That means if a polycarbonate lens needs 2 millimeters of material to refract light, high index may only need 1 millimeter. Importantly, a polarised polycarbonate lens also provides impact protection. Whether youre driving your car or walking down the street, you still want to protect your eyes. I have polycarbonate for the first time. 2000-2022 AAV Media, LLC. She earned her certification from Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO). Abbe value measures the dispersion of light for different eyeglass lens materials. I just purchased a pair of multifocals in store and while we went through all the details of the lenses, they didnt mention plastic or polycarbonate. Our TIR lenses made of highly engineered polycarbonate material are some of the best on the market! Plastic lenses are also much more prone to bending and breaking than polycarbonate lenses, which means they can become unusable if dropped or placed in hot conditions. The cost of plastic glasses highly varies depending on your unique requirements like thickness, strong prescription, weight, etc. Which eyeglass lenses are best for me and my vision. Is there a big difference between 1.67 and 1.74 high-index lenses? With their tortoiseshell-patterned design, these oval eyeglasses are a great addition to any wardrobe. $80.00 charges for the FT poly. It is up to 10 times more impact resistant than high index lenses and other lens materials and, therefore, the perfect option for making protective eyewear. Even though its multi-layer, a TAC lens is very thin usually no more than 1.2mm. And well discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each material, plus our final decision on which material is better. Boll Bolt 2.0 Titanium Volt+ Ultraviolet Polarised, Boll Bolt 2.0 S Creator Green Volt+ Gun Polarised, Boll Bolt 2.0 S Volt+ Cold White Polarised, Boll Brecken Floatable Black-Red Polarised Offshore Blue, Secured online ordering using SSL encodings. This lens is acceptable for stronger prescriptions above +5.00/-8.00 and astigmatism correction between -4.00 and -6.00. The first layer of the sunglasses is the polarizing core, and its used to absorb the glare produced from the light shining on objects. Regular eyeglass frames are not rated for use as safety glasses and typically Original version of this article was by Liz DeFranco, ABOC, NCLC. They're made of shatter- and scratch-resistant plastic, making them an excellent choice for eye safety. . Let us know in the comments below! There is a reason that safety glasses and childrens eyewear dont have glass lenses. These lenses are up to 30% thinner than regular plastic or glass lenses. A polycarbonate lens is 10 times more impact-resistant than a high-index one. Owing to polycarbonates popularity and acceptance with the masses when a new add-on is released, its a no-brainer that it tends to be compatible with polycarbonate first. I have 4 mo old poly carbonate lenses from Walmart. I looked for the style I liked and then to price for my second deciding factor. Building a TAC lens includes forming several layers of lenses to produce your high-functioning sunglasses. Polycarbonate lenses are thinner and lighter than regular plastic lenses. You only get one pair of eyes, so use your sunglasses to protect them. When shopping for eyeglasses, a key thing to consider is your lens material. Polycarbonate has a higher index of refraction than Trivex (1.58 vs. 1.53), so polycarbonate lenses are about 10 percent thinner than Trivex lenses. "}}]}, The plastic industry mainly uses injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, and compression molding techniques of which Ashish holds tremendous knowledge, Your email address will not be published. From our quality assurance, to sustainable methods, and charitable endeavours, we keepa positive impact at the forefront. 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 cost and quality of polycarbonate lenses will vary depending on your prescription (stronger prescriptions may cost more) and the seller, so its worth shopping around. They're siblings, not twins, in other words. Since the refractive index is only 1.49, these types of lenses get very thick, if you need a strong correction. This type of lens is lightweight yet strong and resilient. Depending on where you are purchasing your glasses at online eyeglass retailers offer free polycarbonate lenses with their glasses. A quality pair of prescription glasses would eliminate that strain. Polycarbonate VS Plastic Lenses | A Complete Analysis, Trivex VS Polycarbonate | The Definitive Guide, What is PETG Material? Okay, so you know a little bit about the sunglasses and the advantages and disadvantages, but what are the differences between the two? Polycarbonate lenses are slowly starting to come standard from many eyeglass manufactures. 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. If you feel like it is worth the time and hassle then send them back. The cost of polycarbonate and Trivex lenses can vary considerably, but many optical stores charge more for Trivex lenses than polycarbonate lenses. Have a lovely day. Just browsing. With your prescription, you have the right to shop wherever you prefer from an optician, in stores, or online. Polycarbonate is a very soft material and must be coated for scratch resistance. Plastic lenses or also known as CR-39 is the most common optical lens material you will find. Hello people, today I will share a detailed analysis of high index vs polycarbonate lenses. Because of their durable material, theyre prone to scratching or breaking and ideal for sporty activities like running or cycling, as well as outdoor activities like hiking or camping. This also makes them more comfortable and easy to wear for extended periods of time. You can usually find some single vision lenses for around $30 and some bifocals for $50. Index of refraction refers to how well the material bends light and is based on how fast the light moves through that material. Here is a brief comparison of polycarbonate and Trivex lenses to help you decide which lenses might be best for you: Thickness. Like polcarbonate, Trivex is an excellent lens material for safety applications and children's eyewear. I took them back to inquire, and was told that they could be from my lashes and brows, and such scratches are not covered by their one year replacement policy. If you want to save money and dont have a very strong prescription, plastic is a more affordable option. Polycarbonate lenses are a type of eyeglass lenses made of an incredibly strong yet lightweight subset of plastic. According to consumer reports, pair of polycarbonate specs can cost around $29 to $149. Copyright 2020-2022 PlasticRanger | The Content May Not Be Reproduced On Other Websites, top 10 injection molding machine manufacturers in china, Top 10 Plastic Injection Molding Companies In United States, Top 6 injection Molding Machine Manufacturers, Top 10 Injection Moulding Companies In UK 2022. Ask your optician for details. Not only are they extremely strong, but PC lenses inherently block 100% of UV rays. They usually need an anti-reflective coating. Differences between Trivex vs polycarbonate lenses. The impact protection on polycarbonate is so good that both safety and sports eyewear use polycarbonate for their lenses. When it comes to eye safety, polycarbonate and Trivex eyeglass lenses are only part of the solution. Glass lenses cant be beaten. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Required fields are marked *. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. Get Traffic & Exposure. The plastic material itself is very vulnerable to scratches and hard scratch-resistant coatings have been developed as a solution to this problem. Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? Offering a lens with optical quality almost nearly as good as glass, BUT only being half as heavy as glass and far more impact resistant than glass. These days, there's an expansive market for sunglass lenses, two of the most popular lens styles being plastic lens or polycarbonate lens. The reason why us opticians and many other eye care practitioners dont recommend the inexpensive over the counter reading glasses is that most people dont have the same prescription in each eye. High index lenses are denser than lower index polycarbonate, making their lenses thinner to refract light perfectly. However, its important to recognise that plastic can still shatter and does not provide a high level of impact protection, so it should not be used for most active or shooting sports. Interesting Read Polycarbonate VS Plastic Lenses | A Complete Analysis. The great news is that polycarbonate lenses can be fitted into virtually any style of frames! Since it is a relatively soft material, a scratch-resistant coating is recommended for polycarbonate lenses. Even if he or she does not participate in organized At the end of the day, it just depends on how well you take care of your lenses. We think all the time! Crescent Plastics extrudes Acrylic in custom blends to provide the right amount of diffusion. The design is unobtrusive and cleanperfect for those who want a minimalistic, sleek look. Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses both block 100 percent of the sun's UV rays without the need for special UV-blocking lens coatings. Polycarbonate was developed in the 1970s for aerospace applications. Unisex Sunglasses All the different types of lens materials vary in weight, thickness, scratch resistance, and impact resistance. EyeBuyDirect has a wide variety of budget frames starting at $6. Yes, Polycarbonate is a plastic material made of thermoplastic polymers. Its important to recognise that TAC polarised lenses, as used in virtually all polarised sunglasses under 60, provide little impact protection and they can shatter, so they should not be used if impact protection is important. The cost highly varies depending on your unique requirements like thickness, strong prescription, weight, etc. She said that poly carbonate lenses scratch very easily, and that the high index lenses are better. The first polycarbonate lenses ran into three major problems that kept it from gaining traction, these were as follow: Eventually, these obstacles were overcome and the polycarbonate material got developed to the polycarbonate material we know today, thanks to the CD and entertainment industries. High index and polycarbonate lenses are great choices if you're looking for an alternative to metal glasses. However, there are some differences: High-index lenses are denser than polycarbonate, which makes them thinner. lifetime of good vision. In my opinion, TAC lenses provide more protection from UV rays, but they dont seem as strong as a PC lens. Contact an eye doctor if you need medical attention. Your recommendation? Taking all things into account, polycarbonate lenses are 18% lighter than the high index. When comparing all the mainstream lens materials, neither high index nor polycarbonate provide the best optical clarity. Each batch of our polarized TAC lenses are tested for effectiveness and were specifically chosen due to their lightweight design and high performance for all of your active families! She also has an interest in Eastern medicine practices and learning about integrative medicine. Developed by PPG Industries in 2001, Trivex lenses are lightweight and much more impact-resistant than regular plastic or glass lenses. Single Vision Reading: lenses to see things at a close distance. For this reason, you need to weigh up your options to find which one suits you the best. Medically Reviewed by Dr. Melody Huang, O.D. Should you, as a normal person should, worry about Abbes value? The rigid thermoplastic is often considered 200 times stronger than glass and is thus utilized to make bulletproof windows and car shields. When youve been looking for a new pair of sunglasses, its easy to get confused with the different types of lenses available. scratch-resistant coating to prevent surface scratches. But that doesnt mean polycarbonate or plastic lenses are not clear. Yes, high index lenses are more expensive than polycarbonate lenses because they are made from expensive materials, and the manufacturing process is difficult and harder to grind. Whenever you go purchase glasses you are always given a variety of different choices when it comes to lens materials. Many people get confused about the differences. Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses are much more impact-resistant than regular glass and plastic lenses (including other high-index lenses) because these lightweight lens materials are relatively "soft" which means they can absorb energy without lens fracturing. Both polycarbonate and high-index lenses rank low on optical clarity compared to Trivex. Follow KastKing to keep up on giveaways, fishing tips and new products. Or want to know more? I hope this article has helped you understand the differences between TAC and PC lenses in sunglasses. {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Are high index lenses more expensive? 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. They're 35 times stronger than CR-39, shatterproof and scratch resistant. The truth is that our eyes cant really detect the difference in clarity between glass and high-quality polycarbonate. This will ensure you have the thinnest cut for the edges. Glass lenses may be the standard for scientific use, but polycarbonate lenses are better for sunglasses. Is what theyve told me true? Women Sunglasses When eye safety is a concern, polycarbonate or Trivex lenses usually are the best choice for your eyeglasses, sunglasses and sports eyewear. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"1.67 index lenses are ideal for prescriptions under +5.00/-8.00 and astigmatism correction between -3.00 and -4.00. The first is a polarizing layer that provides more than 100% polarization that absorbs glare. They lst longer than other brands thanks to the additional layers protecting the sunglasses from drops, scratches, and shocks. Standard plastic lenses also tend to be more affordable but can be easier to crack. And there are a few benefits to using this style of polarized sunglasses: And its these three factors that push people to buy TAC lenses. That sounds about right for the pricing for polycarbonate bifocal lenses. sport eyeglasses. the frame breaks, dislodging the lenses. 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. They are also an ideal material for prescription lenses because they can be tinted to different colors for different applications. Advantages: The polycarbonate lens is highly resistant to impact, won't shatter, and is 10 times stronger than a glass or a regular plastic lens, making them ideal for children, safety lenses, and physical activity. 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. Finally, the fourth and fifth layers complete the 99% UV absorption and add some scratch resistance to the sunglasses. Hi Tim! Fast forward to modern-day, plastic lenses are still the most popular lens material because it does still have many benefits though it does have some downsides to it as well. It's entirely up to your decision about what fits you the best. These lenses are up to 30% thinner than regular plastic or glass lenses. 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. Many people tend to rush through the lens material selection too quickly without fully understanding the pros and cons of each material that they are offered. Half as heavy as glass, and far less likely to shatter, the optical quality is nearly as good as glass. >. The material naturally blocks out 100% of UV light, so it doesn't require any special coatings. Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses offer up to 10 times more impact resistance than regular plastic lenses. Outside of writing, Lauren runs a small farm with her husband and their four big dogs. Polycarbonate vs. Trivex lenses: A quick comparison. They are known to be cheaper compared to high-grade lens materials. Because they are less likely to fracture than regular plastic lenses, polycarbonate lenses also are a good choice for rimless eyeglasses. Polycarbonate lenses were first invented in 1953, but strangely two scientists developed them one week apart despite being on opposing sides of the world. Thanks for sharing this informative blog. You will find opticians out there that swear by plastic using the fact that plastic is really inexpensive, but in my experience, Ihave done my fair share of accidentally shattering, scratching, or chipping plastic lenses that I dont want to have anything to do with them anymore. Before I move on to the advantages and disadvantages, its worth noting that you can have more than seven layers in TAC lenses. Polycarbonate lenses took some time to gain traction in the optical world. Naturally resists scratches without a scratch-resistant coating, Less scratch-resistance than glass without a coating. These people whenever they wear polycarbonate lenses experience a weird distortion that isnt easy to explain. Benefits of polycarbonate lenses include: Best Place to Buy Contacts: 1800 Contacts. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Polycarbonate lenses, with their immense number of benefits, are also budget-friendly. We love these rimless glasses for their simple and streamlined look, but we love them even more for their comfort! 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. For the best eye protection at work and during sports, be sure you also Plastic has the lowest index of refraction and therefore is the thickest lens material available in the market. Ive never purchased glasses from Walmart before, so I dont have any experience with them. Youre absolutely right! There is a very small percentage of the population that is unable to wear polycarbonate lenses. Its confusing as what the receipt says and the online description is different. 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. Regarding eyeglasses, polycarbonate lenses are the gold standard for many people. High index lenses are not the best option if you want to tint your lenses to a dark shade. (These are glasses where the lenses are attached to frame components with drill mountings.). It may come down to what styles and brands you like typically use. Your eyes deserve to be protected whether youre on the field or on the sidewalk. Anything above a minus five and above plus three is considered in the high index range. Why do they not recommend the cheap glasses. Yes, Polycarbonate is a safe material for your sunglasses. If we talk about polycarbonate lenses are a type of high index lens with outstanding UV protection capabilities and good scratch and impact resistance. This makes poly lenses a better option for athletes and children. Glass lenses used to be really heavy. Melody Huang is an optometrist and freelance health writer. They are also more difficult to work with, which means it takes longer to manufacture polycarbonate lenses. The second and third layers of the TAC sunglasses provide strength and resistance from impact and movement. 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. As I said earlier, lenses are more important than frames. My receipt lists Plast 1.49 PANORMA IMPERIUM PLUS, so I guess that means plastic. Oakley Forum is NOT affiliated with Oakley, Inc. in any way, shape, or form. Its the most scratch resistant lens material and blocks UV light. Polycarbonate lenses are about 10% thinner than Trivex lenses. can decide which lens material is the best choice for your needs and budget. October 10, 2022 by Ashish Mittal Leave a Comment. But I will make it a cakewalk. Even then with the scratch-resistant coating plastic lenses are still one of the easiest lenses to be scratched.