1.59 Everest Polycarbonate UV420 18 1.60 Superior MR-8 Hi-Index UV420 20 1.61 Eco Aspheric Hi-Index UV420 20 1.67 Excalibur MR-7 Aspheric Hi-Index UV420 20 2019 SEMI-FINISHED UV420 BLANKS 22 1.56 Campus Mid-Index UV420 22 1.59 Everest Polycarbonate UV420 22 1.60 Superior MR-8 Hi-Index UV420 22 1.67 Excalibur MR-7 Hi-Index UV420 22 SUN LENSES 2019 FINISHED POWER SUN LENSES 1.50 … I was told that going with polycarbonate and not HI-index lenses can damage your eyesight eventually. Plastic lens sales took off; glass crashed. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. When reviewing the table above, it’s easy to look at one line of properties, “index” for example and let that suggest the best lens material for all patients or prescriptions. Essilor’s polycarbonate lenses are 20% thinner, 30% lighter, and 12x more impact resistant than standard plastic lenses. We’re here to help. First, I think it’s important to know about those companies behind the scenes who spend vigorously to research and develop lens material monomers and the many ways they have improved our ability to serve the eyeglass wearing public. The VisionWatch survey results confirm that patient satisfaction is improved since consumers request these benefits. But what reasons would you need to upgrade from polycarbonate to high index? That is no longer the case. Thanks so much for your knowledge! Promote lenses and talk about the material from which they are made, that’s differentiable. That also means use of index matched hard and AR coats. However, thinner lenses won’t necessarily mean they will weigh less. When we are talking about the index of lenses, we are referring to the lens material’s ability to bend light, this is referred to as the “index of refraction.”, This index of refraction is the ratio of the speed of light traveling through air, to the light traveling through the eyeglass lens material. Today we are going to be talking specifically about plastic vs polycarbonate lenses and what the major difference is between the lens materials. Later in 2017, Mitsui Chemicals will expand a new SunSensors product lineup based on the MR series in refractive indices of 1.60 and 1.67 in addition to the conventional 1.50 and 1.55 SunSensors refractive index. Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated. I just got new glasses and frames (titanium). Patients will appreciate the value of your care and concern when high-index lenses are used and their benefits are clearly defined. Photochromic lenses made of glass or polycarbonate darken on exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Do You Have To Get Polycarbonate or High-Index Lenses? Trivex NXT lenses, however, are composed of a urethane-based monomer and are made from a proprietary process which means … Hi Christine, thanks for stopping by! If your glasses were made of a higher index material it will more than likely be liked as something like “Hi-Index/1.67” or “Hi-Index/1.74”. Improved prescription clarity over the entire lens, using free-form techniques, makes for better eyewear. Anyone who wears glasses knows the difficulty of certain activities is increased because you must keep your glasses on your face while active. First, lens scratch and abrasion resistance is improved. Plastic Vs Polycarbonate Lenses- Which One Is Better? Having anti-reflective coating on your lenses not only drastically reduces the reflection of your lenses, but could provide you with better clarity and sharper vision for your nighttime driving. The polycarbonate lens is an upgraded option. Ophthalmic lenses are sold under lens manufacturer brands. If you go through them to make a purchase we will earn a commission at no extra cost to you but helps support our website. I loved the Crizal which made things clearer at night and I just want to get things right the first time around. And there are many series of finished stock lenses where index has been combined with asphericity, double asphericity, index matched coatings, AR and photochromics. The lenses produced had internal debris (fines and carbon specks), lenses were yellowed and that required a bluing agent to make them appear grey. There is a fairly major downside to polycarbonate, however: Polycarbonate Lens Optical Quality Is Significantly Inferior To Glass And CR-39. I’ve often seen a question about this on the optometry and optician online forums with some participants speculating a problem with the Abbe of the material. Below you will find a breakdown of each material so next time you make your eyewear purchase you can make an informed decision between polycarbonate vs high-index lenses. If you're going to be racing, hiking, or running, you don't want to feel the sunglasses on your face. The thinnest edge is determined by lens shape for the frame chosen and the angle of the effective diameter (ED is twice the longest radius). Polycarbonate lenses have had a long history of usage in other industries such as for the cockpits in fighter planes, space shuttle windshields, and astronaut helmet visors. If your office does in-office finishing, a full range of finished S/Ls are produced by a variety of lens casters in diameters, surface designs and with various treatments so that you can maximize efficiency through in-office finishing. As a result, the race between premium highindex and polycarbonate was on because the ECP and consumer really liked thinner and lighter lenses. 1.67 was quickly adopted and a go-to index for lenses with better cosmetics and comfort. This article will guide me through on the right lenses I should for. MR-10 improved the properties of MR-7 by delivering a higher transition point for heat distortion (less heat sensitive tinting). Polycarbonate lenses are 10 times more impact-resistant than ordinary plastic lenses. When talking about highindex, it’s very important to also describe the evolution of scratch and AR coatings. Full Name * Job title Company Email * Phone number * Postcode * We collect, store and use your data solely to process your request. Polycarbonate lenses also protect the eye from UV light. Hey there, You would be just fine in polycarbonate based on that prescription, but if you wanted a thinner and lighter lens then 1.67 high index is fine. While they’re not the thinnest kind of lens out there, they still retain their position as the swiss-army-knife of eyewear lenses. While the highest index makes for lenses that are almost half the edge thickness of standard plastic, all indices reduce weight by about 30 percent. That means that upon impact, the primer layer will help manage a crack that may be propagating through the lens by diverting through the coating horizontally rather than vertically and slowing it to a stop. High-index lenses could reflect much more light than standard plastic and glass lenses, which means if you want to be able to have the best optical clarity out of your high-index lenses you will need to add an anti-reflective coating to your lenses. Subscribe to the Print and/or Digital Magazine. In fact, it is usually possible for a customized 1.67 high-index lens using position of wear measurements to outperform an out of the envelope plastic stock lens visually as well as significantly improve cosmetics. We just purchase it in the near by shop. I need lightweight as I seem to never stop noticing the weight of glasses on my face and ears. I personally don’t wear eyeglasses although can imagine that lighter weight lenses would be much more preferable. Plus lens thinness at the center is a function of index, lens size (and shape) and the thinness wanted at the thinnest edge. Does the slash mean hi index INSTEAD of polycarbonate? Each lens caster sources the monomer components to produce a portfolio of 1.60, 1.67 and 1.74 high-index lenses. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Most lenses in glasses today are made of CR-39 plastic, or very close copies (since the material is owned by PPG). I know the PAL means progressive lenses. Weight. Then, of course there is that person who is especially sensitive to the visibility of the lens edge or how thick the lens center is and how much it magnifies. Thanks so much for sharing your opinions and thoughts about polycarbonate vs high-index lenses. If ever I do end up needing glasses I will have a little more knowledge on the lenses. Thanks for stopping by! So what should we know about the modern premium high-index lens? Ask a Plastics Expert. I have serious eye problems since baby (34 years ago haha) and I used bad contact lenses during kindergarten, heavy glass glasses that hurt my nose badly. 1.30, Abbe 41) and over time effectively replaced MR-6. This course teaches the DNA of the Mitsui MR Series of premium high-index lens materials and why they’ve become a standard by which lens material choice is measured. NeoContrast can be combined with UV+420cut for their combined benefits. Start the conversation with customers by describing the exact benefits of high-index lenses. Gr. Whenever you go to purchase your prescription glasses whether it be online at the local optical retailer you are often faced with the decision on what kind of lenses you should get. Polycarbonate lenses are ultra-durable, ultra-lightweight lenses. In higher minus prescriptions front base curves are flatter, increasing the appearance of surface reflections and in higher plus, reflections off the back can be terribly annoying. 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. Trivex has a lower specific gravity than polycarbonate, making Trivex lenses about 10 percent lighter than polycarbonate lenses. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Last, all this produces a lens that better exceeds the expectations and value assessment of the wearers and the ECP. Thank you so much for stopping by! U.S. opticians were required (as you are today) to dispense only lenses that pass a drop ball test (or can be shown by sampling to pass). The few exceptions to this are children, who need to use polycarbonate for the added impact-resistance since they are active and need the added safety. Whether that means 1.6, 1.67 or greater than 1.67 is dependent on prescription strength, frame size, PD and fitting height. The extra fee for polycarbonate lenses can be anywhere from $10 to $100. How do your choices affect the way that lens materials have been developed, and what are the questions that the lab and the manufacturer ask when choosing material offerings? In response to a demand for materials for eyeglass lenses that were lightweight and impact-resistant polycarbonate was introduced into the optical world in the 1980s. Either has advantages and disadvantages. Rimless was to become very popular through the election in 2008 when consumers and news media commented on vice president candidate Sarah Palin’s Kazuo Kawasaki eyewear. See “Blue Light Radiation, a Material Solution” at 2020mag.com/ce. Polarized lenses block out glare from the sun, enabling people to see more clearly. Hi there Paul, thanks for stopping by. In 1.50 index, that’s about 4 percent a surface or 8 percent light loss total. Each also requires an opportunity to make a profit. Add the opportunity to make larger, lighter lenses, and that allowed frame manufacturers the option of larger frames. Initial use of this very high-index material proved that the eyeglass wearing public and the ECPs who sold them appreciated the improved thinner, lighter lens opportunity. We use our best judgment and knowledge about lenses; we consult our lab and use thinness calculators to determine which material is the best solution for a patient. Cosmetically for farsighted people, it would reduce the amount of the magnified large bug-eye look that comes with having a strong farsighted prescription. Thinner and lighter-weight lenses also benefit individuals who have strong farsighted prescriptions, which are thicker in the center of the lens and can be quite heavy for strong prescriptions. What should be your considerations? Most retailers will have their high-index lenses already prepackaged with anti-reflective coating, but some you will have to purchase it separately. Always remember that lenses with a higher index of refraction are thinner, lighter, and have less distortion (thicker lenses tend to have more distortion). However, the balance of material properties has some opticians preferring one material class over another. In addition, they were half the weight of glass lenses. Sunglass Underground presents: How to Choose the Right Lens Material for Your Sunglasses. Other Concerns. As the industry standard, polycarbonate lenses are affordable and inherently UV-protected. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Luckily I’ve been wearing some comfy contact lenses since I was 11 years old, but unfortunately allergic after so many many years. I’m sure that you’ve been reading the reports about the significant increase of myopia (for example, “The Myopia Boom” at Nature.com by Elie Dolgin, March 18, 2015). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. And much like a poor quality camera lens translates into a poor quality photograph, that poly lens transfers an image … How to clean polycarbonate and high-index lenses? Notice that plastic lenses have slightly steeper base curves and are still created with 2.0 mm centers. BUT, you must keep in mind that whenever you have a strong prescription and you decide that you want to go with a lens that has a lower index of refraction such as plastic, you will be able to see, but your lenses are going to be thicker. The 1.61 high-index polymer single-vision lens provides a thinner lens for stronger prescriptions than mid- and standard-index optical lenses do. I estimate that in the practice averaging $750K in revenue, doubling high-index, which automatically increases anti-reflective lenses sold, would add about $30K in practice revenue annually. Develop a new set of words that better describes the underlying DNA of lenses and the material they're made from for customer discussions. Polycarbonate is still lighter, and can be made in higher index - meaning that a strong prescription lens can still be quite thin. At times you may be limited to what the retailer of your choice carries, but there are many options when it comes to eyewear. Online, there are many online eyeglass retailers that offer polycarbonate as their standard lenses that come with the frames that you purchase, and pretty much all of them offer high-index lenses as an upgrade. Glad you found the information helpful to you. However, as you know, that is not the case. The improvements to computing power, machine control, measuring instruments and surfacing equipment provides us an option today where the entire lens surface can be reconstructed addressing all aspects of lens power and fit. Is this true? Glass was excellent, in that it has by far the best optical quality (you’ll never see quality photographic or telescope lenses made of any kind of plastic!). Cost. That’s why your lab always wants the frame to trace when producing plus lenses. Plastic lenses were an advantage since they didn’t require a surface chemical treatment or heat tempering like glass to improve impact strength. In 1972, an impact resistance standard became a Federal requirement as FDA 21CFR801.410(c)(3). This means that choosing material for more than just index is required. This post was most recently updated on November 7th, 2019. This allows the lens to pass the blue turquoise light that affect sleep patterns while it also allows the use of traditional premium AR. Commit to produce better-looking, more protective lenses. The high impact and reduced notch sensitivity or tensile strength makes them also perfect for rimless. There is some light that is always reflected back off of the lens surface, which could cause annoying distractions, and lens flares reduce your clarity at night time. Not so—it’s a lens index mismatch with the coating index. To do this, promote thinner and lighter lenses, and talk about the material from which they are made that’s differentiable. All rights reserved. They are also more impact resistant than polycarbonate and are used in the windshield of the US Apache helicopter. Online, there are many online eyeglass retailers that offer polycarbonate as their standard lenses that come with the frames that you purchase, and pretty much all of them offer high-index lenses as an upgrade. Become an expert at understanding and using them. If you are a prescription contact lens wearer be sure to check out where the best places to buy contact lenses online. Polycarbonate lenses also provide you with protection from 100% of the harmful UV rays from the sun. Increase the index and surface reflections increase because the effect is index dependent. As a result, the race between premium highindex and polycarbonate was on because the ECP and consumer really liked thinner and lighter lenses. Where To Buy Contacts Online With Insurance Benefits, Where To Find Affordable Prescription Sunglasses Online, Where To Buy Sunglasses That Fit Over Your Prescription Glasses 2020, Zenni Glasses Review 2020 – The Most Affordable Glasses Online. In addition, heat resistance for tinting capability was also significantly improved. There are no barriers to using high-index. Our extensive range of single vision stock lenses includes a full range of plastic, Transitions, Hi-Index, Polycarbonate and more. Glasses become a burden if you are … With your prescription and this frame, I recommend...” Or, “For lenses that correct nearsightedness (or farsightedness) and look great too, we use...” And last one, “We start with thinner, lighter and more protective lenses for all of our patients. Hope that answers your question. Mitsui Chemicals is the world’s majority producer of high-index lens monomers for the lens casters that your lab uses regularly. That is absolutely not true, there is no reason why polycarbonate would be damaging to your eyes in any way. I am glad you found the information helpful! Print. Whenever you have thicker lenses, this creates more optical distortion in your lenses, which leads to unwanted eyestrain and becomes more bothersome the longer you wear those glasses. … The evolution of non-glass spectacle lenses has its roots in the 1940s with the invention of CR-39 monomer as a liner for B-17 bomber fuel tanks. Beginning in 2003 to 2004, free-form as a calculation method and processing technique was becoming more widespread. Facebook Twitter Google+ Email. What are the other things we need to know about the MR Series of high-index lenses? UV+420cut: The MR UV+420cut monomer creates a lens to absorb blue light radiation inherent in the material. Take a look at the video below to hear an explanation of what polycarbonate lenses are by FramesDirect. 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