TRIVEX

One of the NEWEST lens materials alongside the higher index plastics

HOW DO THEY COMPARE?

Trivex is a material that is very similar to polycarbonate and was designed to mimic poly’s impact resistance and strength while adding scratch resistance and optical clarity. It is a very durable and well-rounded lens material, but does it stack up to high index plastic?

High index plastic’s key feature is its thinness, especially in higher prescriptions. If have a pair of glasses made with high index plastic and compare them to a pair made in the same prescription with Trivex, you’ll find that the high index plastic lenses are always thinner and, in higher prescriptions, more lightweight.

So how do high index plastic and Trivex compare?

• Trivex has a low index of 1.53, similar to standard plastic. High index plastic’s index ranges from 1.67 to 1.74, making it considerably thinner and more lightweight than Trivex, especially in higher prescriptions.
• High index plastic has similar scratch resistance to Trivex.
• Trivex is more impact resistant than high index plastic, making it a much better choice for safety glasses.
• High index plastic generally has a lower Abbe number than Trivex, meaning that Trivex is more optically clear and causes less distortion than high index plastic. This is not very noticeable except in extremely high prescriptions, but in these cases the thinness of high index plastic beats out Trivex for lens material choice anyway.
• High index plastic generally offers more options for lens colors and sizes, giving you a wider variety compared to Trivex.
• Trivex generally costs about the same as high index plastic. In high index 1.74 and 1.70, Trivex is generally a bit cheaper.

If you’re shopping for safety glasses or prescription glasses with a low prescription, Trivex is worth considering. All in all, though, high index plastic is a better all-around lens material that Trivex.

If you are interested in getting the thinnest, lightest lenses possible, there is no question that high index plastic is the best choice for you. It beats out all other lens materials for thinness, lightness, and aesthetics. Trivex is not too far behind, but in higher prescriptions there is no comparison.

Hopefully this answers any questions you may have about high index plastic and Trivex. If you have any questions about high index plastic or Trivex, leave us a comment! We’d love to hear from you. Thanks so much for reading!

October 17, 2024