What is the difference between plastic and polycarbonate lenses?

[Logan]

I am ready to choose glasses lenses for my new glasses. I want to know the difference between plastic and polycarbonate lenses? Which one do you think is better?

[Christopher]

Maybe polycarbonate lenses are better for you. prescription eyeglasses typically use lenses that are made of plastic or polycarbonate. Compare plastic and polycarbonate lenses, high-index plastic lenses have a refractive index between 1.6 and 1.74, and polycarbonate lenses have refractive index between 1.5 and 1.59. That is to say, polycarbonate has thinner lenses. In general, the stronger the prescription of the lens, the thicker and heavier the glasses. Polycarbonate lenses are ligher than plastic lenses. On the other side, polycarbonate lenses can prevent 100% UV light and radiation, but plastic lenses use an anti-glare or UV coat to reduce the harmful light. And polycarbonate lenses are 10 times more impact-resistant than ordinary plastic lenses. And plastic lenses are more cost effective than polycarbonate lenses.

[Joseph]

Compared plastic lenses, polycarbonate lenses are more durable, lighter and impact-resistant. Besides, polycarbonate lenses can also provide UV protection that plastic lenses can't. If you want to get UV protection from plastic lenses, you need to add UV coating on the lenses. In fact, polycarbonate lenses are considered the most durable lenses materials that often apply to make sports goggles or safety goggles. So, there is no doubt that polycarbonate lenses are better than plastic lenses.

[Jackson]

Polycarbonate lenses are known to be safer and thinner but rather lack optical clarity. And also, Polycarbonate lenses are also known to be thinner and lighter than traditional type lenses. Polycarbonate lenses offers you total protection from UV light and radiations. On the contrary, ordinary plastic offers you minimum protection from UV light. If you use plastic lenses, you may need to invest in antiglare material to protect you from any harmful rays. So in my opinion, you should choose Polycarbonate lenses.