There was a time when all eyeglass lenses were made of glass. Glass lenses have brilliant optical quality but they are thick and heavy. However an alternative to glass lenses was plastic lenses, which are more comfortable, lightweight and were introduced in the 1940s. Plastic lenses offer similar optical performance to glass lenses and are about half the weight.
Plastic remains the most popular lens material for eyeglasses in the United States, accounting for over 50 percent of all lenses sold. But though plastic lenses are lighter than glass lenses, they too can be thick especially in moderate and strong prescription powers.
Many thinner, lighter lens materials have been developed for eyeglasses in recent years. These are called high index lens materials as they have a higher Index of refraction than regular glass or plastic lenses. Lenses made with high index materials are considerably thinner and more attractive than regular glass or plastic lenses of the same prescription power.
High index lenses are available in both glass and plastic materials. High index glass lenses are thin, but they are much heavier and can break more easily than high index plastic lenses.
Each lens material has a unique set of features and benefits that you can view as follow:
To find eyeglasses with the qualities you require is as simple as choosing a frame material. There are different materials and each one comes with its own unique set of strengths that makes it discrete.
Zyl (zylonite, acetate, or Cellulose acetate) is a material that is a very cost-effective and creative option for eyewear and is extremely lightweight. It can be designed with single, multiple, or even layers of colour. Zyl eyeglass frames are the most prominent of the plastic eyeglass frames in use today.
To find eyeglasses with the qualities you require is as simple as choosing a frame material. There are different materials and each one comes with its own unique set of strengths that makes it discrete.
PlasticZyl (zylonite, acetate, or Cellulose acetate) is a material that is a very cost-effective and creative option for eyewear and is extremely lightweight. It can be designed with single, multiple, or even layers of colour. Zyl eyeglass frames are the most prominent of the plastic eyeglass frames in use today.
Nylon is used in sports and performance eyeglass frames because it is virtually unbreakable and relatively lightweight. The material is, however, difficult to adjust and can be manufactured only in darker colours. It has a higher tolerance to hot and cold as well.
Polycarbonate is 10 times more impact-resistant than glass and is used for children's, sports, and safety glasses. Polycarbonate lenses are thinner and lighter than glass lenses, and the material comes with built-in ultraviolet protection.
Titanium is lightweight, durable, strong and corrosion-resistant. It can be made in a variety of colours for a clean, modern look. All the titanium frames are not 100 percent titanium as some frames are made from an alloy that is a mixture of titanium and other metals, like nickel or copper. However, if the frame is known "Titanium", and is of higher quality, then these frames are also safe for those who have had acidic reactions to metals frames in the past known as hypoallergenic.
Aluminium frames are lightweight and are corrosion-resistant. It is not only the world's most abundant, but also the most widely used, nonferrous material. Pure aluminium is soft and weak, but commercial aluminium with small amounts of silicon and iron is hard and strong. Although they are very lightweight, it is difficult to join or weld to different designs limiting its adaptability.
Solid silver or sterling silver is not commonly used as a mainframe material because it doesn't make comfortable frames so many times these metals are used ornamentally on plastic frames.
For a luxurious touch semi-precious or precious stones are sometimes used as accents in frames, especially in the temples. Most popular choices are onyx and turquoise, however diamonds can also be used. Rhinestones are diamond made from rock crystal or glass or paste are a less expensive alternative and are often used to create a retro look.
Stainless steel frames are lightweight, low toxicity and are strong they are also nickel-free and thus hypoallergenic. It's an alloy of steel and chromium and may also contain another element. Most stainless steels contain anywhere from 10 to 30 percent chromium, which imparts an excellent resistance to corrosion, abrasion and heat.
Today modern eyeglass frames are available in a huge variety of styles, sizes, and materials. Children's and safety frames are now available in materials that are nearly indestructible. New materials and design technology have made frames more lightweight and comfortable. Good quality frames are now available in all price ranges, too at buymeglasses.com.
