Aspheric Lenses (What Are They? Benefits & FAQs)

What Are Aspheric Lenses & How Do They Work?

Aspheric lenses are flatter than conventional lenses. Although flatter, they still offer the same vision-enhancing benefits.

They also have a more attractive profile because there is less curvature. This means they don’t have the same “coke bottle” look as you get with traditional lenses.

Aspheric lenses have a more complex front surface with a gradual curve. They also perform better by improving the way light refracts onto the retina.

Eyeglasses wearers who have mild prescriptions may not notice a big difference. However, people with strong prescriptions for farsightedness (who usually wear thicker glasses) will experience a significant change.

Reducing the thickness of the lens offers other benefits. Slimmer lenses give you more options when it comes to choosing frames.

What Vision Problems Can Aspheres Correct?

People with higher-order refractive errors, typically +4.00 diopters or more, are ideal candidates for aspheric lenses. The difference between conventional and aspheric lenses is most noticeable for farsighted people.

Aspheric lenses also work for people who struggle with:

Aspheric lenses come in single vision or progressive lenses, bifocals, and trifocals.

Benefits of Aspheric Eyeglass Lenses

Aspheric lenses aren’t just about style. Many people like that they can choose the frames that best suit their face when upgrading to aspherics.

But style isn’t the only reason people choose this type of lens. Aspheric lenses offer many benefits, including:

Spherical aberration correction (makes corrected image less blurry)
Improved performance
Slimmer and thinner profile
More frame options, even for people with strong prescriptions
Improved image quality
Sleeker profile
Lightweight and more comfortable
More natural appearance
Improved peripheral vision
Multiple lens designs to choose from

Aspheric Lenses vs. Conventional Spherical Lenses

Here are some of the key differences between aspheric lenses and conventional spherical lenses:

Shape

The primary difference between conventional and aspheric lenses is their spherical surfaces.

Aspheric means “non-spherical,” so there is less of a bulge or curve.

Conventional lenses have a spherical curvature on the front of the lens (like a basketball). On the other hand, aspheric lenses are smoother and flatter, reducing distortion when wearing glasses.

Comfort

Because of their spherical curvature, conventional lenses tend to be thicker than aspheric lenses. This makes them thicker and heavier, especially when you have a strong prescription.

Aspheric lenses are smoother and flatter, reducing the distortion that occurs when someone wears glasses. For many people, this improvement means feeling better in their glasses. They may be more willing to wear their corrective lenses.

Flexibility

In the past, the only options someone would have if they did not like how they looked in conventional lenses were:

Contacts
Laser vision procedure
Avoid wearing their glasses

This is no longer the case with aspheric lenses. You can now choose from various styles and shapes of eyeglasses without sacrificing appearance and comfort.

Optical Quality

Conventional lenses are prone to spherical errors (aberrations) that create blurry images. Even slight blurring makes wearing glasses uncomfortable. Aspheric lenses do not have this problem.

Cost

With conventional lenses, it’s easy to find affordable frames that match your prescription. Aspherical lenses require more precision to make and take longer to produce. As such, they're more expensive due to manufacturing costs.