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Visionary tech: Adlens eyewear

The round glasses worn by John Lennon and legions of hippies may soon be more than throwback fashion statements, if British eyewear brand Adlens has its way. The eight-year-old company got its start as a philanthropic initiative, bringing adjustable eyeglasses to Rwanda, a country with a population of more than 10 million but just a handful of optometrists. From there, Adlens began retail operations in Asia. Now they're setting their sights on the States: they recently set up their American HQ on Boston's Lewis Wharf, and March 1 marked the official US launch of its commercial line of variable-focus eyewear — prescription-strength eyeglasses and shades without a prescription, customized with a few quick turns of a dial. Admittedly, the brand's three lines may not appeal to everyone's taste: the Emergensee glasses, which use Alvarez lenses, are vaguely reminiscent of lab goggles, and the fluid-injection technology used in the Hemisphere and John Lennon collections necessitates those round lenses. But the suggested price points — $39 for Emergensee, $59 for Hemisphere, and $79 for John Lennon — may appeal to those looking for a backup pair, an adjustable option that can be used for different tasks, or a spare that multiple people can wear (restaurants have become frequent fans, stocking specs for patrons who'd otherwise be left to squint at the menu). Plus, for every pair of Hemisphere or John Lennon glasses purchased, a pair is donated to someone in need in the developing world. Scope 'em out at  adlens.com.