Hi-index lenses vs visual comfort

douglasrac

Hi,

I'm wondering if there is a relation between how thin the lenses are and the visual comfort. If the lenses are thin it will improve the visual comfort or hi-index lenses are just aesthetic?

sibeen99

Hi douglasrac, while high index lenses certainly provide an aesthetic improvement to glasses they also make them lighter and more comfortable to wear. Also many high index lenses have an anti-reflection coating as standard which increases the amount of light going into the eye and this makes things clearer. So I think it works both for visual comfort and aesthetic reasons

douglasrac

Thanks for the reply.
But I'm between two lenses (1.59 and 1.67). I'm not sure if I need the higher index. The cost is a lot more. It's airwear and stylis.
So I think for visual comfort won't change much, will it?

My other question is if low index will make my eye look smaller, since the lens will be bigger. And high index lenses will make my eyes look closer to the real size.

sibeen99

It largely depends on your prescription whether it is worth going for the higher index lenses, and also on the style/size of frame you choose. Are you very long or short sighted?

Again as for making your eyes look smaller it does really depend on how short sighted you are. If your preescription is quite high it might be worth spending the extra money to get a better finish especially if you wear your glasses most of the time. Average the price out over the lifetime of the specs and often it is well worht the extra money!

Hope that helps!

endplate

The high index lenses company (Essilor in your case as you mentioned two of their code names) claim that they don't distort the size of your eyes too much. The 1.59 airwear is a polycarbonate lens which is lighter, tougher and more impact resistant than standard cr39 plastic as used in the 1.67 lens. Weight wise there will be hardly any difference as the lighter polycarbonate material even though it's slightly thicker will weight around the same as the thinner heavier stylis 1.67 lens. We are only talking grammes here though. My advise is to go for the best you can afford and definatly get the better Forte antiglare coating that comes from Essilor as they have a fantastic antiscratch warranty.

Moonbeam

douglasrac wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.
But I'm between two lenses (1.59 and 1.67). I'm not sure if I need the higher index. The cost is a lot more. It's airwear and stylis.
So I think for visual comfort won't change much, will it?

My other question is if low index will make my eye look smaller, since the lens will be bigger. And high index lenses will make my eyes look closer to the real size.

You can't see what is behind you in the jam jar sides of your glasses! It depends on your prescription too , if it is high get 1.74 and you won't know yourself .

douglasrac

Thanks everybody for all the replies. This forum is great.

Now I'm searching a lot and learning about lenses because I'm tired of being deceived by optic stores. I only had one very good pair of lenses in my life (Ultrax Trivex). But that was long ago, and now I cannot use that anymore because my prescription is too high for that.

So, after being deceived by opticians, I learned about design, material, coating, index, etc. I will now buy the best available (Stylis Advans 360 with Crizal Forte) and require all the certificates of authenticity. Then I have nothing to complain. If it's still bad, then I won't spend money on that anymore. I will always get the cheapest available or just remove my eyes.

It's so bad I usually think there is a cat or a dog on the corners but it's just reflex. It's really bad to never have a clear vision, just like they show in the shelves of the stores, with the marvelous anti-glare that can make your vision better than an eagle.

So, last question: cleaning. The proper way to clean lenses. Essilor recommend water and the special cleaning thing they give. But that is not enough to clean the accumulated grease.
I never clean my lenses without water first to take out all dust, always with the special cleaning thing and never ever put my fingers on the lenses or let the lenses touch anything.
Still I'm unsatisfied with the results.

lahinch_lass

and your issues are why I have stuck with glass lenses my whole life !! they might be heavier but otherwise they have most of the properties you have to pay extra for in plastic lenses. It was only on my last renewal that my lenses price when over €50 ! And that was because glass is so rarely used in glasses here now.
BTW I'm -4.75 in both eyes at this stage so the weight of the glass has impacted my choice of frames.. but it's so nice to be able to clean them without worrying about scratching them