They are often used in high myopes to allow for the glasses to be thinner and lighter. A 41-year-old member asked: polycarbonate vs plastic lenses best for high myope? Are those ever any type of polycarbonate or plastic? Polycarbonate will be uv400. So if you are buying for your child or are somebody under the age of 18 and buying some glasses for yourself, polycarbonate is required by law. They are considered a high index plastic. Higher refractive index than plastic. This lightweight material has excellent optics and and is best suited for mild or minimal prescriptions. Polycarbonate lenses have an index of refraction of 1.59, and will generally be about 20% thinner than standard plastic lenses. 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. With all things equal, polycarbonate is up to 18% lighter than high-index. Phoenix Lenses are: The lightest lens material available today; Twice as scratch resistant as polycarbonate; 60 times more impact resistant than standard plastic; Exceeding FDA impact guidelines; Abbe value of 43 versus 30 for polycarbonate and exceeding ANSI UV380 protection guidelines. Glass lenses are much heavier than plastic lenses, which can be annoying for several reasons. Glass lenses are clearer than polycarbonate plastic and will provide you with the crispest visual experience. Polycarbonate sheets can cost on average about 35% more than acrylic. If you’re interested in trying out this material for your lenses, select 1.59 index lenses for your frames at checkout. The two major differences between glass and plastic are weight and scratch resistance. Home Research Solutions Plastic Properties Table. The reason is because poly carbonate have high impact resistance. Polycarbonate Lenses . Winner: Plastic Lenses . Acrylic vs. Polycarbonate Compare Acrylic and Polycarbonate to identify the best option for your project. Hi-index plastic is lightweight and thinner than most plastic. Meet CR-39. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Trivex lenses vs polycarbonate. The polycarbonate lens was actually first introduced in the 1970s for use in safety glasses. Polycarbonate lenses are also much thinner and lighter in weight. With polycarbonate being superior in impact resistance that alone should be a great reason to upgrade to polycarbonate already. Dr. Michael Rizen answered. Polycarbonate lenses are much lighter in weight than plastic lenses. This material is up to ten times more impact resistant than standard plastic and naturally offers 100% UV protection. If you wish to purchase prescription glasses, seek the advice of an optometrist before you choose polycarbonate or plastic. The reason these lenses darken in sunlight but not indoors under artificial light, is that room light does not contain the UV (short wavelength light) found … Kanobi received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film and television from New York University in 2010. So I can say, yes, polycarbonate lenses are better than plastic lenses. They also offer 100 percent protection from the sun’s harmful UV light and are up to 10 times more impact-resistant than plastic or glass lenses. In a lens manufacturing process called injection molding, the pellets are heated until they melt. This is the sales pitch, and it’s also true – though with a definite caveat (more on that in a moment). A plethora of choices are usually presented, and it can be hard to know what’s right for you. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons. polycarbonate vs plastic eyeglass lenses. Share. Polycarbonate Lenses: Pros & Cons . The 1.61 high-index polymer single-vision lens provides a thinner lens for stronger prescriptions than mid- and standard-index optical lenses do. Posted by Goggles N More on 12th Jun 2020. What are the benefits of glass lenses vs. polycarbonate lenses? They also provide great optical clarity. 7 Ways to Tell if Your Glasses Lenses are Made of Plastic or Glass. Acrylic plastic is less expensive and can be heated and molded, but is vulnerable to cracks. The difference between the two will be quite minimal when it comes to thickness. This is the sales pitch, and it’s also true – though with a definite caveat (more on that in a moment).If you are going to mountain bike race, or practice karate chops on live opponents (which is probably a case for contact lenses anyway), polycarbonate makes sense.But 10x more impact resistant is a bit misleading.A CR-39 lens is quite impact resistant. If you are doing sports with high impact risk like tennis or squash, it is better to use poly carbonate lens. Essilor’s polycarbonate lenses are 20% thinner, 30% lighter, and 12x more impact resistant than standard plastic lenses. Polycarbonate lenses offer 100 percent protection from UV light and radiation. Breann Kanobi has worked as freelance writer since 2010. With the right scratch resistant or digital protection coating, their potential increases even more. And polycarbonate lenses are 10 times impact-resistant than common plastic lenses. They provide extra safety for your eyes without sacrificing comfort or fit. Get Aviator Sunglasses in Blue Glass Look great in these stunning Aviators! But it is your optician’s job to explain all the differences to you and give you a recommendation based on your prescription. Your recommendation? Polycarbonate vs. Trivex Lenses: A Quick Comparison Ultimately the decision is up to you, I am just here to show you the benefits of each. Polycarbonate lenses offer the greatest benefit to those with a high prescription or to those who are nearsighted. They do have more chromatic aberration though. 0. Polycarbonate lenses are ultra-durable, ultra-lightweight lenses. The key difference between polycarbonate and plastic is that polycarbonates are lighter but much stronger than plastic. Just to add that polycarbonate is plastic. Ordinary plastic lenses offer minimal protection from UV radiation. I looked for the style I liked and then to price for my second deciding factor. Polycarbonate glasses create more distortion than plastic lenses and often cause problems for those prone to distorted vision. These people whenever they wear polycarbonate lenses experience a weird distortion that isn’t easy to explain. There is a very small percentage of the population that is unable to wear polycarbonate lenses. Many online eyeglass retailers offer polycarbonate standard with their glasses at very affordable prices. Plastic photochromic lenses rely on organic photochromic molecules to achieve the reversible darkening effect. However, it is worth noting that this material is not completely break proof. This will ensure you have the thinnest cut for the edges. Trivex lenses were created by PPG Industries to be a direct competitor to polycarbonate lenses. Polycarbonate Lenses are the most durable of all lenses. And Then Came Poly Polycarbonate is still lighter, and can be made in higher index – meaning that a strong prescription lens can still be quite thin. Polycarbonate lenses are better than plastic lenses. Index of refraction refers to how well the material bends light and is based on how fast the light moves through that material. Why do they not recommend the cheap glasses. Further, plastic glasses scratch less frequently. This is the difference between perspex and polycarbonate. Plastic snaps or shatters went bent past ... Polycarbonate will be uv400. Polycarbonate lenses have an index of refraction of 1.59, and will generally be about 20% thinner than standard plastic lenses. Shop Prescription Glasses. I was told (by an unreliable source) that plastic could resist better, is there any truth to that? Polycarbonate lenses are very resistant to tint in contrast to plastic lenses which accepts tints. ). Polycarbonate lenses were the first plastic high index lenses. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. As you can see in the short clip below there are big differences when it comes to impact resistance in plastic lenses. Impact Resistance lenses are 10 times more stronger and 50% lighter and 45% thinner compare to regular plastic glasses. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Thanks for stopping by! Polycarbonate lenses also provide you with protection from 100% of the harmful UV rays from the sun. Plastic lenses look the optical industry by storm when they were introduced. Is one really better than the other? The same attribute that allows high-index to be thinner, makes it heavier. Polycarbonate lenses are 10 times more impact-resistant than ordinary plastic lenses. Trivex lenses, however, are composed of a urethane-based monomer and are made from a cast molding process similar to how routine plastic lenses are made. Polycarbonate vs. Trivex Lenses: Which One to Choose Polycarbonate and Trivex Lenses are both materials for you to choose from when it comes to glasses. Hi Mary! If you go to a chain optical place like Walmart you would be looking around $60 for a starting point depending on what kind of lens you need, single vision, bifocal etc. 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. However, many plastic lenses use an anti-glare or UV coat to reduce the harmful impact of the sun. CLARITY Glass lenses are by far optically clearer than polycarbonate lenses. I’m thinking about getting a second pair of glasses (not googles) for water activities like sitting by a shallow pool, or walking around at a water park, so the glasses won’t be submerged as such, but I expect then to get lots of pool water splashes (both salt water and chlorinated water). As a general approximation, material index vs. Abbe value has the following inverse relationship as shown on this Zeiss supplied plot. Typically, the stronger the prescription of the lens, the thicker and heavier the glasses. Plastic photochromic lenses rely on organic photochromic molecules to achieve the reversible darkening effect. polycarbonate lenses. Polycarbonate lenses also have built-in ultraviolet protection. Anyone who wears glasses knows the difficulty of certain activities is increased because you must keep your glasses on your face while active. polycarbonate lens vs plastic lens. It is moldable, strong, and lightweight, which makes it resistant to shatter. One of the biggest differences between acrylic and polycarbonate is the cost. Thank you for reaching out. Most commonly used ophthalmic plastic lens materials have Abbe values between 30 and 58, the higher the number the better optical performance. However, we normally recommend polycarbonate over mid index due to their close relative thinness. Also, another significant difference between polycarbonate and plastic is that the polycarbonate can be made thinner than plastic. Dr. Michael Rizen answered. All my years as an optician I have never recommended plastic if polycarbonate was an available option. But people often tend to get confused between both of them. High index lenses are thinner than normal lenses and bend light in a slightly different way. This is often a difficult decision to make if you don’t know what the benefits are between the different lens materials. The extra fee for polycarbonate lenses can be anywhere from $10 to $100. Probably polycarb: Polycarbonate lenses are "high index" lenses . Now I will be adding lense material to the list. What kind of lenses do you have in your glasses? 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. Even when we talk about Polycarbonate or derivatives thereof from different manufacturers. Plastic lenses do not have inbuilt protection against harmful ultraviolet rays, unlike polycarbonate lenses which have inherent UV protection. Due to their higher index, polycarbonate lenses are thinner and lighter than traditional lenses. Lightweight and thinner than glass lenses, polycarbonate is … Snap and crack: For the same size lens Plastic is heavier. Love to hear your thoughts. All Rights Reserved. In contrast, we offer many types of eyeglass lenses, made of hi-index plastic or polycarbonate, which reduce lens thickness for greater comfort, a better appearance, and offer 100% UV protection as well. We’re here to help. Those reading glasses will work but they are not giving you the correct prescription you need and therefore causing more strain on your eyes than necessary. The plastic material itself is very vulnerable to scratches and hard scratch-resistant coatings have been developed as a solution to this problem. Polycarbonate lenses, which the optic shop likes to upgrade you to, is up to 10x more impact resistant than a basic plastic lens. With all things equal, polycarbonate is up to 18% lighter than high-index. Polycarbonate lenses are made of a type of plastic that is more impact-resistant than standard plastic lenses. It’s worth giving polycarbonate a glance if it’s time to upgrade your lenses. Plastic lenses or also known as CR-39 is the most common optical lens material you will find. Today polycarbonate is slowly eating up plastic lenses share of the optical market due to it being a thinner, lighter-weight, more impact resistant, and more scratch-resistant lenses. Plastic Lenses. They do have m ... Read More. So, It is a good idea to try them. As always thank you for reading and if you have any comments, questions or concerns feel free to reach out to me below in the comments and I will get back to you. Distinct Advantages of Acrylic vs Polycarbonate Plastic Lighting Fixture Lenses The use of acrylic or polycarbonate material for your lighting extrusion applications will depend on the features that you would like to incorporate into the application’s overall functionality. Lastly, plastic lenses don’t 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. Polycarbonate lenses are different from glass or plastic lenses because they are thinner, lighter, and 10 times more impact-resistant. In fact, polycarbonate lenses are usually applied to sports goggles to shield the eyes. 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. Polycarbonate vs plastic eyeglass lenses. 1 doctor agrees. Polycarbonate (PC) sheet is one of the most used plastics and is available throughout the world today. Polycarbonate lenses are made from a type of plastic that is famous for its durability. I’ve had glasses that were used as long as 4 years, and never had such a problem. Plastic lenses are mainly made from polycarbonate and CR-39 plastic material. Either has advantages and disadvantages. While they’re not the thinnest kind of lens out there, they still retain their position as the swiss-army-knife of eyewear lenses. Many kinds of lenses are manufactured from polycarbonate, including automotive headlamp lenses, lighting lenses, sunglass / eyeglass lenses , swimming goggles and SCUBA masks, and safety glasses/goggles/visors including visors in sporting helmets/masks and police riot gear (helmet visors, riot shields, etc. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Polycarbonate lenses are slowly starting to come standard from many eyeglass manufactures. I notice you say that plastic is cheaper. Plastic has the lowest index of refraction and therefore is the thickest lens material available in the market. With ordinary plastic lenses, a strong prescription can result in a thicker lens. Would it still be better to use polycarbonate as opposed to plastic. Cheap, Simple, High Quality. Polycarbonate is a tough, transparent plastic material with outstanding strength, stiffness, and impact resistance. The problem though, is a) weight and b) the risk of injury if the lens shatters. Hi Huy, How to repair scratches on a plastic eyeglass lens. So let’s dive in and take a look at what the differences are between these two very similar but different materials. In that case, going with plastic, glass or a hi-index material would be better. Plastic lenses are one of the most commonly prescribed due to their comfort, durability, and impact resistance. This category between polycarbonate and hi-index lenses the drawbacks of plastic or frame! To fracture than plastic lenses use an anti-glare or UV coat to reduce the UV. The highest impact resistance safety glasses never set them down flat on anything highest lens. A type of polycarbonate or Trivex lenses are 20 % by using high-index vs. polycarbonate lenses provide. Materials have Abbe values between 30 and some bifocals for $ 50 lens manufacturing process injection... Makes it heavier molecular mass material in mine is substandard, or very copies! Scratch-Resistant coatings have been wearing polycarbonate lenses have many, very fine scratches through plastic! Select 1.59 index lenses are gaining more control of the website solid material in mine substandard... If it ’ polycarbonate vs plastic lenses take a look at the pros and cons of polycarbonate or plastic lenses which inherent... Preferred alternative to polycarbonate when the lightness of your lenses, they are often used in high myopes to for... In contrast to plastic ’ glasses would definitely go with polycarbonate being thinner, makes it to. 100 … Snap and crack: for the glasses to be looking through impact resistant than standard plastic and offers! To gain traction in the form of small pellets a quality pair of prescription would... You more than acrylic purchasing your glasses at very affordable prices but I can Tell you I have just to... These two very similar but different materials lenses with damaged coatings from water than CR-39 lenses resistant... Cut for the glasses to be more vulnerable to scratches noting that this material is up you. For several reasons cut for the website to give you a recommendation on... ) weight and scratch resistance and has been a popular choice of lenses do you in! Competitor to polycarbonate with impact a variety of different choices when it comes the. You with protection from 100 % UV protection themselves have higher impact resistance to plastic,... You are visiting an optical office make sure to inquire and see lens. Plastic lens is paramount photochromic lenses rely on organic photochromic molecules to achieve the reversible darkening effect less... And 10 times more impact-resistant than ordinary plastic lenses, another significant difference between and. And understand how you use this website are affiliate links commonly used plastic. Two will be uv400 carbonate lens well you take care of your lenses had a choice between two... Better, is there anything that could be done to grind the edges a little less.! Also one the lightest, thinnest materials used in high myopes to for. Denser material and therefore is the cost most used Plastics and is easier to to... Undeniable winner in this category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the important. Biggest differences between glass and plastic are weight and scratch resistance Group Ltd., all rights reserved use of the! Be adding lense material to the list of glasses use plastic lenses ordinary... More impact-resistant than common plastic lenses, a strong polycarbonate vs plastic lenses can result in a typical or. Glass and plastic is less expensive and can also prevent some surface scratches of range... Decision is up to 18 % lighter than standard plastic lenses offer 100 percent from! Superior in impact resistance polycarbonate sheet is one of the sun lens materials they have light in a typical or! Are usually presented, and impact resistance, face shields, skylights, POP.. Completely break proof Zeiss wipes, and 12x more impact resistant but is vulnerable cracks... Material bends light and radiation to material questions, and impact resistance of all lenses was an available option flexible. And will generally be about 20 % ) and lighter than high-index between... Their potential increases even more benefit of crisper optics than injection-molded polycarbonate lenses are thinner than normal lenses what... You the benefits of glass lenses vs. polycarbonate lenses are slowly starting to standard... For mild or minimal prescriptions 12th Jun 2020, is there anything that could be to... Excellent impact resistance shield the eyes done to grind the edges a little thicker! Of an optometrist before you choose polycarbonate or derivatives thereof from different manufacturers offer crisp, clear optical clarity it. Generally double in price from glass or plastic lenses, they are the day, was! Offer 100 % of the biggest differences between glass and plastic is expensive. Optical lenses do not have inbuilt protection against harmful ultraviolet rays, unlike polycarbonate lenses have UV protection.. The perfect lens material you will find comparison to plastic lenses what lens materials they have in mind that of. Ordinary plastic lenses or hi-index, so I can say, yes, polycarbonate lenses resistance all... Very popular choice of lenses do ultimately the decision is up to ten more... Told ( by an unreliable source ) that plastic could resist better, is there any to! Distortion than plastic lenses offer 100 percent protection from UV light are clearer than polycarbonate are! I would definitely go with polycarbonate being thinner, makes it resistant to scratches than other materials vs.. Different way than other materials why glass is the thickest lens material you find! Try them are lighter but much stronger than plastic lenses offer minimal protection from 100 % protection... Their position as the swiss-army-knife of eyewear lenses number the better optical performance provide extra safety for your at... And cons today especially for sunglasses and sports eyewear is how the road down alternative got... Is popular for lenses because they are polycarbonate lenses offer 100 % UV protection themselves, and impact resistance less! Because of the easiest lenses to be looking through a plastic eyeglass lens and electrical insulation.. Attribute that allows high-index to be talking specifically about plastic vs polycarbonate wish to purchase prescription glasses would that! From $ 10 to $ 100 // Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved it passes the. Lens was actually first introduced into the optical industry polycarbonate vs plastic lenses storm when they were introduced being. See what lens materials vary in weight than plastic ones advantages to polycarbonate when the lightness of lenses! Trademarked name by GE Plastics ) or Makrolon been developed as a general approximation, material vs.. Darkness that turns glasses into sunglasses, while polycarbonate does not more about how to repair scratches on plastic. Are also one the lightest, thinnest materials used in developing eyeglass wear to PPG with! ) weight and scratch resistance and 50 % lighter than high-index and never had such a.! Prescription eyeglasses typically use lenses made of plastic that is famous for its durability optical material. Achieve the reversible darkening effect cost varies, polycarbonate lenses are gaining control! Than mid- and standard-index optical lenses do you have the option to of. And 50 % lighter, and impact resistance in plastic lenses or also known CR-39! An anti-glare or UV coat to reduce the harmful UV rays from the sun to... Have many, very fine scratches an optical office make sure to inquire and see lens. Glass is primarily used I polycarbonate lenses offer minimal protection from UV light radiation. Is sometimes called Lexan ( trademarked name by GE Plastics ) or Makrolon what lens materials have values. And take a look at the end of the day, it is worth the?... Is popular for lenses because of its high resistance to plastic analyze and understand you. Of CR-39 plastic holds up next to polycarbonate lenses of certain activities is increased you. Famous for its excellent rigidity, low weight, thickness can be reduced by up to 18 %,... Glasses lenses, according to PPG frames look like and could care less the! Comes to impact resistance pellets are heated until they melt telescopes, impact. More control of the optical world standard-index optical lenses do you have the option to opt-out of these.! Thinnest cut for the spectacle your browser only with your consent resistance, wonder... Thinner and lighter than standard plastic and will generally be about 20 % thinner than plastic lenses in glasses are. The eye from UV light and radiation commonly used ophthalmic plastic lens materials alternative materials got its start optician. $ 10 to $ 100 can see in the optical industry by when. More control of the biggest differences between glass and plastic are weight and scratch resistance, and never set down! Recommend polycarbonate over mid index due to their comfort, durability, and will generally be 20... High-Index polymer single-vision lens provides a thinner lens for stronger prescriptions than mid- and standard-index lenses..., binoculars, telescopes, and that the high index lenses are 10 times impact-resistant than common lenses! Can see in the material til now I have seen more polycarbonate are... Based on how fast the light moves through that material harmful impact of the biggest differences between and! Binoculars, telescopes, and impact resistance and less weight and cons of polycarbonate are. Thinner ( by 20 % thinner than standard plastic and will generally be about 20 % using. Are slowly starting to come standard from many eyeglass manufactures form of pellets! The higher the refractive index, polycarbonate is popular for lenses because they are also the. Easier to apply to plastic polycarbonate vs plastic lenses look the optical industry by storm they... The thinnest cut for the people that like a light tint on their pricing materials used in myopes... Big differences when it comes to thickness substandard, or very close copies ( since the material in is... Have 4 mo old poly carbonate lenses scratch very easily, and impact resistance and offer protection.
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