Purchasing a new pair of eyeglasses can be exciting; you can improve the clarity of the world around you and express yourself with beautiful and quality frames. However, As you decide which pair and style is right for you, you may find that you’re confronted with lots of choices. The process is deeply personal and depends on your needs, but your optometrist may recommend high-index lenses if you have significant refractive errors or a strong prescription. What are high-index lenses, and do they really help? Keep reading to find out all you need to know about these innovative lenses:
What is a high-index lens?
It used to be prevalent to assume that if you had a high prescription, you had to wear “coke-bottle” style lenses that were harder to disguise and which looked weighty. However, in the 1980s and 1990s, lighter and thinner lenses began making an appearance for consumers and giving those with high prescriptions more options.
One of the terms you need to know about eyeglasses is something called “refraction”, which refers to the ability of a lens to bend light. When the refractive index is high, it means the lens is effective at bending light and thus correcting vision. So, lenses that are “high-index” are powerful at bending light and can easily correct severe vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These lenses are crafted from a special type of plastic and can be sculpted with less material. The higher a lens’ refractive index, the stronger your prescription can be without adding extra bulk. You can still get basic-index lenses made for a strong prescription, but you will miss out on the benefits of a high-index choice.
Why choose a high-index lens instead of a basic-index lens?
- Lighter weight: High-index lenses are lighter and can be more comfortable for a wearer since they have less overall material. If you have a strong prescription (above 2.00 diopters), choosing a basic-index lens can mean they will be significantly heavier. This can cause your eyeglasses to slide down your face or cause fatigue.
- Thinner appearance: Traditional lenses for stronger prescriptions are typically thicker on the edges, and lenses for farsightedness are thicker in the middle. In basic-index frames, this can create an appearance with a “bug-eyed” effect. Choosing high-index lenses can eliminate this effect and keep your eyes looking more scaled appropriately to your face.
- More stability: An extremely thick and heavy basic-index lens can come loose from its eyeglass frame and can cause frames to break more quickly. Alternately, high-index lenses can be fitted to a wider variety of frames which will keep you from being limited to only thick, heavy options. Usually, high-index lenses are also more scratch-resistant.
- Sunglasses can also be outfitted with high-index lenses: The benefits of these thinner and lighter lenses can also be applied to sunglasses and can be polarized or mirror-coated so that you can comfortably wear them while driving.
What is the cost of high-index lenses?
When you choose high-index lenses, you can expect them to be more expensive than basic-index ones. This is because high-index lenses are crafted from materials that cost more, and exceptional skill is needed to cut them. For some patients, high-index lenses will be more than double the cost of basic-index lenses, depending on the prescription and the frame style. Although the cost is higher, you’re receiving personalized aesthetics and improved comfort with the high-index options. The price difference is worth it for those who struggle with heavy, uncomfortable eyeglasses.
Cost can be a defining factor for many patients when choosing eyeglasses, which is why Medical Eye Center offers a wide range of frames and lens options to suit any budget. When you purchase your eyeglasses at our optical shop, we offer exclusive benefits like our no-fault warranty (which covers repair and replacement, as well as manufacturer defects for an entire year). Additionally, we stock the latest trends in eyewear as well as more classic options to suit any style or preference. Of course, when you invest in quality eyewear at our optical shop, you are ultimately paying for the unsurpassed experience and confidence you’ll receive from our staff here at Medical Eye Center. They can help guide you to a frame that fits appropriately and pair it with the right basic index or high-index lens for your prescription. Along with these many benefits, we also offer adjustments, minor repairs, and nose pad replacement at any time (no appointment needed).
Our doors are open to the public at both of our Medford locations and our Grants Pass location. We can’t wait to serve you!
Sources:
https://www.optometrists.org/general-practice-optometry/optical/guide-to-optical-lenses/guide-to-high-index-lenses/
https://www.visioncenter.org/eyeglasses/high-index/
https://www.warbyparker.com/learn/what-are-high-index-lenses
https://www.medicaleyecenter.com/specialties/optical/
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