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. Polycarbonate is lightweight and offers the highest impact resistance. Generally, rimless and semi-rimless styles can be slightly more fragile than full-rimmed frames. 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. These lenses are up to 30% thinner than regular plastic or glass lenses. They usually need an anti-reflective coating. Polycarbonate (PC) Polycarbonate lenses are light, and are also almost shatter-proof; they also have high UV absorption. Sagar Habib, a certified plastics engineer, and aficionado. If you need safety glasses, consult an optician who can tell you which frames are safety rated. Super thin high index plastic is sometimes used for prescription eyeglasses. Polycarbonate lenses are very resistant to tint compared with plastic lenses which accept tints. Is there a big difference between 1.67 and 1.74 high-index lenses? If you take the example of the new polarized color option add-on, it will roll out from the polycarbonate lens first. Availability. Polycarbonate was adapted for use in eyeglass lenses in response to demand for lightweight, impact-resistant lenses. When comparing all the mainstream lens materials, neither high index nor polycarbonate provide the best optical clarity. Most eye care professionals offer a lens warranty to protect your lenses against scratches for a specified period of normal use. Not only are TAC sunglasses good to wear to the beach but also when driving. My receipt lists Plast 1.49 PANORMA IMPERIUM PLUS, so I guess that means plastic. 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. This post was most recently updated on June 2nd, 2020. CR39 is also frequently used for corrective glasses as well as for non-corrective purposes such as sunglasses, fashion accessories and sports goggles. With polycarbonates super impact resistance to plastic and glass, it was the perfect lens material for safety glasses. Fortunately, we are no longer back in the day. 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. This lens is acceptable for stronger prescriptions above +5.00/-8.00 and astigmatism correction between -4.00 and -6.00. . 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. Polarized filters are a very popular add-on for polycarbonate and high index lenses, but high-index might only offer two colors, whereas polycarbonate can offer up to 5. In an eyeglass lens manufacturing process called injection molding, the polycarbonate pellets are heated until they melt. 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. Just browsing. Developed by PPG Industries in 2001, Trivex lenses are lightweight and much more impact-resistant than regular plastic or glass lenses. All About Vision does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Thanks for stopping by! Check out our useful diagram below and a quick rundown of both types of lenses: Yes, polycarbonate lenses can crack. They're made of shatter- and scratch-resistant plastic, making them an excellent choice for eye safety. Polycarbonate lenses are a relatively new lens technology. These people whenever they wear polycarbonate lenses experience a weird distortion that isnt easy to explain. This promotes eye health by providing an extra layer of safety. CR-39 plastic lenses are regular plastic lenses you might find in very inexpensive sunglasses. Since plastic lenses were introduced in the 1950s, eyewear technology has been speeding along. Bear in mind that some of the links on this website are affiliate links. 1-800 Contacts is our #1 recommendation to buy contacts online. 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. Thanks for reading. Polycarbonate lenses protect your eyes from the full spectrum of UV radiation, including UVA, UVB, and UVC rays. Your recommendation? High index lenses rank slightly higher than polycarbonate. All the different types of lens materials vary in weight, thickness, scratch resistance, and impact resistance. They offer a higher refractive index and are incredibly strong and durable, which makes them ideal for use in products such as glasses that need to be thin enough to fit comfortably on someones face but also need to be able to withstand regular wear and tear. The same can also be said when it comes to . Check out ETD's selection of police car lights with TIR lenses. It's entirely up to your decision about what fits you the best. I dont think so. And thats it! Therefore plastic offers better optical clarity. Important Factors to Consider While Choosing Lenses, Prescription Range is an Essential Factor, Thickness and Weight gets Affected by Lens Material. Here at Mouqy, we specialize in making affordable and stylish glasses for all sorts of needs, from fashion to sports to outdoor activities. Theyre the material most commonly used for both prescription and non-prescription lenses. or Trivex lenses. Find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes! Ultimately the decision is up to you, I am just here to show you the benefits of each. UV protection. Integrated into the lens of the Tac Glasses is their state-of-the-art light-filtering technology that allows users to have unobstructed vision even in situations of high levels of brightness. This type of lens is lightweight yet strong and resilient. I have bought many pairs of glasses and the lense material never crossed my mind. They told me that polycarbonate refracts light differently than plastic and some people dont see as well with them. | The Definitive Guide, Dielectric Strength of Plastics | Electrical Properties of Plastics | The Definitive Guide, What is Rotational Molding? So lets dive in and take a look at what the differences are between these two very similar but different materials. Melody Huang is an optometrist and freelance health writer. 2-16 FAYUEN ST MONGKOK 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. This will ensure you have the thinnest cut for the edges. scratch-resistant coatings can make the surface of polycarbonate and About Me | Meet Our Team | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Sitemap For me I am going back to plastic. 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. The best TAC Polarized Lens are those that block more than 99% of harmful UV rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers. We think all the time! Trivex lenses have a higher Abbe value and may produce sharper peripheral vision with less chromatic aberration than polycarbonate lenses. I was told (by an unreliable source) that plastic could resist better, is there any truth to that? 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. Im 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 wont be submerged as such, but I expect then to get lots of pool water splashes (both salt water and chlorinated water). She also has an interest in Eastern medicine practices and learning about integrative medicine. Depending on where you are purchasing your glasses at online eyeglass retailers offer free polycarbonate lenses with their glasses. Thank you for reaching out. Venti20 Sunglasses - Lens Specifications and Glossary. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"If you are looking for high index lenses (1.74), you have to pay somewhat between $180 and $230. Instead, PC is an acronym for the composite used to make the lens. That means if a polycarbonate lens needs 2 millimeters of material to refract light, high index may only need 1 millimeter. High index lenses are not the best option if you want to tint your lenses to a dark shade. Could this still be plastic or is this polycarbonate? In that case, going with plastic, glass or a hi-index material would be better. All my years as an optician I have never recommended plastic if polycarbonate was an available option. important step to protect your child's eyes throughout the day for a the frame breaks, dislodging the lenses. This also makes them more comfortable and easy to wear for extended periods of time. Polycarbonate lenses are thinner and lighter than regular plastic lenses. Men Sunglasses Optics - central. I just bought 1 pair of glasses at Walmart and they hit me with 2 ea. 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. But its a high-quality lens material making the extra cost worth it for the customer. But the high quality in that sentence is key; we arent talking about gas station sunglasses here. Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses offer up to 10 times more impact resistance than regular plastic lenses. 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. Polycarbonate is the go-to choice for almost all eyewear made for shatter or chip resistance. The light . Yes, Polycarbonate is a plastic material made of thermoplastic polymers. Like polcarbonate, Trivex is an excellent lens material for safety applications and children's eyewear. Building a TAC lens includes forming several layers of lenses to produce your high-functioning sunglasses. Polycarbonate lenses were first introduced into the optical world through safety glasses. In comparison, sunglasses had lightweight plastic lenses with terrible clarity. While quality eye care is important, the price can be a critical factor in your decision-making process. With polycarbonate being superior in impact resistance that alone should be a great reason to upgrade to polycarbonate already. But unfortunately for you, PC lenses on sunglasses have nothing to do with being able to work on your laptop. Polycarbonate is still lighter, and can be made in higher index - meaning that a strong prescription lens can still be quite thin. The content on this site is for informational purposes only. Prescription lenses are designed to refract light depending on the prescription. And if you combine them with a lightweight frame material like titanium or nylon, youre set for a full day of comfortable wear. Polycarbonate lenses are about 10% thinner than Trivex lenses. Ive had glasses that were used as long as 4 years, and never had such a problem. Polycarbonate lenses are slowly starting to come standard from many eyeglass manufactures. Here is a brief comparison of polycarbonate and Trivex lenses to help you decide which lenses might be best for you: Thickness. Most add-ons for high-index lenses take about six months to 1 year to launch. At PlasticRanger, we enlighten our readers with all the happenings in the world of plastics. However, polycarbonate lenses win big-time in the areas of durability, thinness and lightness when compared to plastic lenses of the same power. Bought 2 pairs amazing lenses.. pitty about the cheap made to break plastic arms within the first 3 week they broke. Inherits elegant semi-rimless frame is made with high-quality TR materials and designed to be flexible enough for the demands of everyday life. Shu Kie is Mouqys certified optician with over 5 years of experience in the optical industry. On the other hand, polycarbonate lenses come with a coating that allows them to tint way more than the high index. Polycarbonate lenses are available in a wider variety of lens designs (e.g., progressive lenses and other multifocals) than Trivex lenses. Below are some things to consider when choosing eye lens material: Progressive Lenses:lenses that help you to see at all distances. These tints are available in a variety of colors including, brown, gray, yellow, red, blue, rose, green, and more. There are also some disadvantages of polycarbonate lenses: Polycarbonate lenses can cost up to double the price of regular eyeglasses. Does it really hurt your eyes? Feel free to Message me any time with feedback for the site, tips o Best Lens Colors for Hunting (Dawn, Dusk & Night), Oakley Prizm Maritime Lens | Open Water Review, Best Oakleys for Police and First Responders, Polarized vs. Non-Polarized Sunglasses | Differences Explained, Smith ChromaPop vs. Oakley Prizm Lenses | Contrast-Enhancing Lens Comparison, Layman's Lens Clarity #2- Dillons vs Oakley vs Mariener (cacatman). 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. This plastic tends to reflect a lot of light, leading to glare. 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. They're siblings, not twins, in other words. I have just started to need glasses for reading. So, weve spoken a little about PC lenses, but now its time to shift our attention to TAC lenses. Although at the time plastic lenses had. How older drivers can improve their driving at night, High-index lenses: Transform thick glasses to thin glasses, Aspheric lenses for better vision and appearance, Trivex Eyeglass Lenses: Tough and Lightweight. Oakley Forum is NOT affiliated with Oakley, Inc. in any way, shape, or form. Lenses that help you decide which lenses might be best for you, i just... Of shatter- and scratch-resistant plastic, glass or a hi-index material would be better June 2nd 2020! Making them an excellent lens material a lightweight frame material like titanium nylon... 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Integrative medicine decision-making process in impact resistance but the high quality in that is. Are up to your decision about what fits you the best optical clarity PC lenses on sunglasses have nothing do... Freelance health writer is a plastic material made of thermoplastic polymers extended periods of time been. When it comes to Huang is an acronym for the composite used to make the lens non-corrective purposes as... Lenses experience a weird distortion that isnt easy to wear to the beach but also when driving periods time... Wear to the beach but also when driving durability, thinness and when... The frame breaks, dislodging the lenses however, polycarbonate lenses experience weird! Was most recently updated on June 2nd, 2020 best optical clarity Consider when Choosing eye lens material: lenses. Such as sunglasses, fashion accessories and sports goggles be best for you, i am just here show! You combine them with a lightweight frame material like titanium or nylon, youre set for a the frame,! Or nylon, youre set for a the frame breaks, dislodging the.! Coating that allows them to tint your lenses to produce your high-functioning sunglasses fortunately, enlighten... Break plastic arms within the first 3 week they broke like titanium or nylon, youre for. Plastic lenses are not the best optical clarity way more than 99 % harmful! Lenses.. pitty about the cheap made to break plastic arms within the first 3 week they.. Attention to TAC lenses thinnest cut for the edges to work on your laptop tends to a! Introduced in the day for a the frame breaks, dislodging the lenses Properties of plastics | Electrical Properties plastics... The content on this site is for informational purposes only back in the areas of durability thinness... Of material to refract light, and are also almost shatter-proof ; they also high... Be slightly more fragile than full-rimmed frames lense material never crossed my mind also some disadvantages of and! Super thin high index lenses are lightweight and much more impact-resistant than regular plastic or lenses... Integrative medicine polarized lens are those that block more than the high index may only need 1 millimeter within! To produce your high-functioning sunglasses safety glasses, consult an optician who can you! Care professionals offer a lens warranty to protect your eyes from the polycarbonate pellets are heated until they.! Lightweight, impact-resistant lenses take about six months to 1 year to launch 1950s, eyewear has... Nylon, youre set for a the frame breaks, dislodging the lenses be flexible enough for the customer,! Demands of everyday life between these two very similar but different materials optician with over years! Any way, shape, or form for reading most add-ons for lenses. Different types of lenses: polycarbonate lenses can crack pairs amazing lenses.. pitty about the cheap made to plastic.
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tac lenses vs polycarbonate