Choosing lenses for your glasses does not have to be difficult.

Quite simply, the higher the index number, the thinner and lighter it is going to be.

We'll now explain which index is best for your glasses, and your personal requirements.

1.5 (CR39)

Also known as CR39 (Columbia Resin #39).
This is the lens material used when you choose not to upgrade your lenses.

Positives

Affordable

Available in wide range of base curves for frames with a high curve/wrap

Faster turn-a-round when ordering

Ideal for sunglasses tinting

Negatives

Thickest lens option

Heavier with stronger prescriptions

Can chip/crack when used in rimless frames.

We supply:

Single Vision: Clear,Tinted, Polarised, Transitions
Bifocal: Clear,Tinted, Polarised, Transitions
Varifocal: Clear,Tinted, Transitions

1.53 (Trivex)

Also known as Trivex.
 Trivex was originally used in eye protection for the military.

Positives

Affordable

Strong

Good impact resistance

Scratch resistant coating as standard

Perfect for rimless frames

100% UV protection

Thinner lenses can be used in rimless and semi-rimless without risk of compromising on durability

Negatives

10% thicker than similar strength, Polycarbonate.

We supply:

Single Vision: Clear, Tinted, Polarised, Transitions
Bifocal: Clear, Tinted, Polarised, Transitions

1.59 (Polycarbonate)

Positives

Strongest, toughest lens available

Strongest, toughest lens available

Up to 22% thinner than 1.5 CR39

Scratch Resistant coating as standard

100% UV protection

Available in aspheric and spheric design

Suitable for tinting to a medium-dark tint

Perfect for safety glasses, sports frames or anyone who requires a protective, lightweight lens

Negatives

Will not tint as dark as CR39

Require a polished edge which may not appeal to some wearers

Cannot be cleaned with lens cleaners containing acetone

We supply:

Single Vision: Clear, Tinted, Polarised, Transitions
Bifocal: Clear, Tinted, Polarised, Transitions

1.6

The first stage of the true high index lenses. Available in both spheric and aspheric design.

Positives

25% thinner than 1.5 CR39

Scratch resistant coating as standard

Suitable for rimless frames

100% UV protection

Negatives

Will not tint as dark as CR39

We supply:

Single Vision: Clear, Tinted, Polarised, Transitions
Bifocal: Clear, Tinted
Varifocal: Clear, Tinted, Transitions

1.67

Even thinner than 1.6. Available in both spheric and aspheric design.

Positives

40% thinner than 1.5 CR39

Scratch resistant coating as standard

Suitable for rimless frames

100% UV protection

Negatives

Will not tint as dark as CR39

Cost

We supply:

Single Vision: Clear, Tinted, Polarised, Transitions
Bifocal: Clear, Tinted

1.74

The thinnest and lightest plastic lens available. Available in both spheric and aspheric design. It is also quite expensive

Positives

Up to 50% thinner than 1.5 CR39

Thinnest plastic lenses available

Scratch resistant coating as standard

100% UV protection

Minimum eye-ball magnification

Negatives

Will not tint as dark as CR39

Cost

Not suitable for rimless frames

We supply:

Single Vision: Aspheric design only – Clear or Tinted
Bifocal: Aspheric design only – Clear MAR coated

Do I need high index lenses?

If you have a strong prescription, you may wish to consider how thick your lenses may appear.
This is all down to personal preference. The main reasons for choosing high index lenses are to reduce weight and to make the lenses look nicer in the frame. We recommend a 1.6 lens on all full rim frames if your sphere value is above +2.00, and 1.53 trivex on all rimless and semi-rimless frames because it is so much stronger than other lens materials.
If you are buying a pair of glasses just to watch TV at home and you don’t need them to look special, as long as you are comfortable with a slightly heavier lens, there is no need to upgrade to higher index lenses, but you may wish to consider an Anti-Reflective coating for tv, computer or night driving use.

Benefits of Anti-Reflective coating

All lenses reflect light. An Anti-Reflective coating helps to transmit 99.5% of light through to the eye for optimum vision.
Standard index lenses can reflect up to 10% of light away from the eye.
Hi Index lenses can reflect up to 50% of light away from the eye so an anti-reflective coating can be useful.

Why choose high index lenses?

In simple terms, the higher the index of the lens the thinner it will be.
This applies for both near-sighted and far-sighted people.
Near-sighted people will see that their lenses are thinner in the middle and thicken as you go towards the edge.
Far-sighted people will have the opposite – thinnest at the edge and thicker towards the center. This is something to think about when buying your glasses online. If you have a stronger prescription, the thickest part of the lens (on the edge for near-sighted and in center for far sighted) will be more apparent. If you have a strong prescription, you may wish to think about upgrading to high index lenses or aspheric lenses when buying prescription glasses online.

Aspheric lens design

Aspheric lenses are aimed at those with a stronger prescription, particularly far-sighted plus (+).
They are available on all high index lenses above 1.56 index. They have a slimmer profile than the standard spherical lens, reducing the ‘bulge’ in the center of the lens on plus (+) prescriptions, and enabling the wearer to choose a wider range of frame designs. The bulge in high prescription spherical lenses also creates magnification of the eye ball, or the ‘bug-eye’ appearance (‘beady-eye’ in high minus prescription). This is dramatically reduced with aspheric lens design. Aspheric lenses also reduce distortion for a wider field of view and superior peripheral vision.

Does my frame type make a difference?

Your frame choice can make a big difference. As mentioned earlier, near-sighted lenses get thicker towards the edge, if you choose a frame with an eye size much bigger than the one you already have, you may be disappointed with the appearance of your lenses, as they will be thicker at the edge than your older pair. The same applies if you have previously worn a plastic frame (plastic can help hide thickness of near-sighted lenses) and change to a metal frame or a semi-rimless, the lenses may appear to be thicker. If you have a strong Plus(+) prescription we do not recommend Semi-Rimless or Rimless frames. Anything above +3.00 is not recommended.  This is due to the fact that the edge substance has to be made thicker to hold the semi-rimless cord or have pins placed through it for rimless frames. As the edge is made thicker to accommodate these components the lens centre also gets thicker.