Is polycarbonate eyeglass lens expensive?

Question

Hi, I wear contacts all the time because my eyeglasses are thick! My power is -4.5 so its thick and embarassing. I want to try polycarbonate lens because I heard they are thin. But how much do polycarbonate lens cost? I doubt its cheap though. :c

Answer 1

Hi there. I understand your situation as I have almost the same Rx. There are three materials for you to choose from:

-plastic

-polycarbonate

-hi-index

Of these three, the plastic being the lowest price but also the thickest, I would rule it out completely.  I would recommend the hi-index. These are the thinnest, lightest you can get. I usually recommend a high index to anyone over a -3.50. Try a local Sam's Club, Costco or Wal-mart. The Sam's Club by me is in a Costco market and so they have dropped their prices even lower than the other Sam's Clubs. Polycarbonate lenses are $74 there for both lenses and include UV, scratch resist, non-glare. Hi-index is $117 with the same coatings.Do know that lens prices vary from state to state and area to area.

Also, when choosing a frame it would be best for you to pick on that is on the smaller side. The reason? With your Rx your lenses are crafted where they are thinnest in the center and thickest at the outer edge. I really hope this helps you!

Answer 2

They are not expensive.  However, you need to take into consideration your own personal needs.  If you are in an industry where they may become scratched easily, they are not the lenses for you.  If you are in an industry where you may have the risk of getting hit in the face, or have things hit your glasses, they most definitly are the lenses for you. They are the most impact resistant lenses available, except for safety glasses.  I would look into a high index lens.  They WILL cost you more, but the optics of them are far superior to polycarb lenses.  A good high index lens, a Nikon 4 or an Essilor 1.67 lens is fantastic.  Also, get a great anti-reflective coating, they come with a great scratch guard and greatly improve your optics.  Sometimes the cost is worth the light weightedness and the optics.  I would go with at least a 1.6 index lens.  do you have an astigmatism?  Also, try to stay away from really squared or rectangle frames.  Choose a more round edged frame.  One more thing, as your dispenser to take your PD, they will know what that is, and ask them to help you choose a frame that matches our PD, that is the frame PD matches YOUR PD. They will know exactly what you mean.  This will cut way down on your lens thickness, which I am sure is mostly at the edges of our lenses.  Good Luck :)

Answer 3

In a simple answer, a little more expensive than conventional plastic and less than some very hi-index materials. The idea behind the poly is to offer the best eye safety, as the person above me has said, the most impact resistant lens available. The vision through poly is fine. With the DVD and CD industry, poly has been so refined that it has become a great lens for comfort and vision. If you are active in sports, or just for driving (since most people have cars with airbags now), poly is a good choice.

Answer 4

Short sighted (-dioptres), so the edges are thick.

If not set on having Polycarbonate for strength, there are usually several increasing grades of "high index" available - the higher the refractive index, the thinner the lens.

It also helps if you can avoid frames with particularly large lenses.