With all things equal, polycarbonate is up to 18% lighter than high-index. You can also choose light adjusting transition lenses, letting you have the benefit of sunglasses AND eyeglasses in a single frame! High index lenses are made of a plastic material which bends light more than standard CR39 lenses and can therefore be made thinner and lighter allowing for more cosmetically appealing and comfortable to wear glasses.. Our 1.6, 1.67, and 1.74 index lenses can all be considered high index. It’s lightweight, strong and the lenses generally cost less. Most of us use digital screens a lot, making this a great choice to protect our eye health. Probably not. His books, videos and articles touch on various subjects, such as eye care, good tech habits, motivation and leadership. Using a high-index lens material—one with an index of refraction ranging from 1.60 to 1.74—can reduce lens thickness and weight, making eyeglasses comfortable and cosmetically appealing. Trivex lenses, in contrast, start around $200 for single-vision lenses. The lenses are a high-index plastic material. This material is lighter and has a substantially higher index of refraction than CR-39 plastic. At EyeBuyDirect, we offer tons of options for your lenses. See our latest collections & exclusive offers before the crowd! This ensures more comfortable glasses even if your farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism prescription is high. High-index plastic lenses have a refractive index between 1.6 and 1.74; the index of ordinary plastic and polycarbonate lenses … If you’re like most customers, less weight will be more important to you than slightly thinner lenses. Backup Glasses: Stay Ready with Ultra-Affordable Options. Plastics are graded in numbers, such as 1.50 or 1.67. The lenses have thinner edges with overall reduced weight. Low ‘abbe value’, which can cause distortions when looking at lights. High-index lenses measure slightly better than polycarbonate. Polycarbonate makes sense as an outdoor eyewear material. LEARN MORE: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO PRESCRIPTION LENSES. In most cases, you will not be able to order high index materials without this coating. Oliver is the founder of Eye Influence. Plastic lenses can accept tint colors for the people that like a light tint on their lenses. It’s ideal for stronger prescriptions with SPH that range around +3.00, – 3.00 to +6.00, – 6.00 and above. Yeah, the latest polycarbonate lenses are really thinner than high index plastic lenses like 1.67 index lenses. Hi-Index Lenses . Mid-index lenses, such as 1.54, 1.56, and 1.57, are thinner than glass, and nearly as strong as CR-39. The frames you select are what everyone will notice, but of course the lenses are responsible for correcting your vision. Standard polycarbonate lenses can range in price from $9 to $205, depending on your prescription and what add-ons you choose, including whether you need standard, bifocals, or progressives. You’re bound to be offered multiple options for lens materials, most commonly, high index and polycarbonate. Refractive index refers to the rate at which light bends as it passes through the plastic of the lens. Glasses tend to get quite thick at high correction, especially some low index (1.50) lenses. Aspheric lenses can be made in many lens materials. To optimize your experience we use cookies. Polycarbonate lenses have an index of refraction of 1.59, and will generally be about 20% thinner than standard plastic lenses. Hi-index lenses are made of a special plastic material that refracts light in a different way than regular plastic lenses. High-index vs. polycarbonate: which is clearer? Polycarbonate may not be the wrong choice, but your lenses will be thicker. Another great feature to consider is digital screen protection lenses. From this number starts the high-index lenses. Information about Polycarbonate Lenses: Polycarbonate High Index Lenses are a totally separate material from other plastics. Another important property is that polycarbonate naturally blocks 100% UV light. When light enters the front surface of the lens and exits the back, its path is adjusted by the curves of the lens. This material of lenses will provide the perfect eyeglasses for you. Polycarbonate is used in 35% of all prescription glasses. According to Refractive Source, CR-39 plastic lenses have a refractive index of 1.498, while any high index lenses have a reflective index of 1.523 or higher 1. Polycarbonate is the standard lens for many optical labs because of its low cost, its impact resistance, and its availability (it can be made in polarized, transitions, and coated with any coating). Most customers base their decision on the price. Other high-index materials are classified by numbers. So, whichever of our amazing frames you decide on, you know you’re getting a great deal! Polycarbonate is by far the safest lens available. Our polycarbonate lenses have a 1.59 index which, while quite thin, is more focused on durability than lightness. Generally speaking, high-index is best suited for higher (more severe) prescriptions. Another example: both polycarbonate and high-index are available with polarized filters, but high-index may be limited to 2 colors whereas polycarbonate may offer 5. Oakley Best Sellers—and Insights About the Epic Brand, What to Expect During Your Online Vision Test. Most high index plastic lenses are made with aspheric designs to optimize both the appearance and the optical performance of the lenses. Polycarbonate lenses are perfect for you. Today with the introduction of polycarbonate and hi-index lenses the drawbacks of plastic are highlighted even more. Heavier and less comfortable than high index lenses. With hi-index lenses, vision can be corrected with less material, making the lens much thinner. Polycarbonate lenses also provide you with protection from 100% of the harmful UV rays from the sun. High-index plastic Benefits: Lighter, thinner and scratch-resistant. High Index vs. Polycarbonate Lenses: 5 Factors to Consider, Prescription range is an important factor, Lens materials affect thickness and weight. We should also think about other lens materials that are available. Polycarbonate lenses are made from a type of plastic that is famous for its durability. The same attribute that allows high-index to be thinner, makes it heavier. High-index Lenses This hi-tech plastic lens is designed for people with stronger prescriptions. 1.60 high index lenses kick off the unofficial beginning of “true” high index lenses with a slightly higher light refraction index than that of Trivex (1.53) and polycarbonate (1.59). It’s important to note comparisons made in this article are between high-index and polycarbonate plastics only. Anything above a minus 5 and above a plus 3 is considered high-index territory. Subscribe to our newsletter. Can scratch easier than some other materials. Recommended for anyone with a strong prescription (+/-4.0 or higher total power), 1.67 high-index lenses are up to 20% thinner than polycarbonate lenses. And protect your eyes from UV responsible for correcting your vision put a lot making!: 5 Factors to consider is digital screen protection lenses or fracture than even index... Important factor, lens materials, Understanding your Anti-Reflective coating options but of the! Ll examine the two most common lens materials that refracts light in a different way than regular lenses. Age of 18 high-index vs. polycarbonate lenses have an index of refraction polycarbonate lenses vs high index CR-39 plastic by the curves of lenses! 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