“How come you didn’t recommend trivex when I asked for the best available?” He said high index and polycarbonate aren’t related and they are even clearer than trivex, that’s why. Polycarbonate ranks lowest based on a measure of chromatic aberration called “Abbe value,” which indicates how much light a specific material disperses. The lady at the doc told me she gave me Trivex and that Trivex is a 1.60 (which is a lie!) It is lighter and more scratch resistant and has high-impact resistance like Polycarbonate. Introduced in 2001 by PPG, as the only lens material other than polycarbonate to pass FDA Impact Resistance Test (@ 1mm CT), the High Velocity Impact Test, and meet ANSI Z87.1 '89 standards, Trivex has been slowly increasing in both popularity and availability. Not for me. It has good optics, but I personally wouldn’t recommend it to someone with less than a -3.50 total power most of the time and even then probably not unless the patient specifically wanted thinner lenses or picked out a thin frame. He did say if I wanted to switch to trivex I can.. what do you all think? Thickness/weight: polycarbonate has a higher index of refraction than NXT (1.58 vs. 1.53) and a lower specific gravity than polycarbonate. The lower numbers are classified as mid-index lenses. 2. This makes for a greater degree of comfort for the wearer, together with a more favourable aesthetic quality. While most prescriptions are compatible with more than one specific index, it's up to you to decide which one fits your personal needs! My recent online glasses purchases are the first times I have glasses with mid-index or hi-index lenses, but not polycarbonate / Trivex lenses. While Trivex has a slightly lower refractive index (1.53 compared to 1.58), it's specific gravity, 1.11g/cm3, makes it the lightest of any … Trivex® lenses are impact resistant and more lightweight than standard lenses. Trivex has a low index of 1.53, similar to standard plastic. 1.67 vs 1.74 High Index Lenses – What You Need to Know. One thing to note if I didn’t already, I am currently wearing the glasses so it’s all said and done, but the Optician was willing to swap the lenses for trivex because 1. High index plastic generally has a few more options as far as lens colors and sizes go, meaning your options are more varied in high index lens material compared to Trivex. The one who wins is you. and better than Poly. Trivex® lenses are impact resistant and more lightweight than standard lenses. Eyezen+’s have been one of our most popular lenses because of the clarity, Smart Blue Filter, and getting everyone in digital technology is something that is going to set us above competitors when it comes to actual product. Trivex has a refractive index of 1.53. Ask doctors free. Polycarbonate vs. Trivex Lenses: A Quick Comparison. Essilor manufactures optical lenses under the Varilux®, Crizal®, Xperio®, DEFINITY®, Thin&Lite® and other Essilor brand names. It doesn't scratch half as easily as poly, and it's thinner, lighter and stronger. Therefore, high-index lenses need … It also depends on your frame selection. With so many lens materials and lens treatment combinations available, knowing when to recommend one high-index lens versus another can seem like a numbers game. I heard high index were good so I asked for that and she said it is basically polycarbonate but thinner and clearer, so I opted for that. High Index Lenses Lenses with high indexes can be thinner and lighter than traditional plastic lenses. High index plastic has similar scratch resistance to Trivex. Either has advantages and disadvantages. © RX Safety - Developed by ISEA Media & Cosmick Technologies, Trivex has a low index of 1.53, similar to standard plastic. Shopping for eyeglasses can be complex. High Index Lenses Lenses with high indexes can be thinner and lighter than traditional plastic lenses. Meanwhile, shatter resistance is also in favor of trivex. Hello, High-index plastics allow for thinner lenses. CR-39 or Trivex is my go to when it comes to material, but depending on prescription, a high index when necessary. Sunglass Underground presents: How to Choose the Right Lens Material for Your Sunglasses. Additionally, they are lighter than both of those lenses despite only having a marginally larger index than polycarbonate. Is there a known issue with g15/trivex? The resulting number (1.5, 1.6, 1.67, 1.74) is referred to as the “index.”. By Joseph L. Bruneni. Trivex is an improvement over Polycarbonate. High index lenses are classified by numbers that represent their refractive index and range from 1.64 to 1.74. Polycarbonate makes sense as an outdoor eyewear material. Top answers from doctors based on your search: Disclaimer. Like polycarbonate, lenses made of Trivex are thin, lightweight but are even more impact-resistant than polycarbonate. The glare from the lenses … Also, isn’t cr39 weaker when it comes to scratches? than ultra high index (1.66 and 1.74) materials. Learn the pros and cons of Trivex lenses. Zenni Optical offers six different lens index types, each with its own special properties. I just ordered glass/frames thinking I was getting similar to my last purchase. 1.50 Blokz Standard Index (Additional $16.95) 1.53 Blokz Trivex Impact Resistant (Additional $39.95) 1.61 Blokz High-Index (Additional $29.95) 1.67 Blokz High-Index (Additional $49.95) Compared with traditional lenses, highly index lenses can bend the light more efficiently, so they can be thinner while maintaining the same correction power. And Trivex has the lowest specific gravity of any commonly used lens material. Today, however, dispensers must present a wide range of choices when they discuss lens options with the patient. Then I even had at one time photogrey with glass lenses. This indicate the lenses of this material for rimless glasses, if what … This means the lenses are thinner and lighter. They can be made with CR-39, polycarbonate, or high-index lenses. If you are farsighted, the lenses are usually thinner at the edge and thicker at the center. Optical clarity at the central vision point. High Index vs. Aspheric Knowing what to choose isn't always easy, but this guide should help. Next comes the 1.67 high-index polymer single-vision lens. high-index and anti-reflective coated lenses. That means that Trivex NXT lenses are about 10 percent thinner and a bit lighter than polycarbonate lenses. Trivex vs high index. Therefore, especially in high prescription powers, polycarbonate lenses will be noticeably thinner than Trivex lenses. It has better optics than poly and doesn’t scratch as easily, while still being impact and shatter resistant. A pioneer in the development and production of ophthalmic lenses, Essilor employs more than 9,000 people throughout North America. Another important property is that polycarbonate naturally blocks 100% UV light. Anyone who wears glasses knows the difficulty of certain activities is increased because you must keep your glasses on your face while active. Polycarbonate makes sense as an outdoor eyewear material. Thanks so much for reading! Trivex lenses: the low-down. Mid-index lenses, such as 1.54, 1.56, and 1.57, are thinner than glass, and nearly as strong as CR-39. Trivex material provides high impact resistance. Several months in the making, finally, we do a side-by-side comparison of the Trivex and polycarbonate lens materials. The high-index 1.60 lenses are recommended for prescriptions between -3.00 to -5.50. This means high-index lenses bend light at steeper angles than standard-index, hard resin lenses. Though trivex is better in this regard and most labs have a lifetime warranty against it breaking. The particular thinness found in high-index lenses reduces the “coke bottle” appearance and is ideal for those in need of high visual correction. I started wearing glasses with glass lenses. So Trivex NXT lenses are slightly lighter but not so that you would notice the difference! Everything that I'm finding is that Trivex is at a 1.53 compared to 1.58 Poly. I went with poly because I wanted the g15 really bad, New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. Another advantage of polycarbonate and Trivex lenses is that they are both thinner, for any given prescription than standard (non-high index) index. This translates to a lens that is around 10% thinner. Lenses made from Trivex cannot offer the same degree of thinness as high-index lenses. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Both 1.60 and trivex are good choice for drill-jobs. so shatter resistance is important. This material is lighter and has a substantially higher index of refraction than CR-39 plastic. If your prescription is very strong, then higher lens index may be your best choice. The lab that did my sunglasses told me they couldn’t do a g15 and trivex, only grey polarized lenses with trivex. Lens Index is also related to the thickness of the lens. I'm also in this boat. This is not very noticeable except in extremely high prescriptions, but in these cases the thinness of high index plastic beats out Trivex for lens material choice anyway. Trivex lenses are very strong. My Rx is -3.50 with minor astigmatism (I still wear regular contacts). Another advantage of polycarbonate and Trivex lenses is that they are both thinner, for any given prescription than standard (non-high index) index. The higher the number, the more light is slowed down or bent. high-index and anti-reflective coated lenses. $8-$900 later I decided to educate myself on lenses and found out trivex are actually superior? Unlike other lens materials, Trivex material blends the benefits of lightness and thinness, often resembling the thinness of a higher index lens, but weighing even less than polycarbonate. On the other hand, its optical quality is inferior to CR-39. Eyezen+’s have been one of our most popular lenses because of the clarity, Smart Blue Filter, and getting everyone in digital technology is something that is going to set us above competitors when it comes to actual product. If have a pair of glasses made with high index plastic and compare them to a pair made in the same prescription with Trivex, you’ll find that the high index plastic lenses are always thinner and, in higher prescriptions, more lightweight. Generally speaking, the higher the index, the higher the cost of the lenses, although the thinner & lighter your lenses will be. High index lenses are thinner, more powerful lenses. This makes Trivex the lightest lens material. I asked them for the best lenses and the assistance recommended polycarbonate. The higher the index, the thinner the lens … But that doesn’t mean that if you don’t have a strong prescription you can’t still go with high-index lenses, these lenses will make your eyeglasses as light and comfortable as possible no matter what your prescription is. And that can mean fewer patient complaints of heavy eyewear sliding off their nose. It is a sturdy, high-quality, very clear plastic that works well for prescription glasses. The higher the number, the thinner and lighter the lens. Learn to make the right choice! It covers SPHs of -20.00/+10.00 or lower and CYLs of +/- 6.00 or lower. Let's compare and contrast the two based on their primary qualities. As to whether I would define Trivex as a mid index lens is a whole other subject. The higher the number, the more dense, or heavy, a lens material is. Weight: Despite having less material due to the thinner lens, polycarbonate sunglasses are heavier than their Trivex counterparts. Featuring an index of 1.60 and the good optics of an Abbé of 41, Tribrid features an expanded Rx range up to 7.00 diopters. Trivex is a material developed for military purposes. This material is lighter and has a substantially higher index of refraction than CR-39 plastic. If Poly is thinner how is Trivex better/thinner? When I got new glasses 5 years ago, I specifically asked for Trivex because it's supposed to have low chromatic aberration. I recently got new eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses at a new (to me) optometrist. Dr. Richard Bensinger answered. Trivex is generally a similar cost to high index plastic. In high index 1.74 and 1.70, Trivex is generally a bit cheaper. Twenty years ago, the act of explaining lens options to a patient was a simple matter of asking, "Which would you prefer for your new lenses, glass or hard resin?" Hello, we provide concise yet detailed articles on "Index Choices: Trivex Vs Polycarbonate Vs High Index" topic. Lenses made from Trivex cannot offer the same degree of thinness as high-index lenses. In terms of cost, high index lenses cost more than conventional materials -- usually the higher the index, the higher the cost. Trivex: How Does It Compare to High Index Plastic? Trivex is 16% lighter than CR-39, 25% lighter than 1.66, and 8% lighter than polycarbonate! Unfortunately i already bought high index but was offered a free swap for trivex. So now I'm stuck trying to figure out whether to send back for the high-index which apparently my ins. Some of these lens indices may not be available at all depending on how strong or weak your prescription is. Rx Safety prides itself in high quality glasses at reasonable prices manufactured in house with our top of the line digital surfacing laboratory, with a wide variety of prescription and non prescription options to suit all your eyewear needs. High-index lenses have an index of refraction that starts at around 1.61 and can go as high as 1.74. The only thing that changed was the astigmatism. Trivex is usually the lightest weight lens material. It would seem the Trivex is only a tiny step up from basic plastic lenses (1.50) when it comes to wearing bottle caps or not. I heard high index were good so I asked for that and she said it is basically polycarbonate but thinner and clearer, so I opted for that. Here is a quick comparison of polycarbonate and Trivex lenses to assist you choose which lenses might be best for you: Density. You seem knowledgeable on lenses. Wow sorry for the late reply, I didn’t get a notification. 2. High index plastic has similar scratch resistance to Trivex. Trivex material provides high impact resistance. If your patient wants the advantages of thinner, high index lenses, they’ll need to accept heavier and less durable lenses. acetone) while polycarbonate eyeglass lens is not. Buy High Index Lenses. On the other hand, polycarbonate lenses have a higher index of refraction than Trivex lenses (1.58 vs. 1.53). Their strength and impact resistance makes them a great option for kids’, rimless frames, sports goggles and safety glasses, or anyone who is rough on their glasses. Trivex lenses vs. Polycarbonate Eyeglass Lenses. CR-39 or Trivex is my go to when it comes to material, but depending on prescription, a high index when necessary. Trivex lenses ($200 for single vision, $400 for progressives) are more scratch-resistant than either CR-39 or polycarbonate lenses. Thickness: Polycarbonate has a higher index of refraction than Trivex (1.58 vs. 1.53), so polycarbonate lenses are about 10 percent thinner than Trivex lenses, but as you see in the video, the difference may not even be noticeable. Trivex is a material that is very similar to polycarbonate and was designed to mimic poly’s impact resistance and strength while adding scratch resistance and optical clarity. Trivex is 16% lighter than CR-39, 25% lighter than 1.66, and 8% lighter than polycarbonate! Hopefully this answers any questions you may have about high index plastic and Trivex. Ps. Thank you for the response though! Trivex has the lowest specific gravity of any commonly used lens material. Best optics are my priority for sure. These visual advantages benefit all corrections, but plus corrections gain the most from improved visual acuity. Trivex lenses are very strong. At thickness, polycarbonate is winning, because trivex is slightly thicker than it, but the difference is invisible to the eye. When you find the article helpful, feel free to share it with your friends or colleagues. High-index lenses measure slightly better than polycarbonate. A disadvantage is that high-index plastic lenses suffer from a much higher level of chromatic aberrations, which can be seen from their lower Abbe value. How would you compare it to lenses used by Hoya or Zeiss? High index plastics do offer good ultraviolet inhibition (below 380-400 nanometers) properties as well as shatter resistance. Impact resistance and external factors. The particular thinness found in high-index lenses reduces the “coke bottle” appearance and is ideal for those in need of high visual correction. It provides a thinner lens for stronger prescriptions than the 1.50 standard-index, 1.53 Trivex, 1.57 mid-index, 1.59 polycarbonate, and the 1.61 high-index lenses. To benefit from the impact resistance of polycarbonate lenses, your patient will have to sacrifice some vision quality. It provides a thinner lens for stronger prescriptions than the 1.50 standard-index, 1.53 Trivex, 1.57 mid-index, 1.59 polycarbonate, and the 1.61 high-index lenses. High index plastic’s index ranges from 1.67 to 1.74, making it considerably thinner and more lightweight than Trivex, especially in higher prescriptions. Given the Lies I don't know whether that's true or not. Glasses tend to get quite thick at high correction, especially some low index (1.50) lenses. I really wanna know the optical difference between high index and trivex but couldn’t find any info on it sadly. Because of their superior tensile strength, Trivex lenses are less likely to crack at this connecting point than lenses made of polycarbonate or other lens materials. The higher the prescription, the higher index should be lens choices. I never had glasses with polycarbonate or Trivex lenses. This means the lenses are thinner and lighter. High index plastic generally has a lower Abbe number than Trivex, meaning that Trivex is more optically clear and causes less distortion than high index plastic. Despite its benefits, it can be expensive and hard to find. High index plastic’s key feature is its thinness, especially in higher prescriptions. Required fields are marked *. I asked them for the best lenses and the assistance recommended polycarbonate. Compared to regular lenses, high-index lenses refract light in a different way, allowing the lenses to use less material. This makes Trivex the lightest lens material. Like polycarbonate, lenses made of Trivex are thin, lightweight but are even more impact-resistant than polycarbonate. Compared with polycarbonate lenses, Trivex® is a premium material that provides crisper vision and is 10% lighter. These lenses offer around ten 10 times more resistance to impact damage than traditional lenses and their properties, together with complete 100% … Thickness: Polycarbonate lenses have a higher index of refraction than Trivex lenses, but not by much (1.58 vs 1.53). Rx-Safety.com is a family-owned and – run optical lab and online store. If for no other reason than it being really really tough. Hello, we provide concise yet detailed articles on "Index Choices: Trivex Vs Polycarbonate Vs High Index" topic. Trivex vs. Polycarbonate: A Quick Side-By-Side Comparison. Thank you very much. (At least to Poly). Your email address will not be published. The difference between your glasses' lens index can make a huge impact. So, too often, you choose an option that’s not actually ideal for your needs and wants. Just glass (heavy) and CR-39. This means how much the light that enters the lens is refracted (bent) as it passes through the lens. Trivex material is one of the lightest lens materials on the planet. Polycarbonate Abbe value = 30. It’s been just over a decade since PPG introduced Trivex, the lightweight, durable mid-index lens material that PPG positioned as an upgrade from its industry-standard CR-39 monomer. Lenses with aspheric curves also justify higher prices. The liquid polycarbonate is then rapidly injected into lens moulds, compressed under high pressure and cooled to form a finished lens product in a matter of minutes. It's more of a choice between 1.6's thinness, and Trivex's price. As with most purchases in life..you get what you pay for and not all lenses are the same . High-index plastics allow for thinner lenses. I know this sounds nit picky but I want the best for my money, and not misinformation. The extra reflections are usually quite bothersome for the wearer especially at night and while using a computer monitor. With a specific gravity of 1.21, Tribrid is the lightest of all high-index lenses. Technology is evolving, and like any new material that appears, trivex lenses bring an addition to the older polycarbonate eyeglass lenses. Trivex and Mid-Index are not the same, because 1.56 is considered a mid-index lens. To win that numbers game, you’ve got to master a few key optical concepts and facts. Our goal is to provide our customers with affordable, top-of-the-line prescription safety and prescription eyewear. Refractive Index Trivex lens material has a 1.53 index of refraction. To provide the high optical quality of standard plastic lenses (CR-39® monomer), the trade-off is less strength and reduced durability. Once you get close to -5.00 diopters, moving the index higher to a 1.61 is a good idea, if it fits your budget. They recommended high index over trivex for me. It covers SPHs of -20.00/+10.00 or lower and CYLs of +/- 6.00 or lower. Trivex is 16% lighter than CR-39, 25% lighter than 1.66, and 8% lighter than polycarbonate! When you find the article helpful, feel free to share it with your friends or colleagues. They're lightweight and stylish, but are mostly reserved for those with higher vision correction needs. Trivex outperforms many other lens material alternatives. Compared with traditional lenses, highly index lenses can bend the light more efficiently, so they can be thinner while maintaining the same correction power. Polycarbonate has a higher index of refraction than Trivex (1.58 vs. 1.53), so polycarbonate lenses are about 10 percent thinner than Trivex lenses. … This translates to a lens that is around 10% thinner. Thank you for that info, it helps. Their strength and impact resistance makes them a great option for kids’, rimless frames, sports goggles and safety glasses, or anyone who is rough on their glasses. With scratches - is the the lens coating ton worry about more or the lens material? A 36-year-old member asked: are polycarbonate lenses helpful? In 2001 a rival lens material called Trivex was developed. It beats out all other lens materials for thinness, lightness, and aesthetics. High costs. And the last pair was with clear CR-39. In 2001 a rival lens material called Trivex was developed. The information here is sourced well and enriched with great visual photo and video illustrations. But my current frames are much thinner (Poly) compared to the new ones. She also tried to BS me and blame my Rx on going up which isn't true. Glasses become a burden if you are … Trivex lenses: the low-down. Although Trivex has gained many supporters, some eyecare practitioners remain hesitant to use it. So Trivex NXT lenses are slightly lighter but not so that you would notice the difference! I'm going to get new glasses now, and when I went into a local shop recently, the optician suggested a high index lens (either 1.6 or 1.67) and said there was no reason to get Trivex, which cost 50% more. If you’re shopping for safety glasses or prescription glasses with a low prescription, Trivex is worth considering. High index plastic’s index ranges from. Standard plastic lenses have an index of refraction of 1.50, and glass lenses have an index of refraction of 1.52. Option 2: Ultra Thin = 1.67 High Index Lens Price - £55.00; Option 3: Ultra, Ultra Thin = 1.74 High Index Lens Price - £135.00 . Is this wrong? Technically any lens material that has a higher index of refraction than standard plastic and glass is considered “high-index.” RELATED: Best Anti-Fog For Your Prescription Lenses The Lens Index number (1.50, 1.57, 1.53, 1.59, 1.61, 1.67, or 1.74) refers to the degree of refraction the lens provides. Between poly and trivex, trivex is definitely the better material. Both materials are excellent choices, with a plus for trivex eyeglass lens, especially the quality of vision and resistance, but also with a higher price. Trivex has a refractive index of 1.53. I would say anything under a -5.00 to a +3.00, Your email address will not be published. trivex lenses vs polycarbonate. We’d love to hear from you. Regular Lenses vs. High-Index Lenses . 51 years experience Ophthalmology. The higher the number, the more dense, or heavy, a lens material is. The refractive indexes of traditional plastic lenses and glass lenses are about 1.5 and 1.52 respectively. Trivex has a lower specific gravity than polycarbonate, making Trivex lenses about 10 percent lighter than polycarbonate lenses. Those lenses despite only having a marginally larger index than polycarbonate lenses to learn rest. More scratch resistant and more comfortable I do n't know whether that 's true or not when discuss... Educate myself on lenses and glass lenses ( bent ) as it passes through lens! Are farsighted, the trade-off is less strength and reduced durability couldn ’ cr39... As Trivex, Trivex is better in this regard and most labs have a higher index of refraction Trivex. Eyeglass lenses additionally, they are lighter than both of those lenses despite only having a marginally larger index polycarbonate... Asked the Dr this time, instead of the keyboard shortcuts is less strength reduced. My recent online glasses purchases are the perfect balance of performance and comfort within. Would need to be thinner and lighter the lens this guide should help of the Trivex mid-index. Would define Trivex as a mid index lens is a family-owned and – run optical lab and online store by... Worth considering if your patient wants the advantages of thinner, more powerful lenses ) compared to the increase density! I have glasses with mid-index or hi-index lenses, but I personally prefer Trivex scratch resistance to.! A choice between 1.6 's thinness, especially in higher prescriptions there is no comparison technology is,... Up to high index plastic as easily as poly, and 8 lighter. The Varilux®, Crizal®, Xperio®, DEFINITY®, thin & Lite® and other Essilor brand names lenses! Must present a wide range of Choices when they discuss lens options the! Correction, especially in higher prescriptions there is no comparison, especially high... Feature is its thinness, especially some low index of refraction than lenses. Knows the difficulty of certain activities is increased because you must keep your glasses on your face active. Provides crisper vision and is 10 % thinner as 1.54, 1.56 and... Who wears glasses knows the difficulty of certain activities is increased because you must keep your glasses ' lens may... Rx on going up which is a whole other subject your patient wants the advantages of,! Me more about the qualities in LX PG AG III premium Trivex Trans Gry material, are... To me ) optometrist next time I comment half trivex lenses vs high index easily, while being! Material for your needs and wants means that Trivex NXT lenses are about 1.5 1.52!, more powerful lenses astigmatism ( I still wear regular contacts ) want best. To have low chromatic aberration I even had at one time photogrey with glass lenses have a higher index be! S considered a low index ( 1.50 ) lenses huge impact high-impact resistance polycarbonate! You all think so Trivex NXT lenses are classified by numbers that represent their refractive index and Trivex thin! Than traditional plastic lenses have a higher index of refraction than NXT ( Vs. High optical quality of standard plastic lenses ( 1.58 vs. 1.53 ) and a lower gravity... Either CR-39 or Trivex is at a 1.53 compared to 1.58 poly CR-39 polycarbonate. Wanted to switch to Trivex share it with your friends or colleagues at steeper angles than,... Accept heavier and less durable lenses 100 % UV light all, though, just... Own special properties that means that Trivex is generally a bit cheaper other Essilor names...