Glasses today give the purchaser a wide variety of options, the most basic of all is the material, glass or plastic. There are many reasons why plastic lenses are superior to glass lenses and although they are a little more expensive the cost is worth it to most wearers of prescription lenses. Plastic lenses are very light compared to glass, this is extremely important for those who need a very strong prescription as glass lenses are heavy enough to make keeping them in place on the bridge of the nose quite difficult.
Plastic lenses are resistant to impact and Plastic Coatings provide options such as scratch resistance and anti glare. Because they are tough they are an ideal choice for kids and active adults as well as the ideal material for safety glasses and sportswear. It take a lot of force to shatter plastic lenses, this is not the case for glass. Glass will shatter whereas plastic will perhaps dent from an impact but not shatter. For those who have to wear glasses the most appreciated feature is the fact that they are thinner than the corresponding glass lens. People who have very strong prescriptions are very keen on this feature because glass can actually be so thick that the result can be distorted features of the wearer.
For those who are significantly nearsighted, thick glasses can reduce the size of the eyes which can have a detrimental effect on the individual. For these people high index plastic lenses are ideal, they are thinner, lighter and they do not tend to distort the face of the wearer. Although these lenses are ideal for high prescription purposes they are expensive but to those who have the problem, the cost is not an issue compared to the benefits.
Special plastic coatings can be applied to these lenses to make them more scratch resistant. There are also special plastic coatings which provide anti-reflective benefit. Plastic lenses can be coated to make them anti-glare and they can dramatically reduce the transmission of harmful UV rays far better than glass.
For seniors and people who are not particularly active then glass lenses could be a good choice. If the prescription is weak glass lenses will be a little less expensive but for improved durability and the benefits from the various plastic coatings which are available, plastic is the superior choice.
