Polycarbonate Lenses

What Are Polycarbonate Lenses?

Polycarbonate lenses are distinguished by their resilient, shatterproof, and built-in scratch-resistant properties. Impact resistance sets them apart from other eyeglass lenses. This makes them an optimal choice for people with active lifestyles who are more prone to dropping or scratching their eyeglasses. Polycarbonate lenses are also ideal for children’s eyewear and prescription safety glasses.

Lighter and thinner than standard plastic or glass lenses, polycarbonate lenses may be more comfortable to wear and still don’t sacrifice quality. They don’t add thickness to correct vision, they minimize distortion, and they block 100 percent of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation (UV light).

Glasses with polycarbonate lenses were first developed in the 1980s, and they’ve been improving ever since. All standard coatings, such as anti-reflective coating, scratch-resistant coating, and tints can be applied to these lenses.

Polycarbonate Lenses Advantages & Disadvantages

All eyeglass wearers should weigh both the pros and cons of polycarbonate lenses before making any purchasing decisions. Your eye doctor can also provide more information on any specific questions you may have.

Here are some advantages of polycarbonate lenses:

• Durable, providing extra safety to your eyes and promoting better eye health
• 10 times more resistant to impact than plastic eyeglasses, so they don’t shatter or break as easily
• Boast scratch resistance so they last longer than regular plastic lenses
• The refractive index of polycarbonate lenses is 1.59, which means that they tend to be 20 to 25 percent thinner than plastic eyeglasses
• Generally weigh about 30 percent less than plastic eyeglasses
• Don’t add thickness to correct vision
• Minimize distortion
• Completely block the sun’s UV rays
• Are ideal for anyone prone to impact
• Come in all types — from strong prescriptions to glasses for specific eye concerns

There are also some disadvantages of polycarbonate lenses:

• You get what you pay for. Polycarbonate lenses can cost up to double the price of regular eyeglasses. While quality eye care is important, the price can be a critical factor in your decision-making process. Having a conversation with your optician about your eyewear needs and shopping around for the best price is wise.
• Less durable than Trivex lenses. Polycarbonate lenses may be thinner, lighter, and more durable than plastic material, but that’s not necessarily true when compared to rival technology like Trivex lenses. Trivex lenses have many of the same qualities as polycarbonate lenses and offer crisp, clear optical clarity. The biggest difference is that Trivex lenses are made of a urethane-based monomer that’s crafted through a cast-molding process (as opposed to an injection-molding process).
• Lower Abbe value than regular plastic or high-index lenses. Abbe value measures the dispersion of light for different eyeglass lens materials. Polycarbonate rates lower, meaning they have the potential to cause slight chromatic aberrations (visual distortions) in your peripheral vision. However, many people do not notice this.

Polycarbonate Lenses Cost

Polycarbonate lenses tend to be more expensive than traditional plastic glasses and other eyewear, including some contact lenses. In fact, because of the high index plastic lens material, they can cost about two times more than plastic lenses.

The cost and quality of polycarbonate lenses will vary depending on your prescription (stronger prescriptions may cost more) and the seller — so it’s worth shopping around. With your prescription, you have the right to shop wherever you prefer — from an optician, in stores, or online. 

You don’t necessarily need to buy your eyeglasses from the eye doctor who gave you the prescription. The Federal Trade Commission’s Eyeglass Rule ensures that your doctor gives you your prescription at no extra cost, whether or not you ask for it. 

FAQs for Polycarbonate Lenses