JAN 08

High Index Eyeglasses Offer More Than Just Aesthetic Appeal

Anyone who wears glasses with a high prescription lenses has probably had the dreaded coke bottle moment at the eye doctor. The moment you hear that large number rattled off for your prescription, you instantly pictured super thick glasses that make your eyes look like your eyes look 3 times their normal size. For those who grew up in the 1980s or earlier, the appeal of thinner high index eyeglass lenses is instant, but high index lenses have so much more to offer than just a better aesthetic appeal than traditional lenses. What are the advantages of high index plastic eyeglass lenses?

First, the most commonly sighted appeal is the ability to have a thinner lens for a higher prescription. The refractive index of a lens refers to its ability to bend light efficiently. The higher the value of the index, the less material is required to efficiently bend light. Therefore, a 1.74 high index lens will generally be thinner than a 1.67 lens for the same prescription. Many people report that the ability to avoid thicker lenses creates a more attractive profile when wearing their glasses and increases their confidence.

Furthermore, high index lenses are quite a bit lighter than glass, polycarbonate, or standard plastic lenses. The additional weight of standard lenses often causes them to slip down on the nose, leading one to constantly adjust their glasses in order to maintain optimum comfort and eyesight. Lighter weight lenses eliminate this problem and allow wearers to focus on their day not their glasses.

Have you ever looked at someone wearing glasses and thought their eyes are tiny or the opposite? The wearers eyes look huge, almost bug like? This unattractive phenomenon occurs when the eyeglass lens causes a visual distortion of the eyes. Farsighted prescriptions made from glass lens use a convex lens that allows the image a wearer is looking at to appear closer allowing the eye to focus properly. In turn, this can alter the appearance of the person wearing them causing their eyes to look bigger than normal. On the other hand, nearsighted lens make use of concave lens that performs the opposite function and causes the eyes to appear smaller. High index lenses eliminate this problem by reducing the amount of magnification or minimization that occurs.

In addition, high index lenses are designed to help reduce the amount of scratches that occur on your eyeglasses. The density of high index lenses is much higher than standard index lenses. Because of this, they are harder to scratch. However, it is important to note that high index plastic lenses are much more durable than high index glass lenses. The high density of the glass lenses causes them to be extremely brittle meaning even the slightest drop can cause them to crack or shatter. It is highly recommended to choose high index plastic lenses if your glasses are likely to see a high amount of use.

In the past, many eyeglass wearers have steered clear of high index lenses simply because of the extra costs associated with them. Fortunately, in recent years, the average price of high density lenses has decreased as technology continues to advance. The availability of different levels of high index lenses, such as 1.67 versus 1.74 further allows a more diverse price difference for consumers to choose from. When determining price, be sure to take into consideration additional needs such as anti-reflective coating and tinting.

For more information on high index lenses, visit our website and discuss your options with your eye doctor. With the numerous amount of lenses and frames available, you are sure to find the perfect combination to fit your prescription and style needs.

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