Key Takeaways
- High-index lenses are thinner and lighter than standard plastic lenses.
- If your prescription is around ±4.00 or stronger, high-index lenses may be worth considering. The right option depends on your prescription, chosen frame, and preferences for lens thickness and cost.
- Polycarbonate lenses are tough and can be good for kids and active wearers.
- Frame choice can affect how thin your lenses look.
You pick out a frame you love, then see how thick the lenses look in the sample, and feel a bit disappointed. If you have a very strong prescription, you might be familiar with this situation. At See & Be Seen Eyecare, our experienced team can guide you towards lens options that can help your glasses feel as good as they look.
High-index lenses are worth considering for many people, especially if you have a strong prescription of +/-4.00 or higher. We can start with an eye exam at our Liberty Village or Midtown location, then help you find frames you’re excited to wear.
What High-Index Lenses Are and How They Work
High-index lenses use materials that bend light more efficiently, allowing strong prescriptions to be made with less lens thickness. They can also reduce overall weight, depending on your prescription, frame and lens material. Each has an index number, and the higher the number, the thinner the lens.
Who Can Benefit from High-Index Lenses?
Prescription Strength Guide
Our team can review your prescription strength and help point you toward the right index. Here’s a simple guide that may be worth considering the next time you’re in person at our clinic:
- Prescriptions around +/-4.00 and up often benefit from high-index lenses.
- 1.67 index: Often worth considering for moderately strong prescriptions when you want a thinner lens.
- 1.74 index: May be useful for stronger prescriptions when minimizing lens thickness is a priority.
Your optician can compare options using your actual prescription and frame measurements.
1.67 and 1.74 Index Lenses
A 1.74 lens can be up to 10% thinner than a 1.67 lens. Thickness also depends on your frame and your prescription.
Whether the step up is worth it depends on your unique prescription and the frame you choose. Our team can show you the difference side by side so that you feel informed every step of the way.
Main Benefits of High-Index Lenses
Thinner lenses weigh less, so your glasses can feel more comfortable on your nose and ears by the end of a long workday. Another well-loved benefit of high-index lenses is that they can reduce eye-size distortion behind the lens. Strong prescriptions can make your eyes appear larger or smaller behind your lenses, but high-index lenses may help reduce this effect.
High-index lenses also work with progressives, blue light lenses, and polarized options, so you don’t have to give up features you want.
Considerations to Understand
Common Drawbacks
High-index lenses can come with a few trade-offs worth knowing before you make a decision:
- They often have a higher up-front cost than standard lenses.
- They’re less impact-resistant, so they’re not always the right choice for kids or contact sports.
- They’re more reflective, so an anti-reflective coating can be a useful addition.
Polycarbonate Lenses as an Alternative
If high-index doesn’t sound like a good fit for you, polycarbonate may be worth asking us about. Polycarbonate lenses have an index of 1.59, which is thinner than standard plastic. They’re a durable choice for kids and active wearers.
They’re not as thin as high-index lenses, but they can be a practical middle ground.
Choose Lenses and Frames
Frame Tips for Thinner Lenses
Smaller frames that centre your eyes help reduce lens thickness. Thin lenses also help open up rimless and semi-rimless styles that might not suit thicker lenses.
You can browse stylish eyewear in Liberty Village and Midtown, from designer glasses to sunglasses.
Book Your Lens Consult in Toronto
Ready to find your next pair of frames? Bring your current prescription, and our team can review it with you. Your eye doctor will assess your vision, check your overall eye health, and help you find frames that feel and look great.
Schedule Your Eye Exam
At See & Be Seen Eyecare, we can help you find a lens that fits your prescription, your budget, and your style. Book your visit at the Liberty Village or Midtown clinic today.
