Lenses used in sunglasses are important for proper eye protection. With advancements in glass manufacturing technology, different types of lenses are used in glasses. Each type caters to different needs. You must know about the types of lenses to choose the light weight eye glasses for your purpose.
Lenses are made of plastic or glass
Lightweight plastic lenses are made from a tinted flexible plastic material with a variety of colors of your choice. They provide good protection from the sun by blocking 80% of UV rays.. Glass lenses are more prone to scratching but have excellent natural optical quality.
Nowadays, polycarbonate lenses are widely used in glasses. They provide 100% sun protection. They are very light and do not break easily. Polycarbonate lenses are perfect for sports glasses and children’s light weight eye glasses because they are scratch resistant.
They are widely used for cosmetic purposes because they are very thin. Like polycarbonate lenses, high-index lenses provide 100% protection from the sun’s harmful rays. High-index lenses must have an anti-reflective coating because surface reflections increase as the lens index increases.
Aspherical lenses are best suited for people who must wear high-altitude glasses. In this type of lens, the thickness of the lens is evenly distributed compared to conventional lenses. So they provide a very clear vision and also give you a stylish look. For light weight eye glasses, aspherical lenses are made of high-index materials.
Chromatographic lenses have the property of controlling the light entering the eye regardless of external conditions. When you alternate between indoors and outdoors, you must choose these lenses to reduce the strain on the pupils of your eyes.
Polarized lenses are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts
They significantly reduce glare by suppressing rays caused by reflections from flat surfaces. These lenses can be used when you’re driving, golfing, skiing, and more. Any type of glass should protect you from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. When you go outside, your eyes are exposed to intense sunlight. So make sure your lens has the proper UV coating.
If your lenses are made of polycarbonate or high-index plastic, you don’t need to worry about UV protection as these materials inherently block the sun. When you want your regular prescription light weight eye glasses to look thin and light, you may want to consider using aspherical lenses or high-index plastic lenses. The use of smaller frames can also add to the style.
Scratch Resistant Coating (SRC) is essential for all lenses to avoid frequent scratches. High-index and polycarbonate lenses come with this SRC coating by default.
Anti-reflective coating (ARC) is required for some lenses such as high-index plastic to reduce reflected rays. These coated light weight eye glasses eliminate glare caused by driving at night and staring at a computer. But this glass with ARC is prone to scratches and therefore ARC and SRC are mutually exclusive.
You cannot have both coatings on the same lens To improve the look and feel of the world in your favorite colors, you can add a tint to your lens. Many adults now tint their lenses with their favorite colors. Color can be effectively applied to plastic lenses. Color shades will be uniformly absorbed in the plastic lens. Glass lenses cannot be uniformly tinted and are more difficult to tint.
Coated lenses such as ARC and SRC cannot be tinted as the color will not apply uniformly to the coating. If you want to tint, then you have to remove the coating, color the lens, and then repaint the coating. Color can add style to your light weight eye glasses but you must ensure that your lenses are provided with a UV coating to protect your eyes. More than a fashionable pair of glasses, the glasses you wear should provide clear vision and proper protection for your eyes.
