accurately chosen frame, and precise measurements and edging together make a dramatic difference in how thin and light a strong prescription can look and feel.
Do you make progressive (no-line) lenses?
Yes — including modern digital freeform progressives, fitted to your frame and the way you use your eyes so near and far feel like one natural view.
Can you correct double vision with prism?
Yes. We make lenses with prescribed prism for double vision and eye-alignment concerns, ground and verified by hand for accuracy.
Can you put new lenses in my own frame?
Often, yes. Every frame is different, so bring it in and we'll assess whether it's a good candidate for new lenses before we begin.
Do I need a prescription from you?
We don't perform eye exams, so you'll bring a current prescription from your eye doctor — and we're glad to refer you to a trusted one nearby if you need it.
Where are you located, and is there parking?
We're at 5064 Langston Blvd in Arlington, VA 22207, between Glebe and George Mason, with free parking directly out front. We serve Arlington, Falls Church, McLean, and the greater DC area.
Book a Visit
Let's get your vision right.
Bring your prescription — even the challenging ones — and we'll craft lenses you can actually see through, thin and comfortable, right here in Arlington.
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