Cheapest Lens

Today, eyeglass lens are made of a wide range of materials, although that wasn't always the case. Many years ago, eyeglasses lens were made entirely of glass, leaving many disadvantages for individuals with poor eyesight and eye conditions. Thankfully, plastic lens became available in the 1940's and eyeglass lens materials today range from glass to plastic to polycarbonates.

Plastic is by far the most popular material to use for eyeglass lens, accounting for about half of glasses today. They have a number of benefits, including affordability and very good optical clarity. They can also be tinted easily for use as prescription sunglass shades. The main downside of plastic eyeglass lens is their thickness, making them a bad choice for high prescription powers. Still, it's easy to see why plastic eyeglass lens cover most of the market.

Glass, once the only option available, is still used today. It remains a great choice for good optics and is very scratch resistant. It's also more affordable than other options, although the glasses will be heavy. Glass provides the best field of clear vision and requires no coating to improve its scratch-resistant quality. Unfortunately, like plastic, glass lens are quite thick and heavy and are only used for low prescription strengths.

High index plastics are another common option for eyeglass lens materials, giving the best option for thin and easy to work with lenses. High index plastic lenses are up to 65% thinner than normal plastic lenses, depending on the refractive index. The thinner they are, the more expensive they are. A great benefit that can be achieved from these lenses is they are 100% UV protective, giving the owner powerful protection from harmful sun rays. They also come with anti-reflective (AR) coating that improves their appearance and use.

 

High index glass, on the other hand, is twice the weight of high index plastic and can break quite easily. Although these lenses have very good scratch resistance, they account for less than 2% of eyeglass lenses sold in the United States because of their downfalls. All of the benefits that can be achieved from high index glass can be found in other choices.

Lastly, polycarbonate lenses, the second most popular material in the United States, is a great choice for safe and light eyeglasses. They have ten times the impact resistance of normal plastic lenses and can be used in safety glasses and sports goggles because of their strength. They're even recommended for children's eyeglasses because of their safety and quality. Polycarbonate eyeglasses, while the most expensive choice, offer 100% protection from UV rays and are 40% thinner and 30% lighter than normal plastic eyeglass lenses.