High refractive index vs. regular lenses: What's right for you?

High-index spectacle lenses are the right choice if you want thinner, lighter lenses and glasses that are as attractive and comfortable as possible.

Thinner, lighter high-index lenses are especially recommended if you have a strong eyeglass prescription for short sightedness, long sightedness or astigmatism. But high-index lenses can make your spectacles noticeably slimmer, lighter and more attractive regardless of how strong your prescription is.

Most spectacle wearers are short sighted, which requires corrective lenses that are thin in the centre but thicker at the edge of the lens. The stronger the prescription, the thicker the edges.

Most of today's fashionable frames are made of plastic or metal with rims thinner than the lens itself.

Also, popular rimless mountings mean that the edges of the lenses are completely exposed.

In either case, the lens edges are highly visible, and thicker edges can detract from the appearance of your eyewear.

How high-index lenses vs. regular spectacle lenses

Spectacle lenses correct refractive errors by bending (refracting) light as it passes through the lens. The amount of light-bending ability (lens power) that's needed to provide good vision is indicated on the spectacle prescription provided by your optician.

The difference a high-index lens material can make: the same correction for nearsightedness in regular plastic lenses (left) vs. high-index lenses (right). Images: Essilor

Refractive errors and lens powers required to correct them are measured in units called dioptres (D). If you are mildly shortsighted, your lens prescription might say -2.00 D. If you are highly myopic, it might say -8.00 D.

If you are longsighted, you need "plus" (+) lenses, which are thicker in the centre and thinner at the edge.

Regular glass or plastic lenses for high amounts of shortsightedness or long sightedness can be quite thick and heavy.

Fortunately, manufacturers have created a variety of new "high-index" plastic lens materials that bend light more efficiently.

This means less material can be used in high-index lenses to correct the same amount of refractive error, which makes high-index plastic lenses both thinner and lighter than conventional glass or plastic lenses.

Advantages of high-index lenses

Thinner

Because of their ability to bend light more efficiently, high-index lenses for shortsightedness have thinner edges than lenses with the same prescription power that are made of conventional plastic material.

Lighter

Thinner edges require less lens material, which reduces the overall weight of the lenses. Lenses made of high-index plastic are lighter than the same lenses made in conventional plastic, so they're more comfortable to wear.

High-index glass lenses also have thinner edges, but high-index glass is heavier than conventional glass, so there is not as much weight savings with glass as there is with plastic lenses.

Lightweight lenses are even more of a benefit for long sighted prescriptions, which can make conventional lenses very heavy.

And most high-index lenses also have an aspheric design, which gives them a slimmer, more attractive profile and reduces the magnified look that conventional lenses cause in strong longsighted prescriptions.

High-index lens choices

There is a wide variety of thin, lightweight high-index spectacle lenses, based on how efficiently they bend light.

The light-bending ability of spectacle lenses is determined by the "refractive index" of the lens material. This refractive index is the ratio of the speed of light when it travels through air to the speed of light when it passes through the lens material.

The speed of light is reduced the more it is refracted as it passes through a lens material. Therefore, lenses that bend light more efficiently have a higher refractive index than those that bend light less efficiently, and lenses with a higher refractive index are thinner than lenses of the same power made of materials of a lower refractive index.

In short: the higher the refractive index, the thinner the lens.

SEE ALSO: How to clean your glasses without scratching the lenses

Conventional plastic lenses have a refractive index of approximately 1.50. For glass, it's 1.52.

Any lens material with a refractive index that's higher than that of glass or plastic is considered to be high-index.

High-index plastic lenses are now available in a wide variety of refractive indices, typically ranging from 1.53 to 1.74. Lenses with a refractive index of 1.70 or higher typically are at least 50 percent thinner than conventional plastic lenses.

Also, generally speaking, the higher the index, the higher the cost of the lenses.

Your spectacle prescription also determines what kind of high-index material you might want for your lens. The highest index materials are used primarily for the strongest prescriptions.

If you want high-index lenses, be sure to ask for them. But rely on your optician's advice regarding which index to use. Your optician can explain which high-index lenses are the best choice for your needs and budget.

Most of today's popular lens designs and features — including progressive lenses and photochromic lenses — are available in high-index materials. But there are exceptions, so ask your optician for details.

AR coating: A perfect companion for high-index lenses

All lens materials block some light from passing through the lens. This light reflects back from the lens surface, causing distractions and reducing the clarity of night vision.

Conventional glass or plastic lenses reflect about 8 percent of light that otherwise would reach the eye. High-index lenses reflect up to 50 percent more light than conventional glass or plastic lenses.

For the best vision and appearance, it's a good idea to have an anti-reflective lens coating (AR coating) applied to high-index lenses. AR-coated high-index lenses transmit up to 99.5 percent of light to the eye for optimum vision.

And because AR coating virtually eliminates lens reflections, it makes high-index lenses appear nearly invisible, so others see your eyes, not your lenses.

Also, studies have shown that spectacle lenses with anti-reflective coatings provide sharper night vision with less glare — a real advantage for night drivers.

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Page published on Thursday, 27 June 2019