That means if a polycarbonate lens needs 2 millimeters of material to refract light, high index may only need 1 millimeter. There's no need to add a protective coating. playing sports while wearing an eyeglass frame that is not rated for Trivex lenses have less internal stress and may produce sharper central vision than polycarbonate lenses. Polycarbonate ranks lowest for lens materials in chromatic aberration called Abbe value, which shows the ability of the material to disperse light. 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. 1.74 index lenses are the thinnest high-index lenses. With polycarbonates super impact resistance to plastic and glass, it was the perfect lens material for safety glasses. Important Factors to Consider While Choosing Lenses, Prescription Range is an Essential Factor, Thickness and Weight gets Affected by Lens Material. 1-800 Contacts is our #1 recommendation to buy contacts online. Plastic vs. Polycarbonate Lenses Today we are going to be talking specifically about plastic vs polycarbonate lenses and what the major difference is between the lens materials. They were first introduced in 1983 by Gentex Corporation, and since then have become popular among designers and consumers alike. 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. 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. Without a doubt, polycarbonate is the most rigid lens material. You can wear polycarbonate lenses with virtually any full-rim style. These people whenever they wear polycarbonate lenses experience a weird distortion that isnt easy to explain. Polycarbonate lenses are slowly starting to come standard from many eyeglass manufactures. Cost. Lower priced polarised sunglasses use a multi-layer material called TAC (Triacetate) with the front layer being the polarised film. 2018-2023 EyeHealthHQ.com. And considering the lens is such a vital component of sunglasses, it really pays to understand what they do and how they can help you. Hence, since the creation of the plastic lens, its become the default material for opticians and glass lenses are now much rarer than plastic when it comes to prescription glasses. Were going to look at the differences between todays plastic and glass lenses. If your frame is fine, your eyes will feel grainy and uncomfortable if you dont have the right lenses. CR-39 plastic lenses are regular plastic lenses you might find in very inexpensive sunglasses. 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! Higher grade TAC lenses are available (effectively increasing the thickness of the layers) and these can be 1.6mm thick. Today, even though glass lenses are thinner than they used to be, polycarbonate lenses are still the lighter choice. Here is a brief comparison of polycarbonate and Trivex lenses to help you decide which lenses might be best for you: Thickness. They're 35 times stronger than CR-39, shatterproof and scratch resistant. This lens is acceptable for stronger prescriptions above +5.00/-8.00 and astigmatism correction between -4.00 and -6.00. Not only are TAC sunglasses good to wear to the beach but also when driving. However, many people do not notice this. If youre unsure about prescription lens material, talk to your eye doctor. For the best eye protection at work and during sports, be sure you also 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. ","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. So, weve spoken a little about PC lenses, but now its time to shift our attention to TAC lenses. Index of refraction refers to how well the material bends light and is based on how fast the light moves through that material. It's highly impact-resistant and famous for standing up to forces that would shatter other materials. | An In-Depth Guide, What is the Best Plastic Glue? Trivex lenses are made of a urethane-based monomer. Unisex Sunglasses Polycarbonate does have a lower Abbe value so there are more chromatic aberrations, this can be reduced by adding a quality anti-reflective coating to the lenses. Polycarbonate lenses boast built-in protection from UV light (ultraviolet light). She said that poly carbonate lenses scratch very easily, and that the high index lenses are better. Trivex lenses have many of the same qualities as polycarbonate lenses and offer crisp, clear optical clarity. At PlasticRanger, we enlighten our readers with all the happenings in the world of plastics. Plastic lenses or also known as CR-39 is the most common optical lens material you will find. Amevie is a Canadian lifestyle and sun-care brand that cares. Our TIR lenses made of highly engineered polycarbonate material are some of the best on the market! $12.95 $ 12. If you take the example of the new polarized color option add-on, it will roll out from the polycarbonate lens first. Join today, share your Oakley collection or even find new Oakley sunglasses for sale. But, polycarbonate is the most common and versatile plastic material used for sunglass lenses. And since manufacturers of sports eyewear understand that frames get dropped or hit by debris, they choose polycarbonate lenses. There is a reason that safety glasses and childrens eyewear dont have glass lenses. Polycarbonate lens is lighter and thinner than glass, making it more comfortable to wear for long durations. There are also a limited range of colours available made from glass; for all these reasons glass is not used for sports eyewear. This post was most recently updated on June 2nd, 2020. 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 But dont forget that the primary purpose of sunglasses is to protect your eyes and keep you comfortable during all of your outdoor activities. Bear in mind that some of the links on this website are affiliate links. The CR stands for Columbia Resin which is the polymer that the material is made out of and the 39 means that there were 38 other Columbia Resins that didnt make the cut for optical lenses. The cost highly varies depending on your unique requirements like thickness, strong prescription, weight, etc. 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. Glass lenses cant be beaten. $80.00 charges for the FT poly. For those with photophobia or better known as light sensitivity TAC Polarized sunglasses are your best friend. They are produced using a slower, cast molding process similar to how regular plastic lenses are made. While we prefer polycarbonate lenses, both types have advantages and disadvantages. Polycarbonate is an excellent choice for people with a strong prescription. I never knew the difference in the material til now Polycarbonate is the go-to choice for almost all eyewear made for shatter or chip resistance. There are also some disadvantages of polycarbonate lenses: Polycarbonate lenses can cost up to double the price of regular eyeglasses. . The light . Even though its multi-layer, a TAC lens is very thin usually no more than 1.2mm. Importantly, a polarised polycarbonate lens also provides impact protection. Polycarbonate Vs High Index Lenses: Which One Triumphs For Clarity? Does it really hurt your eyes? Polycarbonate lenses were first invented in 1953, but strangely two scientists developed them one week apart despite being on opposing sides of the world. Polarising When shes not working, Dr. Huang loves reviewing new skin care products, trying interesting food recipes, or hanging with her adopted cats. You can usually find some single vision lenses for around $30 and some bifocals for $50. Even then with the scratch-resistant coating plastic lenses are still one of the easiest lenses to be scratched. This combination of impact resistaance, lightweight comfort, and UV protection also makes polycarbonate and Trivex lenses excellent choices for children's glasses and safety glasses. Photochromic lenses are available in both materials. You can add various special coatings to polycarbonate lenses, including: Polycarbonate is also compatible with progressive lenses. Thanks for sharing this informative blog. Differences between Trivex vs polycarbonate lenses. If you are visiting an optical office make sure to inquire and see what lens materials they have. Bought 2 pairs amazing lenses.. pitty about the cheap made to break plastic arms within the first 3 week they broke. You only get one pair of eyes, so use your sunglasses to protect them. These lenses are significantly more impact-resistant than other lenses and: Are noticeably lighter and thinner than regular plastic lenses, Block 100% of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. They are much more affordable than traditional polarized sunglasses because of the process TAC sunglasses use. Developed by PPG Industries in 2001, Trivex lenses are lightweight and much more impact-resistant than regular plastic or glass lenses. 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. 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