Disadvantages Of Polycarbonate Lenses

However, glass lenses are heavy, thick and dangerous if broken and can’t be found in certain frame styles. Some glass is available with a refractive index as high as 1.8 and 1.9. Therefore, polycarbonate is just about the most common lens material in the optical industry…at least in the USA. While it does not have the best abbe value, it can have impact resistance. It’s the safest bet of protecting the eye and giving decent visual acuity, while still access all the different ways of correcting vision needs.

Surfacing Problems – It took time for manufacturers to develop new surfacing equipment which could surface polycarbonate lenses. GG Optix makes its glasses in the U.S. and will be offering a broad range of Trivex-based options.
Search for polycarbonate lenses you can enhance having an anti-scratch coating to reduce this disadvantage. Of course, that will increase your budget for safety eyewear – more on that below. By the end of your day, it just depends on how well you take care of your lenses. Many online eyeglass retailers offer polycarbonate standard with their glasses at very reasonable prices. When you are visiting an optical office make sure you inquire and see what lens materials they will have.
CR-39 is the most common material used in prescription spectacle lenses today. The optical quality ‘s almost as effective as glass, despite being half the weight and significantly less likely to fracture. Therefore, you can find four distinct materials available for safety lenses to safeguard your eyes from the above mentioned hazards. Due to the density of the high index plastic-type material it isn’t usually the lightest material though it is thinner. This flexibility also means polycarbonate and Trivex lenses require a scratch-resistant coating to prevent surface scratches.

Thoughts On Plastic Vs Polycarbonate Lenses

A variety of 1.0 is indicating that the light is entering another material which bends the light more dramatically. The higher the quantity, the more the light is bent, and then the less material had a need to correct for a higher prescription. Thus a 1.74 hi index plastic bends the light greater than a 1.50 standard plastic . Now, I understand these numbers independently won’t mean much for you. But the essence of these numbers is that glass gets the best optical quality available. The trade off, however, is that glass is also excessively heavy , and it’s less safe as a rule given the brittle nature of the material.

• Thus a 1.74 hi index plastic bends the light more than a 1.50 standard plastic .
• You also need to consider the material your lenses are manufactured from.
• Another significant benefit of these lenses is they are impact resistant.
• Because of the differing manufacturing process, your vision will never be quite as clear for either central or peripheral vision.

A lens with an increased index of refraction will reflect light more than standard CR-39 plastic or glass lenses. The extra reflections are often quite bothersome for the wearer especially at night and while utilizing a computer monitor. The glare from the lenses can be cosmetically unappealing. Due to this most high index lenses include an anti-reflective coating as a standard option. The best optics almost always come with a trade off on weight and durability. The lighter and thinner materials tend to be more comfortable and cosmetically look better for higher prescriptions, but that does come with an optical clarity trade-off. Produced by PPG Industries in 2001, Trivex lenses are lightweight plus much more impact-resistant than regular plastic or glass lenses.
Plastics are lighter than glass; CR-39 is at least half the weight of glass, while polycarbonate is even lighter. As glass lenses are heavy, glasses with glass lenses tend to slide down the nose and so are more likely to leave impressions on the bridge of the nose. Lightweight and thinner than glass lenses, polycarbonate is more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Hang with us as we efficiently cover the pros and cons of polycarbonate vs. CR-39 lenses, how to tell the difference, and which may be better for you. Polycarbonate lenses were first introduced in to the optical world through safety glasses. With polycarbonate’s super impact resistance to plastic and glass, it had been the perfect lens material for safety glasses.

Armourx 5001 Safety Glasses

Polycarbonate lenses, for instance, maybe the best option if you’re concerned about the weight of your frame. We will not advocate one above another if it’s not appropriate for your visual needs. Of course, are you seeking for a couple of safety glasses that genuinely works? Polycarbonate can be quite a good option for you personally and it could be really worth it!

That results in lenses which are thicker, but lighter than polycarbonate lenses. On the other hand, CR-39 may be the thickest and heaviest lens material. Its density makes it easy to crack or shatter, so it’s much less appropriate for frame features like rimless or semi-rimless and not appropriate for drill mount designs.

It might take some more research and looking to get the best glasses online and offline options. Still, my job was to highlight the critical factors, benefits, and drawbacks and lighten the debate on Polycarbonate vs plastic lenses.