Knowing your lens material is just as important as lens performance. The quality and durability of the lens depend on the material. The performance of the lens also depends on the properties of the material. Some formulations are defined by materials and not all lens materials are suitable for certain types of formulations.
Here are some of the lens materials and their advantages and disadvantages
1. GLASS LENSES
I recommend people who work in environments that are often overheated, flamed or sparked, and dusty because they pose a risk of scratching the lens. This is the oldest lens material and is now less used due to the emergence of new materials and new technologies.
Advantages
Therefore, the scratch resistance is high and no hardened layer is required.
Excellent optical quality, clear vision
Affordable price
Disadvantages
Glass is the heaviest material used in lens manufacturing, so glasses with glass lenses will be the heaviest. If you have a larger frame type, it will leave a mark on the nose due to stress
Glass lens thickness: If you have a large diopter, the lens will be thicker
Glass is easy to break: if you ride glasses on the floor, you have a chance to run out of lenses
Due to the fragility of the glass, it does not allow drilling or trenching at the edges of frameless or semi-rimless glasses.
2. POLYCARBONATE LENS
An advanced material, mainly used for sports activities in sports goggles, also applies to children's glasses and safety glasses due to resistance, but in any normal daily activities.
Advantages
Polycarbonate is more resistant to vibration than plastic and is not easily broken
It is thinner and lighter than plastic
Allow drilling and other processing
100% UV protection
Disadvantages
Polycarbonate is easily scratched and requires a hardened coating
Optically, it is worse than glass and plastic because of the sensitive colour difference
Higher price
3. PLASTIC LENSES
The most used material in lens manufacturing is plastic, which is suitable for most activities.
Advantages
Clear vision, like to use glass lenses
Plastic is lighter than glass and more resistant to breakage
Allow specific processing, such as grooved wire (semi-frameless glasses) or screw holes (rimless glasses)
low cost
Disadvantage
It is easier to scratch than glass, but it can be compensated by applying a hardened layer
The thickness is comparable to glass, so plastic is a smaller diopter