Our classic tortoise shell Zen glasses are a great choice for those who want to add sophistication and style to their wardrobe. If you are a prescription contact lens wearer be sure to check out where the best places to buy contact lenses online are, coupons & promo codes are available. A quality pair of prescription glasses would eliminate that strain. There are 7 layers that make up TAC lenses. Thickness and weight One of the main differences between the two materials is thickness and weight. Both options have their pros and cons. Benefits of polycarbonate lenses include: Best Place to Buy Contacts: 1800 Contacts. It boasts the highest impact resistance of any lens material. The cost highly varies depending on your unique requirements like thickness, strong prescription, weight, etc. Okay, so you know a little bit about the sunglasses and the advantages and disadvantages, but what are the differences between the two? Lower priced polarised sunglasses use a multi-layer material called TAC (Triacetate) with the front layer being the polarised film. Glass lenses cant be beaten. For the best eye protection at work and during sports, be sure you also I dont think so. Both polycarbonate and high-index lenses rank low on optical clarity compared to Trivex. It is lightweight and more impact and shatter-resistant than glass or lower quality plastic lens materials. With your prescription, you have the right to shop wherever you prefer from an optician, in stores, or online. They lst longer than other brands thanks to the additional layers protecting the sunglasses from drops, scratches, and shocks. Created this site because of the lack of a place for the Oakley Community to talk. Were going to look at the differences between todays plastic and glass lenses. Lets take a look at the pros and cons. However, there are some differences: High-index lenses are denser than polycarbonate, which makes them thinner. Venti20 Sunglasses - Lens Specifications and Glossary. You can look great and be safer with the right lenses. High index lens density doesnt allow it to be tinted to more than anything more than a light shadow. But dont forget that the primary purpose of sunglasses is to protect your eyes and keep you comfortable during all of your outdoor activities. Polycarbonate lenses are more expensive than other types of plastic, and so, polycarbonate lenses tend to require a larger budget. Polycarbonate is the ideal lens material for children's eyewear and prescription safety glasses. 2000-2022 AAV Media, LLC. These lenses are up to 30% thinner than regular plastic or glass lenses. This makes poly lenses a better option for athletes and children. This is unlike CR-39, which does not fare so well with higher prescriptions. The high index lens uses 50% less material than the polycarbonate lenses. The liquid lens material is slowly baked untill it sets. When plastic lenses first came into the market their main competitor was glass lenses, therefore, one of the major benefits of picking plastic over glass was the fact that the lenses were a lot lighter and far safer by being more impact resistant than glass. They are more flexible than standard glass lenses, making them easier to remove and replace. Triacetate (TAC) TAC lenses are light and thin, they are also tough and flexible. Trivex lenses nearly as hard as glass. Prescription lenses are designed to refract light depending on the prescription. The cost of polycarbonate and Trivex lenses can vary considerably, but many optical stores charge more for Trivex lenses than polycarbonate lenses. When you grab your favorite pair of Amevie sunglasses expect to look through Triacetate Cellulose or TAC, for short Polarized lenses. This lens is acceptable for stronger prescriptions above +5.00/-8.00 and astigmatism correction between -4.00 and -6.00. They're siblings, not twins, in other words. But the high quality in that sentence is key; we arent talking about gas station sunglasses here. Polycarbonate lenses are slowly starting to come standard from many eyeglass manufactures. Here are some of the standouts of polycarbonate lenses: Polycarbonate is one of the most impact-resistant types of eyeglass lenses. Rest assured, all of our sunglasses feature UV400 TAC Polarized lenses that were manufactured using a 7 layer process in accordance with the international sunglass lens standard. Polycarbonate lenses are designed for strength, yet theyre thin and lightweight. Youre unlikely to find more durable eyewear lenses. The question is, why are they good, and what do you need to know about them. Check out our newest, How we are reacting to the COVID pandemic, Working together to provide PPE to healthcare workers in Toronto, FREE SHIPPING TO U.S. & CANADA ON ORDERS OVER $100. The last two layers, are shock proof layers that increase impact and scratch resistance. You dont necessarily need to buy your eyeglasses from the eye doctor who gave you the prescription. All About Vision does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Support the site and become a premium member today! Polycarbonate lenses are available in a wider variety of lens designs (e.g., progressive lenses and other multifocals) than Trivex lenses. | The Definitive Guide, UHMW Vs Delrin: A Comprehensive Comparison, 7 Best UV Resistant Plastics For Outdoor Applications, Copyright 2020-2022 PlasticRanger | The Content May Not Be Reproduced On Other Websites, Optimum for people with farsighted prescriptions. When eye safety is a concern, polycarbonate or Trivex lenses usually are the best choice for your eyeglasses, sunglasses and sports eyewear. Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses are much more impact-resistant than regular glass and plastic lenses (including other high-index lenses) because these lightweight lens materials are relatively "soft" which means they can absorb energy without lens fracturing. Polycarbonate (PC) Polycarbonate lenses are light, and are also almost shatter-proof; they also have high UV absorption. We've got a wide assortment from our Extreme Dash Light with 6 Generation IV LEDs to our Full Size 360 roof lights like the Mirage 48" TIR LED Light Bar. Materials like crown glass, Trivex, and CR-39 steal the show. All my years as an optician I have never recommended plastic if polycarbonate was an available option. For children's eyewear, choose a sturdy frame and lightweight polycarbonate Plastic lenses look the optical industry by storm when they were introduced. Triacetate Cellulose sunglasses use multiple layers; they are usually scratch proof but not shatterproof. The second and third layers of the TAC sunglasses provide strength and resistance from impact and movement. I just dont see as well with them. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Thats because Polycarbonate flexes instead of shattering when hit by an object, whether its gravel, a ball, or an elbow. This plastic tends to reflect a lot of light, leading to glare. Now I will be adding lense material to the list. Since plastic lenses were introduced in the 1950s, eyewear technology has been speeding along. There are also some disadvantages of polycarbonate lenses: Polycarbonate lenses can cost up to double the price of regular eyeglasses. Rest assured, all of our sunglasses feature UV400 TAC Polarized lenses that were manufactured using a 7 layer process in accordance with the international sunglass lens standard. Polycarbonate is the go-to choice for almost all eyewear made for shatter or chip resistance. Since the refractive index is only 1.49, these types of lenses get very thick, if you need a strong correction. Required fields are marked *. The PC lens is extremely highly resistant to impact and wont shatter. This can make them a little more suitable for sports and other outdoor activities, for those times you dont want to wear contact lenses. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How much do high-index lenses cost? It's entirely up to your decision about what fits you the best. Most people cant assess color deformation at these levels. About Me | Meet Our Team | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Sitemap Tri Acetate Cellulose (TAC) polarized lenses feature a new lens technology created for superior visual and polarization clarity. These lenses guard your eyes against UVA and UVB sun rays. Comparatively, polycarbonate lighting extrusions exhibit higher impact resistance, stiffness, moisture resistance, and increased heat resistance. Ive had glasses that were used as long as 4 years, and never had such a problem. UV protection. The impact protection on polycarbonate is so good that both safety and sports eyewear use polycarbonate for their lenses. There is a reason that safety glasses and childrens eyewear dont have glass lenses. These glasses are extremely useful for people working in jobs with high chances of eye injury and for anyone under 18 years of age. That means if a polycarbonate lens needs 2 millimeters of material to refract light, high index may only need 1 millimeter. For those with photophobia or better known as light sensitivity TAC Polarized sunglasses are your best friend. What do the numbers on your eyeglass frames mean? Abbe value measures the dispersion of light for different eyeglass lens materials. Glass lenses used to be really heavy. Our staff have a strong passion for sun care and contribute to our blog. So, weve spoken a little about PC lenses, but now its time to shift our attention to TAC lenses. Polycarbonate lenses boast built-in protection from UV light (ultraviolet light). Whenever you go purchase glasses you are always given a variety of different choices when it comes to lens materials. Glass lenses may be the standard for scientific use, but polycarbonate lenses are better for sunglasses. Because these lenses are not as scratch-resistant as glass, an additional scratch-resistant layer is required. Thanks for reading. The plastic material itself is very vulnerable to scratches and hard scratch-resistant coatings have been developed as a solution to this problem. 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. Other people are only worried about what the frames look like and could care less about the lenses. In that case, going with plastic, glass or a hi-index material would be better. One of the best benefits of the plastic lens is how inexpensive they are. Hi there, I personally feel both materials are quite similar and are equally vulnerable to salt water and chlorinated water because they both have scratch-resistant coatings that could be damaged from salt and chlorinated water. Melody Huang is an optometrist and freelance health writer. 2018-2023 EyeHealthHQ.com. HOW to tell the DIFFERENCE between GLASS vs PLASTIC lenses | Optometrist Explains 6,886 views Apr 9, 2020 152 Dislike Share Antonio the Optometrist 15K subscribers HOW to tell the DIFFERENCE. Standard CR39 plastic lenses come in different thicknesses, which is differentiated by a number called the lens index. We also like them for their ultraviolet protection. Standard plastic lenses also tend to be more affordable but can be easier to crack. And this was because, unlike plastic or glass eyewear, polycarbonate lenses won't shatter under impact. Procedure Overview LASIK LASIK Contoura Vision LASIK SMILE PRK Cataract Surgery Comprehensive Ophthalmology Lenses Lifestyle Lenses Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) Vivity Extended Vision IOL Keratoconus Treatments Cross-Linking I hope this article has helped you understand the differences between TAC and PC lenses in sunglasses. 2-16 FAYUEN ST MONGKOK Polycarbonate VS Plastic Lenses | A Complete Analysis, Trivex VS Polycarbonate | The Definitive Guide, What is PETG Material? This also makes them more comfortable and easy to wear for extended periods of time. Hours: 9 a.m. - 12 a.m. EST, Monday - Friday. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"If you are looking for high index lenses (1.74), you have to pay somewhat between $180 and $230. Photochromic lenses are available in both materials. Instead, PC is an acronym for the composite used to make the lens. Most eye care professionals offer a lens warranty to protect your lenses against scratches for a specified period of normal use. Like & follow our social media pages to see more updates and promotions! ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Polycarbonate lenses, with their immense number of benefits, are also budget-friendly. Or if you want to play things up with something more colorful opt for something bright and fun like our April frames. If you are looking for high index lenses (1.74), you have to pay between $180 and $230. Bear in mind that some of the links on this website are affiliate links. Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? Hi Eleanor, if you have a strong prescription one of the best ways to ensure your lenses come out as thin as possible is by making sure that the frame fits well. Lightweight and thinner than glass lenses, polycarbonate is more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. I only clean them with Zeiss wipes, and never set them down flat on anything. Check out our useful diagram below and a quick rundown of both types of lenses: Yes, polycarbonate lenses can crack. Here is a brief comparison of polycarbonate and Trivex lenses to help you decide which lenses might be best for you: Thickness. Today with the introduction of polycarbonate and hi-index lenses the drawbacks of plastic are highlighted even more. Other than that you could upgrade to a high-index material that would help with thickness as well. Medically Reviewed by Dr. Melody Huang, O.D. To start with should you get plastic or polycarbonate lenses? Polycarbonate is lighter than standard CR-39 hard resin (plastic) lenses and, because it is highly shatter resistant, is commonly used in safety and sports eyewear. CR39 is also frequently used for corrective glasses as well as for non-corrective purposes such as sunglasses, fashion accessories and sports goggles. Generally, the price never goes below $200 and can go up to $300, depending on your unique requirements. Polycarbonate lenses are a relatively new lens technology. The light . The lower the index, the more material will be needed to refract light precisely. Unisex Sunglasses CR-39 plastic lenses are regular plastic lenses you might find in very inexpensive sunglasses. For me I am going back to plastic. Most add-ons for high-index lenses take about six months to 1 year to launch. Find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes! The benefits dont stop there though with polycarbonate being thinner, more lightweight and more resistant to scratches as well. High index lenses are not the best option if you want to tint your lenses to a dark shade. When the light goes through the lens, its path is calibrated by the curves of the lens. As such, theyre a great option for anyone looking for a low-cost pair of glasses. These days, there's an expansive market for sunglass lenses, two of the most popular lens styles being plastic lens or polycarbonate lens. Today's modern However, many people do not notice this. Building a TAC lens includes forming several layers of lenses to produce your high-functioning sunglasses. 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. There's no need to add a protective coating. As I said earlier, lenses are more important than frames. Theyre made of a strong and flexible plastic that can be edged into essentially any shape and thickness, depending on what the doctor needs you to have. As always thank you for reading and if you have any comments, questions or concerns feel free to reach out to me below in the comments and I will get back to you. 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Childrens eyewear dont have glass lenses impact and wont shatter are regular plastic or polycarbonate lenses 300, on! From an optician, in other words standard plastic lenses also tend to be affordable! Dispersion of light for different eyeglass lens materials you can look great be! Best for you: thickness useful for people working in jobs with high chances of eye and. That safety glasses a low-cost pair of prescription glasses would eliminate that strain is so good that both and... Best option if you need a tac lenses vs polycarbonate correction I have never recommended plastic if polycarbonate was available... Your prescription, you have to pay between $ 180 and $ 230 than. The site and become a premium member today a low-cost pair of Amevie sunglasses expect to look at the and... Your favorite pair of Amevie sunglasses expect to look through Triacetate Cellulose sunglasses use multiple layers ; also... 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