High Index Lenses

High Index Lens vs Aspheric Lens vs Polycarbonate?

Wondering which lens type is best for your prescription?

Choosing between High Index Lens, Aspheric Lens, and Polycarbonate

There are a fair number of lens types and materials available for prescription glasses, along with an infinite number of combinations of lens options. If you have a high prescription, you may be wondering about the difference between a high index lens vs aspheric lens vs polycarbonate.

High index lens material allows lenses to be made thinner than conventional lens materials because of high index’s ability to more efficiently bend light. Aspheric lenses are great for reducing thickness and especially reducing eye distortion as seen from the outside, but aspheric is not a material, it’s a type of lens curvature. Polycarbonate lens material is an impact-resistant material that has a medium index, making it somewhat less thick than standard plastic lenses but thicker than high index.

If you’re debating between getting a high index lens vs aspheric lens vs polycarbonate lens material, here’s what you should know:

• High index lens material is best for getting thin, lightweight lenses that reduce eye distortion and allow for an attractively thin profile to the lenses.
• Polycarbonate lens material is best for impact resistance and cost reduction, as the material is affordable and extremely impact resistant.
• Aspheric lenses can be made in many lens materials. Aspheric lenses are different from conventional lenses because they are not curved the same on the front of the lens. This altered curvature reduces lens weight, lens thickness, and eye distortion.
• Getting aspheric high index lenses is one of the best ways to get extremely thin and attractive lenses, but you’ll pay for them, and your frame options will be significantly reduced.
• Getting regular high index lenses is a better middle ground for thickness, light weight, and lack of eye distortion compared to getting aspheric polycarbonate lenses. The lenses will be similar in weight and quality, but high index is more scratch resistant.

If you’re shopping around and debating between lens options, the decision between a high index lens vs aspheric lens vs polycarbonate can be a tough one.

You should know that most labs decide whether to use an aspheric lens depending upon what frame and material type you choose, and they do not make it an option that the customer can decide due to the complex nature of aspheric lenses.

If you have any questions about lens types and materials, you can browse our other topics or leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you, and we’re here to help you find what’s best for you. Thanks for reading!