You may also want to consider reading this article on acetate vs plastic frames if youre looking to dive deeper into your glasses materials. They told me that polycarbonate refracts light differently than plastic and some people dont see as well with them. But if youre choosing high-quality lenses, both glass and polycarbonate offer excellent optical clarity. Depending on where you are purchasing your glasses at online eyeglass retailers offer free polycarbonate lenses with their glasses. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Polycarbonate lenses, with their immense number of benefits, are also budget-friendly. If you want your glasses to last as long as possible in the face of everyday wear and tear, polycarbonate may be the way to go! Polycarbonate lenses provide excellent UV protection, which makes them ideal for use in glasses and other products that need to protect the eyes from the suns harmful rays. Just to add that polycarbonate is plastic. We may earn commissions if you purchase something via one of our links. People with eyeglass prescriptions stronger than +/- 4.0 may need high-index lenses. Additionally, plastic lenses are much less expensive than the other options. Glass lenses may be the standard for scientific use, but polycarbonate lenses are better for sunglasses. Polycarbonate (PC) Polycarbonate lenses are light, and are also almost shatter-proof; they also have high UV absorption. That is all I wanted to say about High index vs polycarbonate lenses. One of the biggest selling points of early plastic lens material was that it was lightweight and offered all-day comfort. Like polcarbonate, Trivex is an excellent lens material for safety applications and children's eyewear. 1. The cost of polycarbonate and Trivex lenses can vary considerably, but many optical stores charge more for Trivex lenses than polycarbonate lenses. Is there anything that could be done to grind the edges a little less thicker. I thought I was purchasing Essilor Varilux X Progressive Lenses, and what they described as their second best lens, the Superior High Index A thinner, flatter and lighter premium lens. Standard plastic lenses also tend to be more affordable but can be easier to crack. Photochromic lenses are available in both materials. Oakley Forum is the largest and most reliable platform for Oakley news, updates and any information you are looking for about Oakley sunglasses and other products. Oakley Ruby Iridium vs. Fire Iridium Lenses Whats the difference? Lauren completed a bachelor's degree in biopsychology from The College of New Jersey and non-degree graduate coursework in public health at Princeton University. You dont need to be doing heavy physical activity to benefit from impact-resistant lenses. I have polycarbonate for the first time. Polycarbonate lenses, because they have a higher index, are slimmer than Trivex. Introduced in the 1980s, they're incredibly lightweight and about 20% thinner than regular plastic lenses. Learns and shares consistently about plastics technologies. A polycarbonate lens is 10 times more impact-resistant than a high-index one. I took the glasses back (costco optical) and they checked the prescription and said it was fine. The liquid polycarbonate is then rapidly injected into lens molds, compressed under high pressure, and cooled to form a finished lens product in a matter of minutes. UV protection. Rest assured, all of our sunglasses feature UV400 TAC Polarized lenses that were manufactured using a 7 layer process in accordance with the international sunglass lens standard. When plastic lenses first came into the market their main competitor was glass lenses, therefore, one of the major benefits of picking plastic over glass was the fact that the lenses were a lot lighter and far safer by being more impact resistant than glass. Polycarbonate is lighter than standard CR-39 hard resin (plastic) lenses and, because it is highly shatter resistant, is commonly used in safety and sports eyewear. Polycarbonate lenses are available in a wider variety of lens designs (e.g., progressive lenses and other multifocals) than Trivex lenses. And this made them ideal for sportswear, children, and safety lenses. I looked for the style I liked and then to price for my second deciding factor. Plastic lenses are the typical lenses that most people have in their eyeglasses. The difference between the two will be quite minimal when it comes to thickness. If your frame is fine, your eyes will feel grainy and uncomfortable if you dont have the right lenses. Plastic as a lens material has been around for quite some time before polycarbonate came into the fold, they are still a very popular lens choice today due to them being inexpensive and more lightweight than glass. Contacted as you seen on tv.co.nz . For this reason, the lens requires a scratch-resistant coating applied. Benefits of polycarbonate lenses include: Best Place to Buy Contacts: 1800 Contacts. Yes, Polycarbonate is a plastic material made of thermoplastic polymers. Have a lovely day. Trivex lenses are made of a urethane-based monomer. Historically the image transferred to your eyes with polycarbonate was poorer quality than plastic but with the advent of Class 1 Optical Grade polycarbonate the difference is now much less significant. There are plenty of lower-quality plastic lenses that you should definitely avoid. | An In-Depth Guide, What is the Best Plastic Glue? Bought 2 pairs amazing lenses.. pitty about the cheap made to break plastic arms within the first 3 week they broke. And there are even still glass lenses out there in sunglasses! Heres an overview of the main types of materials used to make sunglasses and eyewear lenses (including prescription spectacles) and some of their pros and cons. Check out our newest, How we are reacting to the COVID pandemic, Working together to provide PPE to healthcare workers in Toronto, FREE SHIPPING TO U.S. & CANADA ON ORDERS OVER $100. Generally, the price never goes below $200 and can go up to $300, depending on your unique requirements. But it is your opticians job to explain all the differences to you and give you a recommendation based on your prescription. Polycarbonate lenses are designed for strength, yet they're thin and lightweight. 1.74 index lenses are the thinnest high-index lenses. Because theyre so thin, high-index lenses are the standard for people with prescriptions stronger than +/- 4.0. TAC lenses are incredibly lightweight, making them more comfortable to wear for long durations. or Trivex lenses. Hi Amy! Customizable lenses for your vision needs. There are 7 layers that make up TAC lenses. The truth is that our eyes cant really detect the difference in clarity between glass and high-quality polycarbonate. On higher priced polarised sunglasses (typically above 60) the lens material is likely to be polycarbonate. In these strong prescriptions, the reduced thickness with the high index will round up for the increased weight. What kind of price range would I expect for polycarbonate lenses? It may come down to what styles and brands you like typically use. This is unlike CR-39, which does not fare so well with higher prescriptions. Plastic lenses are very lightweight and, therefore, comfortable to wear since your frames wont rub so heavily on the nose. Trivex lenses about 10 percent lighter than polycarbonate lenses. . Polycarbonate lenses are a popular choice, but theyre not for everyone. Trivex lenses have a higher Abbe value and may produce sharper peripheral vision with less chromatic aberration than polycarbonate lenses. It would help if you chose high index lenses as theyre lighter, thinner, comfortable, and attractive. Half as heavy as glass, and far less likely to shatter, the optical quality is nearly as good as glass. Bottomline Benefits: Polycarbonate Vs High Index Lenses . Polycarbonate is an excellent choice for people with a strong prescription. HOW to tell the DIFFERENCE between GLASS vs PLASTIC lenses | Optometrist Explains 6,886 views Apr 9, 2020 152 Dislike Share Antonio the Optometrist 15K subscribers HOW to tell the DIFFERENCE. It's highly impact-resistant and famous for standing up to forces that would shatter other materials. Thanks for reading. Polycarbonate lenses are slowly starting to come standard from many eyeglass manufactures. With your prescription, you have the right to shop wherever you prefer from an optician, in stores, or online. Generally, the price never goes below $200 and can go up to $300, depending on your unique requirements. Plastic lenses can be prone to scratches and scuffs, which means they need to be replaced if they arent equipped with a scratch-resistant coating. Cost. Nylon lenses are what you would find in the cheapest low end sunglasses. When it comes to eye safety, polycarbonate and Trivex eyeglass lenses are only part of the solution. Very informative. Venti20 Sunglasses - Lens Specifications and Glossary. I have 4 mo old poly carbonate lenses from Walmart. I just dont see as well with them. The Federal Trade Commissions Eyeglass Rule ensures that your doctor gives you your prescription at no extra cost, whether or not you ask for it. Polycarbonate lenses are some of the most impact resistant lenses on the market, which makes them ideal for use in sunglasses and other products that will be worn by people who do a lot of active activity. Could this still be plastic or is this polycarbonate? Polycarbonate was developed in the 1970s for aerospace applications. This includes single-vision lenses to correct common forms of vision issues, and progressive lenses that are able to cater for multiple prescriptions. Let us know in the comments below! Many online eyeglass retailers offer polycarbonate standard with their glasses at very affordable prices. Find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes! The plastic material itself is very vulnerable to scratches and hard scratch-resistant coatings have been developed as a solution to this problem. sports eyewear is dangerous and can result in a serious eye injury if This makes poly lenses a better option for athletes and children. They also offer 100 percent protection from the suns harmful UV light and are up to 10 times more impact-resistant than plastic or glass lenses. You can usually find some single vision lenses for around $30 and some bifocals for $50. The benefits dont stop there though with polycarbonate being thinner, more lightweight and more resistant to scratches as well. . This gives Trivex lenses the advantage of sharper optics than injection-molded polycarbonate lenses, according to PPG. Why do they not recommend the cheap glasses. All of our sunglasses are made from triacetate cellulose or TAC for short. Glasses with polycarbonate lenses were first developed in the 1980s, and theyve been improving ever since. Liingo Eyewear is another great option to buy glasses online. We help brands optimize their online presence & performance. But its a high-quality lens material making the extra cost worth it for the customer. Standard plastic lenses also tend to be more affordable but can be easier to crack. Polycarbonate lenses boast built-in protection from UV light (ultraviolet light). The information provided on VisionCenter.org should not be used in place of actual information provided by a doctor or a specialist. Saltwater Fishing Tackle Maintenance and Cleaning, KastKing Line Boss For Fishing Line Storage, Does KastKIng Have Saltwater Rods and Saltwater Reels. In fact, polycarbonate is the same material used for bullet-proof glass due to its impact-resistant properties. The top and bottom edges of both lens have many, very fine scratches. The last two layers, are shock proof layers that increase impact and scratch resistance. TAC lenses are the cheapest widely used lens option in sunglasses and are less clear, less scratch resistant, and less durable than Polycarbonate. What we as opticians try to do when styling you for a frame is to ensure that your eyes are as centered in the frames as possible. Plastic lenses tend to be more vulnerable to scratches than other materials. I never knew the difference in the material til now And thats why when exact precision is needed, say in microscopes, cameras, or telescopes, glass is still the standard. Now I will be adding lense material to the list. Because they are far less likely to fracture than regular plastic lenses, polycarbonate lenses also are a good choice for rimless eyewear designs where the lenses are attached to the frame with drill mountings. This is such a helpful article, I wasnt even aware of the difference between plastic and polycarbonate lenses. Procedure Overview LASIK LASIK Contoura Vision LASIK SMILE PRK Cataract Surgery Comprehensive Ophthalmology Lenses Lifestyle Lenses Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) Vivity Extended Vision IOL Keratoconus Treatments Cross-Linking The liquid lens material is slowly baked untill it sets. Ask your optician for details. Polarised lenses are different to standard sunglass lenses; they have a special film which helps eliminate glare reflected off a surface like a pavement, road, water or snow. Polycarbonate and Plastic lenses differ in many factors, such as affordability, tint resistance, UV protection, impact resistance, lightweight, and optical clarity. Hi Eleanor, if you have a strong prescription one of the best ways to ensure your lenses come out as thin as possible is by making sure that the frame fits well. The material naturally blocks out 100% of UV light, so it doesn't require any special coatings. There is a very small percentage of the population that is unable to wear polycarbonate lenses. Thickness and weight One of the main differences between the two materials is thickness and weight. One is made with a shatter-proof polycarbonate, while the other uses a Triacetate Cellulose. Both options have their pros and cons. The reflections from water can be reduced just by wearing polarized lenses, which can also enhance your ability to spot objects below the waters surfacefashionable and a great help when boating or fishing. My receipt lists Plast 1.49 PANORMA IMPERIUM PLUS, so I guess that means plastic. The rigid thermoplastic is often considered 200 times stronger than glass and is thus utilized to make bulletproof windows and car shields. playing sports while wearing an eyeglass frame that is not rated for It boasts the highest impact resistance of any lens material. Join today, share your Oakley collection or even find new Oakley sunglasses for sale. Lastly, plastic lenses dont come with built-in UV protection, therefore it is important that UV protection is added to these lenses to protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays. Required fields are marked *. If youre unsure about prescription lens material, talk to your eye doctor. The price never goes below $ 200 and can go up to forces that would shatter other.., high-index lenses round up for the customer shatter-proof ; they also have high UV absorption Whats difference! % of UV light ( ultraviolet light ) so I guess that plastic! 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Eyecare professional and book online in minutes and weight Buy glasses online they checked the prescription and it. As good as glass our links are purchasing your glasses at very affordable prices of... Of any lens material, talk to your eye doctor the solution far less likely to,! Layers that make up TAC lenses are better for sunglasses the highest impact resistance of any lens material making extra! Lens have many, very fine scratches to come standard from many manufactures! And there are even still glass lenses out there in sunglasses glasses at very affordable prices to Buy:... With your prescription, you have the right to shop wherever you prefer from an,. Is 10 times more impact-resistant than a high-index one, both glass and polycarbonate include... As theyre lighter, thinner, more lightweight and about 20 % thinner than regular plastic are! On VisionCenter.org should not be used in Place of actual information provided by a or. All-Day comfort making them more comfortable to wear polycarbonate lenses are much less than. Triacetate cellulose or TAC for short affordable prices been improving ever since to explain all differences. Selling points of early plastic lens material, talk to your eye doctor can be easier to crack standard scientific..., but theyre not for everyone PC ) polycarbonate lenses, both glass and polycarbonate excellent! Glasses online lenses boast built-in protection from UV light, and safety lenses recommendation based your. Up TAC lenses applications and children an excellent lens material for safety applications and children to you and give a! And bottom edges of both lens have many, very fine scratches be quite minimal it. For long durations glass, and attractive more vulnerable to scratches and hard scratch-resistant coatings been! | an In-Depth Guide, what is the same material used for bullet-proof glass due to its properties! Between the two materials is thickness and weight one is made with a shatter-proof polycarbonate while. Priced polarised sunglasses ( typically above 60 ) the lens material making the cost! Book online in minutes aware of the population that is not rated for it boasts the impact!
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