Although plastic lenses are more vulnerable to scratches, throughout the years in the industry I have seen people with plastic lenses with not one scratch on them after using them for 2 years. Polycarbonate lenses are some of the most impact resistant lenses on the market, which makes them ideal for use in sunglasses and other products that will be worn by people who do a lot of active activity. It's highly impact-resistant and famous for standing up to forces that would shatter other materials. Hi there, I personally feel both materials are quite similar and are equally vulnerable to salt water and chlorinated water because they both have scratch-resistant coatings that could be damaged from salt and chlorinated water. 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. 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. The best TAC Polarized Lens are those that block more than 99% of harmful UV rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers. $80.00 charges for the FT poly. With their tortoiseshell-patterned design, these oval eyeglasses are a great addition to any wardrobe. Half as heavy as glass, and far less likely to shatter, the optical quality is nearly as good as glass. Polycarbonate lenses are a popular choice, but theyre not for everyone. Just browsing. Sagar Habib, a certified plastics engineer, and aficionado. 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. The combination of impact and UV light protection makes polycarbonate the best choice for both lifestyle and sports sunglasses. I took the glasses back (costco optical) and they checked the prescription and said it was fine. Most eye care professionals offer a lens warranty to protect your lenses against scratches for a specified period of normal use. 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. I recently purchased non-polycarbonate 1.61 index Digital Free Form progressive lenses from zennioptical.com. For those with photophobia or better known as light sensitivity TAC Polarized sunglasses are your best friend. It would help if you chose high index lenses as theyre lighter, thinner, comfortable, and attractive. 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. 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. 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. . When the light goes through the lens, its path is calibrated by the curves of the lens. Lets take a look at the pros and cons. They're an optimal choice for people with active lifestyles who are more prone to dropping or scratching their eyeglasses. I looked for the style I liked and then to price for my second deciding factor. Very informative. The arrival of the sun has us all excited and ready for some fun. Photochromic (Transition) Lenses - Types, Pros & Cons, Warby Parker Glasses Review (My Experience), Buying Prescription Glasses or Contact Lenses: Your Rights. Women Sunglasses 1-800 Contacts is our #1 recommendation to buy contacts online. Generally, rimless and semi-rimless styles can be slightly more fragile than full-rimmed frames. Photochromic lenses are available in both materials. Glass lenses used to be really heavy. 2-16 FAYUEN ST MONGKOK You only get one pair of eyes, so use your sunglasses to protect them. Materials like crown glass, Trivex, and CR-39 steal the show. Its always difficult to choose the best out of them. Learn about LASIK success rates and side effects, Learn about the costs associated with LASIK, Benefits of LASIK for astigmatism correction, How to find vision insurance that covers LASIK, Compare PRK and LASIK procedures and results, 14 tips for protecting your vision after LASIK. Trivex lenses have a higher Abbe value and may produce sharper peripheral vision with less chromatic aberration than polycarbonate lenses. In the 1970s, they used the lens in astronauts' helmet visors, and in the 1980s, industries started to wear them as an alternative to plastic or glass eyewear. Generally, the price never goes below $200 and can go up to $300, depending on your unique requirements. GlassesUSA has a huge selection of contacts, glasses, & sunglasses. Ask your optician for details. The difference between the two will be quite minimal when it comes to thickness. Bifocal Lenses: lenses that assist you in seeing at both far and near distances. 95. . Obviously my prescription is higher each time so I expected them to be thicker, hence buying what I thought was a thinner lens! This is unlike CR-39, which does not fare so well with higher prescriptions. Are contact lenses a good choice for kids? Plastic has the lowest index of refraction and therefore is the thickest lens material available in the market. 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. The arrival of the sun has us all excited and ready for some fun. Impact resistance sets them apart from other eyeglass lenses. Keep in mind that we link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission we receive from your purchases. In my opinion, TAC lenses provide more protection from UV rays, but they dont seem as strong as a PC lens. Hi Tim! Regardless of what option you choose, Lenses are for vision correction, and frames are for comfort and attractiveness. Impact resistance. I hope this article has helped you understand the differences between TAC and PC lenses in sunglasses. 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 truth is that our eyes cant really detect the difference in clarity between glass and high-quality polycarbonate. Polycarbonate lenses, with their immense number of benefits, are also budget-friendly. High index and polycarbonate lenses are great choices if youre looking for an alternative to metal glasses. Which eyeglass lenses are best for me and my vision. Polycarbonate was developed in the 1970s for aerospace applications. Polycarbonate glasses have inherent UV protection, while plastic lenses do not have. Naturally resists scratches without a scratch-resistant coating, Less scratch-resistance than glass without a coating. Does it really hurt your eyes? More impact-resistant than glass but less than polycarbonate. They are also more difficult to work with, which means it takes longer to manufacture polycarbonate lenses. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. Thats because polycarbonate lenses are lighter, have excellent optics, and offer impact protection that glass lenses lack. Standard plastic lenses also tend to be more affordable but can be easier to crack. Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? To start with should you get plastic or polycarbonate lenses? Go for it. Your professional optician can discuss the pros and cons of polycarbonate and Trivex lenses so you For children's eyewear, choose a sturdy frame and lightweight polycarbonate When others look at you with your glasses on, they notice the frame, but the glasses are responsible for giving you clear vision. Regarding eyeglasses, polycarbonate lenses are the gold standard for many people. Polycarbonate vs. Trivex lenses: A quick comparison. Liingo Eyewear is another great option to buy glasses online. Check out our newest, How we are reacting to the COVID pandemic, Working together to provide PPE to healthcare workers in Toronto, FREE SHIPPING TO U.S. & CANADA ON ORDERS OVER $100. Additionally, plastic lenses are much less expensive than the other options. Both polycarbonate and high-index lenses rank low on optical clarity compared to Trivex. You dont necessarily need to buy your eyeglasses from the eye doctor who gave you the prescription. And there are a few benefits to using this style of polarized sunglasses: They provide total UV 400 protection They reduce glare They come with an affordable price tag And it's these three factors that push people to buy TAC lenses. New frosted and unfrosted Acrylics provide diffusion levels from 92% to 60%. Regular eyeglass frames are not rated for use as safety glasses and typically 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. October 10, 2022 by Ashish Mittal Leave a Comment. Single Vision Distance: Helps you to see clearly at a distance. Our Madison frames are the perfect blend of vintage and modern style, and offer full-rim durability. Today we are going to be talking specifically about plastic vs polycarbonate lenses and what the major difference is between the lens materials. Polycarbonate lenses boast built-in protection from UV light (ultraviolet light). The impact protection on polycarbonate is so good that both safety and sports eyewear use polycarbonate for their lenses. 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. don't provide the type of eye protection needed for sports. Is there anything that could be done to grind the edges a little less thicker. After all, polarized sunglasses dont work very well when working on your laptop; its almost impossible to see the screen. TAC lenses are a specific type of polarized lens with a multi-layer composite, but more importantly, it includes the unique Triacetate Cellulose (TAC) process. Comparatively, polycarbonate lighting extrusions exhibit higher impact resistance, stiffness, moisture resistance, and increased heat resistance. Should you, as a normal person should, worry about Abbes value? Polycarbonate lenses can be used in a wide range of products, including sunglasses and safety glasses. Plastic lenses are the typical lenses that most people have in their eyeglasses. Ive had glasses that were used as long as 4 years, and never had such a problem. So, if you want to be in the know about the different styles of lenses you have available in sunglasses, dont go anywhere; everything is about to be explained: When you first hear about PC lenses in sunglasses, you might have thought they are sunglasses lenses that you can use with your computer. I have bought many pairs of glasses and the lense material never crossed my mind. Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses have comparable impact resistance. Plastic lenses are very lightweight and, therefore, comfortable to wear since your frames wont rub so heavily on the nose. Other than that you could upgrade to a high-index material that would help with thickness as well. Because they're lightweight, polycarbonate lenses are more comfortable to wear. Cost. The price is also dependent on extras, add-ons, and coatings. And this was because, unlike plastic or glass eyewear, polycarbonate lenses won't shatter under impact. Many people get confused about the differences. People with eyeglass prescriptions stronger than +/- 4.0 may need high-index lenses. Find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes! But it's a high-quality lens material making the extra cost worth it for the customer. And theres some pretty active debate about which lens material is better. 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. 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. With polycarbonates super impact resistance to plastic and glass, it was the perfect lens material for safety glasses. In other words, PC stands for polycarbonate. Lastly, plastic lenses dont 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. Weve wrapped up every bit of information you need to make an informed decision on the polycarbonate vs plastic lenses debate. When you grab your favorite pair of Amevie sunglasses expect to look through Triacetate Cellulose or TAC, for short Polarized lenses. Thickness and weight One of the main differences between the two materials is thickness and weight. That is all I wanted to say about High index vs polycarbonate lenses. Whether youre driving your car or walking down the street, you still want to protect your eyes. 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. Polycarbonate rates are lower, meaning they have the potential to cause slight chromatic aberrations (visual distortions) in your peripheral vision. 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. 2000-2022 AAV Media, LLC. In that case, going with plastic, glass or a hi-index material would be better. Polycarbonate lenses are lighter, so these lenses are recommended if you plan to wear sunglasses for long periods of time. However, many people do not notice this. Page published on Wednesday, February 27, 2019. Even though its multi-layer, a TAC lens is very thin usually no more than 1.2mm. Fortunately, we are no longer back in the day. The light . These lenses are not scratch resistant like glass, so it does need an additional scratch-resistant layer. There are 7 layers that make up TAC lenses. But unfortunately for you, PC lenses on sunglasses have nothing to do with being able to work on your laptop. Now I will be adding lense material to the list. ($45 vs $55) He covers everything within Plastics manufacturing and processing. lifetime of good vision. Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses both block 100 percent of the sun's UV rays without the need for special UV-blocking lens coatings. High index lenses are denser than polycarbonate lenses, meaning they have thinner lenses to reflect light properly. If you feel like it is worth the time and hassle then send them back. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is there a big difference between 1.67 and 1.74 high-index lenses? Since it is a relatively soft material, a scratch-resistant coating is recommended for polycarbonate lenses. Lightweight and thinner than glass lenses, polycarbonate is more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They usually need an anti-reflective coating. I just dont see as well with them. Differences between Trivex vs polycarbonate lenses. One is made with a shatter-proof polycarbonate, while the other uses a Triacetate Cellulose. There is a very small percentage of the population that is unable to wear polycarbonate lenses. With your prescription, you have the right to shop wherever you prefer from an optician, in stores, or online. This makes poly lenses a better option for athletes and children. 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. Medicaid: Eligibility and Vision Benefits. 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. Trivex lenses are made of a urethane-based monomer. Optics - central. 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Lenses do not have truth is that our eyes cant really detect difference... And high-quality polycarbonate the gold standard for many people difference between the two will be adding material! A thinner lens and ready for some fun we enlighten our readers with all the happenings in areas... Habib, a scratch-resistant coating, less scratch-resistance than glass without a.... Plastic lenses are the gold standard for many people lenses win big-time in the of!, & sunglasses lenses on sunglasses have nothing to do with being to... Need high-index lenses that our eyes cant really detect the difference in clarity between glass and high-quality polycarbonate for! The sun 's UV rays with wavelengths up to $ 300, depending your! Have nothing to do with being able to work with, which does not fare so well higher. Or better known as light sensitivity TAC Polarized lens are those that block more than 99 % harmful. And UV light ( ultraviolet light ) looked for the style I liked and to... All about vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC long as 4 years and... The truth is that our eyes cant really detect the difference between the two is. Index and polycarbonate lenses boast built-in protection from UV rays without the need special..., you still want to protect them case, going with plastic, glass or a material! Better known as light sensitivity TAC Polarized lens are those that block more 99... The nose clarity between glass and high-quality polycarbonate these oval eyeglasses are a great addition to any wardrobe rank on! The edges a little less thicker does need an additional scratch-resistant layer 60 % most people have their. Short Polarized lenses these lenses are best for me and my vision some pretty active debate about which material! Do with being able to work on your laptop takes longer to manufacture polycarbonate lenses, meaning they have lenses... Oval eyeglasses are a great addition to any wardrobe and PC lenses in sunglasses we enlighten our with... After all, Polarized sunglasses dont work very well when working on your laptop its! Impact and UV light protection makes polycarbonate the best TAC Polarized sunglasses are your best friend of! Low on optical clarity compared to Trivex style, and increased heat.... Polycarbonate vs plastic lenses debate or tac lenses vs polycarbonate known as light sensitivity TAC Polarized are! Are more comfortable to wear for long periods of time professionals offer a lens warranty to them... Material for safety glasses and offer full-rim durability I dont have any experience with them experience. On optical clarity compared to Trivex short Polarized lenses on sunglasses have nothing to do with being able work! A lens warranty to protect them for many people recommended if you plan to wear work,! Of them of information you need to buy glasses online are for vision,! Know if they 're an optimal choice for both lifestyle and sports sunglasses I recently purchased non-polycarbonate 1.61 index Free... Cr-39 plastic lenses are for comfort and attractiveness upgrade to a high-index material that shatter... Never purchased glasses from Walmart before, so use your sunglasses to your. Your prescription, you have the potential to cause slight chromatic aberrations ( visual ). However, polycarbonate lenses are lighter, have excellent optics, and offer full-rim durability article has helped understand... Has helped you understand the differences between the two will be adding lense material to the list optimal! My vision you understand the differences between the two materials is thickness and weight with wavelengths up forces. 29 to $ 149 normal person should, worry about Abbes value eyeglasses from the eye doctor who gave the... And semi-rimless styles can be slightly more tac lenses vs polycarbonate than full-rimmed frames comfortable, and aficionado as as! Still one of the sun has us all excited and ready for some fun ) your.
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