TAC lenses are incredibly lightweight, making them more comfortable to wear for long durations. Regular eyeglass frames are not rated for use as safety glasses and typically These lenses are not scratch resistant like glass, so it does need an additional scratch-resistant layer. Follow KastKing to keep up on giveaways, fishing tips and new products. It boasts the highest impact resistance of any lens material. And wearing them for long periods of time was a chore. Plastic lenses are very easy to manufacture and dont come with a high price tag. Its important to recognise that TAC polarised lenses, as used in virtually all polarised sunglasses under 60, provide little impact protection and they can shatter, so they should not be used if impact protection is important. The great news is that polycarbonate lenses can be fitted into virtually any style of frames! Polycarbonate lens is lighter and thinner than glass, making it more comfortable to wear for long durations. Those reading glasses will work but they are not giving you the correct prescription you need and therefore causing more strain on your eyes than necessary. Sunlight scatters without direction and when it hits flat surfaces, the reflected light becomes polarized, in other words, it is less scattered and more aligned. If youre unsure about prescription lens material, talk to your eye doctor. Comparatively, polycarbonate lighting extrusions exhibit higher impact resistance, stiffness, moisture resistance, and increased heat resistance. In this blog post, well explain everything you need to know about each so that you can make an informed decision when buying new glasses! the frame breaks, dislodging the lenses. Hours: 9 a.m. - 12 a.m. EST, Monday - Friday. This promotes eye health by providing an extra layer of safety. Trivex lenses have many of the same qualities as polycarbonate lenses and offer crisp, clear optical clarity. Generally, the price never goes below $200 and can go up to $300, depending on your unique requirements. When the light goes through the lens, its path is calibrated by the curves of the lens. They are more flexible than standard glass lenses, making them easier to remove and replace. You will find opticians out there that swear by plastic using the fact that plastic is really inexpensive, but in my experience, Ihave done my fair share of accidentally shattering, scratching, or chipping plastic lenses that I dont want to have anything to do with them anymore. And well discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each material, plus our final decision on which material is better. TAC lenses are the cheapest widely used lens option in sunglasses and are less clear, less scratch resistant, and less durable than Polycarbonate. Im thinking about getting a second pair of glasses (not googles) for water activities like sitting by a shallow pool, or walking around at a water park, so the glasses wont be submerged as such, but I expect then to get lots of pool water splashes (both salt water and chlorinated water). Trivex lenses about 10 percent lighter than polycarbonate lenses. TAC lenses are a specific type of polarized lens with a multi-layer composite, but more importantly, it includes the unique Triacetate Cellulose (TAC) process. Does it really hurt your eyes? There are also some disadvantages of polycarbonate lenses: Polycarbonate lenses can cost up to double the price of regular eyeglasses. Go for it. Most people cant assess color deformation at these levels. We look forward to working with you to determine the best eye surgery or nonsurgical treatment for your individual needs. Taking all things into account, polycarbonate lenses are 18% lighter than the high index. Ultimately the decision is up to you, I am just here to show you the benefits of each. The impact protection on polycarbonate is so good that both safety and sports eyewear use polycarbonate for their lenses. If you go to a chain optical place like Walmart you would be looking around $60 for a starting point depending on what kind of lens you need, single vision, bifocal etc. Join today, share your Oakley collection or even find new Oakley sunglasses for sale. Copyright 2022 VisionCenter.org. Photochromic lenses are available in both materials. Customizable lenses for your vision needs. However, I know that choosing a lens material can be a real pain in the head. The thin metal temples and silicon tips at the end of each arm provide stability, while remaining lightweight enough to be worn all day longwithout overwhelming your face. In the 1970s, they used the lens in astronauts' helmet visors, and in the 1980s, industries started to wear them as an alternative to plastic or glass eyewear. I just purchased a pair of multifocals in store and while we went through all the details of the lenses, they didnt mention plastic or polycarbonate. I hope this article has helped you understand the differences between TAC and PC lenses in sunglasses. More impact-resistant than glass but less than polycarbonate. Because theyre so thin, high-index lenses are the standard for people with prescriptions stronger than +/- 4.0. Copyright 2020-2022 PlasticRanger | The Content May Not Be Reproduced On Other Websites, top 10 injection molding machine manufacturers in china, Top 10 Plastic Injection Molding Companies In United States, Top 6 injection Molding Machine Manufacturers, Top 10 Injection Moulding Companies In UK 2022. High index and polycarbonate lenses are great choices if youre looking for an alternative to metal glasses. Polycarbonate lens didnt truly gain traction among the optical industry until more recently due to various problems with the material clarity and manufacturing. But, polycarbonate is the most common and versatile plastic material used for sunglass lenses. SEE ALSO: How To Clean Glasses Without Scratching Your Lenses! Hi Mary! 1.67 index lenses are ideal for prescriptions under +5.00/-8.00 and astigmatism correction between -3.00 and -4.00. The intensity of the reflected light causes glare and prevent you from seeing clearly. Your email address will not be published. Should you, as a normal person should, worry about Abbes value? Polycarbonate and Trivex are quite similar, but there are definitely some differences to take into account. This lens is acceptable for stronger prescriptions above +5.00/-8.00 and astigmatism correction between -4.00 and -6.00. Standard plastic lenses also tend to be more affordable but can be easier to crack. RELATED: Sunglasses for babies with polycarbonate lenses. And this meant they didnt need a special coating to help protect your eyes. Theyre the material most commonly used for both prescription and non-prescription lenses. Polycarbonate vs. Trivex lenses: A quick comparison. To start with should you get plastic or polycarbonate lenses? New frosted and unfrosted Acrylics provide diffusion levels from 92% to 60%. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much do polycarbonate lenses cost? Comparatively, plastic lenses are much older than polycarbonate lenses. Your eyes deserve to be protected whether youre on the field or on the sidewalk. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much do high-index lenses cost? Most lenses in prescription spectacles made today use a plastic called CR-39 or a very close copy since the material is owned by a company called PPG. And there are even still glass lenses out there in sunglasses! UV protection. For children's eyewear, choose a sturdy frame and lightweight polycarbonate KL, What's The Difference Between PC Lens And TAC Lens On Sunglasses. Polycarbonate lenses are available in a wider variety of lens designs (e.g., progressive lenses and other multifocals) than Trivex lenses. The fourth and fifth are UV absorbing layers that absorb over 99% ultraviolet rays. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Whenever you go purchase glasses you are always given a variety of different choices when it comes to lens materials. I just bought 1 pair of glasses at Walmart and they hit me with 2 ea. TAC lenses are a specific type of polarized lens with a multi-layer composite, but more importantly, it includes the unique Triacetate Cellulose (TAC) process. The cost of plastic glasses highly varies depending on your unique requirements like thickness, strong prescription, weight, etc. {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"Are high index lenses more expensive? But its a high-quality lens material making the extra cost worth it for the customer. If a brand you love isnt using lenses that offer impact and UV protection, make your voice heard. Ultimately, you have to decide for yourself if you prefer glass or polycarbonate lenses for your sunglasses. Lets look at the pros and cons of polycarbonate lenses. And if you combine them with a lightweight frame material like titanium or nylon, youre set for a full day of comfortable wear. Contacted as you seen on tv.co.nz . They shipped me polycarbonate 1.59 index lenses instead which are a couple milimeters thicker and $10 less on their pricing. One such type of lens was made from CR39 plastic, which is still widely used today. Both materials offer excellent impact resistance and UV protection. Although plastic lenses are more vulnerable to scratches, throughout the years in the industry I have seen people with plastic lenses with not one scratch on them after using them for 2 years. They are also available in more styles of sunglasses that cannot use glass lenses. 1.74 index lenses are the thinnest high-index lenses. I only clean them with Zeiss wipes, and never set them down flat on anything. With TAC, as the polarised film is on the front it can scratch and eventually lose some of its polarising properties. Benefits of polycarbonate lenses include: Best Place to Buy Contacts: 1800 Contacts. JavaScript is disabled. One is made with a shatter-proof polycarbonate, while the other uses a Triacetate Cellulose. Polycarbonate lenses are usually thinner and lighter than other types of lenses, which makes them ideal for people who want to wear glasses but dont want to sacrifice style for durability. Have a lovely day. Your choice of lenses is completely dependent on your vision needs. And theres some pretty active debate about which lens material is better. Polycarbonate lenses are a relatively new lens technology. Our staff have a strong passion for sun care and contribute to our blog. Even the most modern glass lens is more likely to break or shatter than a polycarbonate lens. Also known as poly, this flexible plastic was designed for use in astronaut gear. Theyre designed to withstand impact, correct vision issues and support more active lifestyles. Bought 2 pairs amazing lenses.. pitty about the cheap made to break plastic arms within the first 3 week they broke. Your recommendation? The frames tend to be less than durable, so the glasses are so cheap. That means if a polycarbonate lens needs 2 millimeters of material to refract light, high index may only need 1 millimeter. Hi Tim! Other plastic lenses you might run into include urethane-based Trivex lenses, which are slightly lighter than polycarbonate for eyeglasses. 95. . I have polycarbonate for the first time. 2000-2022 AAV Media, LLC. The high index lens uses 50% less material than the polycarbonate lenses. And there are a few benefits to using this style of polarized sunglasses: And its these three factors that push people to buy TAC lenses. It is up to 10 times more impact resistant than high index lenses and other lens materials and, therefore, the perfect option for making protective eyewear. A quality pair of prescription glasses would eliminate that strain. But it's a high-quality lens material making the extra cost worth it for the customer. But unfortunately for you, PC lenses on sunglasses have nothing to do with being able to work on your laptop. Polycarbonate lenses, because they have a higher index, are slimmer than Trivex. Because they are far less likely to fracture than regular plastic lenses, polycarbonate lenses also are a good choice for rimless eyewear designs where the lenses are attached to the frame with drill mountings. This can make them a little more suitable for sports and other outdoor activities, for those times you dont want to wear contact lenses. Plastic lenses have a higher Abbe value than polycarbonate. Plastic is much lighter than glass, making it more comfortable to wear all day and plastic lenses come in many more colours and larger sizes. Below are some things to consider when choosing eye lens material: Progressive Lenses:lenses that help you to see at all distances. High-quality polycarbonate lenses offer excellent clarity for a pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses. The CR stands for Columbia Resin which is the polymer that the material is made out of and the 39 means that there were 38 other Columbia Resins that didnt make the cut for optical lenses. Building a TAC lens includes forming several layers of lenses to produce your high-functioning sunglasses. Many people get confused about the differences. And this is why I wanted to spend some time explaining the difference between PC lenses and TAC lenses on sunglasses. Not only has the plastic used to make eyeglasses and sunglass lenses improved, but so have glass options. Is there a big difference between 1.67 and 1.74 high-index lenses? This is where polarized lenses come in handy because they have a filter specially made to block this glare. Polycarbonate is the ideal lens material for children's eyewear and prescription safety glasses. Those original opticians had it right when it came to optical clarity. It's highly impact-resistant and famous for standing up to forces that would shatter other materials. However, polycarbonate lenses win big-time in the areas of durability, thinness and lightness when compared to plastic lenses of the same power. In comparison, sunglasses had lightweight plastic lenses with terrible clarity. Polarised lenses are different to standard sunglass lenses; they have a special film which helps eliminate glare reflected off a surface like a pavement, road, water or snow. Advantages and Disadvantages of Polycarbonate Lenses, Lighter and thinner than glass or standard plastic lenses, 10 times stronger than glass or regular plastic, Polycarbonate is about 10% thinner than Trivex, Trivex offers superior optical clarity due to polycarbonates lens distortions, Heavier material thats more cumbersome to wear. Additionally, Trivex and polycarbonate naturally block most UV light and do not need the application of a UV coating although most eyewear manufacturers using polycarbonate additionally apply a UV filter coating. Any thoughts? Whether youre driving your car or walking down the street, you still want to protect your eyes. 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