When you go out in the market to choose the best lens for glasses, you’ll find a few different options available on hand. Among many different types, you might be asked to go for a high index lens by your optician. Especially, if you have a weaker vision, somewhere near 5 or 6, it might be best for you to pick such lenses. However, the fact that they are probably the costliest option in the market may make you wonder whether it is worth your money or not.

Here, we will take a look at different types of high index lenses, their benefits, drawbacks, and whether it is worth the investment or not.

What are high index lenses?

We have different materials for making lenses and all of them come with particular properties. When we consider the working, lens bend light, and the working efficiency depends on how effectively a lens is able to bend the light. The higher the speed at which light passes through a lens material the more efficient it will be in its working.

The index of refraction refers to the transmission and bending of light through a lens material. The higher the index is, the more efficient a lens will be. Therefore, such lenses are considerably thinner and lighter when you compare it with other options.

What many people mistake is the fact that they only think of lenses with 1.67 or greater index as high index lenses. Well, for a lens to qualify as a high index, it has to stand anywhere between 1.53 to 1.74. It means that the trivex and polycarbonate also come under high index lenses.

Benefits of high index lenses

There are several benefits of using high index lenses. Some of these include:

Weight

High index lenses are known for their lightweight property. They use lesser material and, therefore, are less bulky as compared to several other materials on the market. The higher you’ll take the refractive index of a lens, the more lightweight it will be. When you compare a 1.60 or higher index lens with the traditional ones, you will find as much as 25% to 50% reduction in weight.

Thickness

High index lenses are known for being thin. The fact that they are lightweight and less material is required in making the glasses means that you’ll end up with thinner glasses. Therefore, if you get traditional lenses and find them a little too bulky, a high index is your way to go. It is especially beneficial for almost all the individuals who are nearsighted because their traditional lens tends to be thicker.

Strength

When it comes to strength, high index lenses are pretty good. However, they are not the best in the market, beaten only by polycarbonate. Yet, the impact resistance and durability are immaculate.

Clarity

High index lenses offer a clearer and crisper vision. They can refract light with higher efficiency and it also lessens the distortion, giving you a better view of the environment.

Frame range

The fact that high index glasses are thinner, they offer you a better frame range. Traditional lenses may limit you to a particular choice because of their size and bulkiness. However, the high index glasses are thinner and lightweight, thus can be fitted in an array of frames without any trouble.

Downsides of high index lenses

While there is much to like about high index lenses, there are a few drawbacks too. These include:

Higher cost

While the high index lens offers you many advantages, they do come at a greater cost. The amount you’ll be asked to pay varies from retailer to retailer. You can expect to pay anywhere from $20 $30 to as much as a few hundred dollars for these lenses.

Higher reflection

Because of their high index, these lenses offer greater reflection. It can be a problem for many people and may hinder you from looking at your surroundings perfectly. However, the problem can be taken care of by applying an appropriate coating.

Who should wear high index lenses?

While anyone who is going for prescription glasses can ask for high index glasses, these are particularly beneficial for people who are farsighted, nearsighted or have astigmatism. While other lenses may also offer help in such conditions, the higher refractive index can offer better vision because it has a greater ability to channel the light.

Best coating for high index lenses

As the refractive index of high index lenses is high, you have more light reflection. Therefore, the best coating in such circumstances is the anti-reflective coating. It almost takes out a reflection from your lenses and you end up with lesser glare, making visibility better for you at night and giving night drivers a huge advantage.

So, this is all about the high index lenses. It is up to you now to weigh the pros and cons of high index lenses and decide whether these glasses worth the price or not. Do let us know what you think in the comments sections below.