preview

Right Lens

Decent Essays
It's always good to have options. But what happens when there are too many? This is the situation in the eyewear industry today. There's an overwhelming number of options in frame choices, tints, coatings, and lens materials. Of these option categories, choosing the right lens material is possibly the most confusing. As you look through the pros and cons of the candidates, there's no overwhelming winner that's superior in all the qualities (including cost) that go into a good lens. How do you make an informed choice? By knowing exactly how you will use your prescription glasses and then picking the lens material with the properties that make the best match. Are the glasses intended for mostly indoor or outdoor use? Is the user an adult or a child? How meticulous is the user about taking good care of her or his prescription glasses? By answering these types of…show more content…
In fact, breaking a thin polycarbonate lens would require bending it back and forth several times. This is the reason for its superior impact strength (about 10 times higher than CR-39) and why it's used for safety and sports glasses. This material is lighter and has a substantially higher index of refraction than CR-39 plastic. This means the lenses are thinner and lighter. Another important property is that polycarbonate naturally blocks 100% UV light. On the other hand, its optical quality is inferior to CR-39. Polycarbonate makes sense as an outdoor eyewear material. It's a good pick for sunglasses, which should have UV protection. On the other hand, CR-39 plastic would require a special UV protection coating for outdoor use. This increases its cost. The optical quality of polycarbonate is good enough for driving, walking, and other outdoor activities. Polycarbonate's lighter weight and toughness are perfect for athletic activities. However, this material is relatively soft and will require a scratch protection
Get Access