Darrell M. Sipe Opticians and Hearing Aids

Selecting a new pair of eyeglasses can be a daunting task, but the importance of choosing the right pair goes far beyond the frame selection.  The most important part of your glasses are of course the lenses, but different lens materials can make the difference between seeing well and struggling with your new prescription.  The most popular lens material is CR39 plastic.  This lens material is relatively safe (for impact resistance), has great optic characteristics, and fits most budgets.  Polycarbonate lenses are also widely used and boast impact resistance as their top quality.  The optics can be a little less sharp than CR39, but in most cases the wearer has no issues.  Polycarbonate lenses can be ground a little thinner, which helps to reduce overall lens thickness and the weight of the glasses.   For those eyeglass wearers with a strong prescription, Hi-index lenses may be the best option.  They allow for the thinnest finished lenses and great optics, but they are softer than the other materials and can scratch easily.  Hi-index lenses should always be paired with a good scratch coat or an anti-reflective coating that acts dually as a scratch guard.  Trivex is another material that is sometimes used for eyeglass lenses.  Its an impact resistant lens material with slightly better optical clarity than polycarbonate lenses, but the availability is limited and may not be an option for your particular prescription.   Older eyeglass wearers will often inquire about glass lenses.  However, they are harder to scratch and up until recently they were the most used lenses for eyeglasses.  They are no longer a viable option.  They are not safe, because they can shatter, and the availability is extremely limited.  Even if available, expect pricing to be double or triple that of more advanced lens materials.  When selecting your new glasses, make sure to ask about what lens material works best for your prescription.  While frame styles are important, what you put inside of them will make all the difference.  Your local optician or our professionals at Darrell M. Sipe Opticians and Hearing Aids can assist you today! This article was submitted by Ryan Oberholtzer, Hearing Instrument Specialist with Darrell M. Sipe Opticians and Hearing Aids.