When considering eye safety, choosing polycarbonate or trivex lenses is a very wise decision. These lenses aren’t just great for glasses, sunglasses, and sports eyewear, they offer many other advantages as well. Even though trivex has been around for years and polycarbonate has been around for decades, there is still a lot of debate, confusion, and even persistent myths about how trivex and polycarbonate compete with each other in the lens material arena. In this article, we will compare trivex and polycarbonate lenses to help you make an informed decision.
Polycarbonate Lenses
What is Polycarbonate Lenses?
Polycarbonate lenses are a type of eyeglass lenses made of polycarbonate material. They are lightweight, impact resistant and highly transparent, making them widely used in eyewear, sunglasses and safety glasses.
Polycarbonate is a tough plastic that was first discovered in the 1950s and was used in the space industry in the 1970s for astronauts’ helmet goggles and space shuttle windscreens. It wasn’t until the late 1970s and early 1980s that polycarbonate began to be used in the manufacture of eyeglass lenses. Its impact resistance makes it ideal for use in safety glasses, sports glasses and children’s glasses. Additionally, polycarbonate has excellent optical properties that provide clear vision, making it the preferred choice for many people’s everyday eyeglasses and sunglasses.
Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic that began as a solid material in the form of small particles. In the lens manufacturing process known as injection moulding, the pellets are heated until they melt. The liquid polycarbonate is then quickly injected into a lens mould, compressed under high pressure and cooled to form the finished lens in a matter of minutes. And when cutting polycarbonate lenses, a higher level of process is used, not too high temperatures that could harm the surface of the lens.
The Pros and Cons of Polycarbonate Lenses
The advantages of PC lenses are that they are thin, lightweight and impact resistant, making them an excellent choice for sports or safety glasses. They are lighter than common plastic lenses and less likely to shatter, making them safer and particularly suitable for children, sports enthusiasts and those who need extra protection. Another benefit is that because they’re easy to get, you’re likely to be able to get any lens feature you want. polarized, progressive, whatever you need, polycarbonate lenses won’t be a problem. Polycarbonate is also relatively inexpensive. It’s a step up from the most basic type of plastic (called CR39), but still not expensive.
Poly lenses do have their drawbacks. Firstly, polycarbonate lenses are relatively easy to scratch and require frequent cleaning and maintenance. In addition, they can deform in hot environments. Another point is optical clarity. To measure the clarity of various lens materials, we use something called the Abbe value. The higher the number, the clearer the lens. However, PC lenses have an Abbe number of 33, which is relatively less clear.
Trivex Lenses
What is Trivex Lenses?
Trivex lenses are eyeglass lenses made from Trivex, a special optical polymer that is highly impact resistant, lightweight and has excellent optical properties.
Trivex was originally developed by the U.S. military to make ballistic eyewear to protect soldiers’ eyes. Later, the material’s superior performance caught the attention of the eyewear industry, and was introduced by PPG Industries in 2001 for use in the manufacture of eyeglass lenses.Trivex lenses not only offer excellent impact resistance, but also high light transmission and excellent optical clarity, making them ideal for many people’s choice of eyewear.
In addition to their use in regular eyewear, trivex lenses are also used in a wide range of applications such as sunglasses and sports eyewear to meet the demand for eye safety and comfort. As technology advances, the manufacturing process of trivex lenses continues to improve, providing people with better and more reliable eyewear options.
The Pros and Cons of Trivex Lenses
Trivex is the lightest lens material available and is as impact resistant as Polycarbonate, if not more so.Trivex also has a higher tensile strength. This makes it a good choice for rimless glasses, where the holes drilled in the lenses won’t produce fine cracks. In addition, Trivex lenses have an abbe value of 45, which makes them clearer.
Let’s talk about its disadvantages. Despite its light weight, Trivex is about 10% thicker than polycarbonate, which means it’s not suitable for stronger prescriptions. Another disadvantage is that Trivex is slightly more expensive.
Comparing Trivex Lenses vs Polycarbonate
Below is a brief comparison of polycarbonate and trivex lenses to help you determine which one is best for you.
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Optical Clarity and Abbe Value
Trivex lenses have an advantage over polycarbonate lenses when it comes to optical clarity. PC lenses have an abbe value of 33 and the value of trivex lenses is 45, which compares to the higher Abbe value of trivex, which theoretically provides better optical clarity and less chromatic aberration than polycarbonate. After testing, trivex showed less dispersion around the periphery of the lens, indicating greater optical clarity.
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Thickness and Weight
Polycarbonate lenses are typically thinner than Trivex lenses at the same luminosity, however, Trivex lenses are lighter than polycarbonate lenses of the same thickness, which makes them more comfortable to wear and makes them the lightest lens material available. Making it the lightest lens material.
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Impact resistance
Polycarbonate is mostly used in the aerospace industry, while trivex lenses are made from a plastic used in bomber helicopter windows, so polycarbonate and trivex lenses are fairly impact resistant, making them a popular choice for athletes and active lifestyles. Comparatively speaking, trivex lenses are slightly more impact resistant than polycarbonate lenses.
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UV Protection
Both polycarbonate and Trivex lenses block 100% of the sun’s UV rays without the need for special UV protective lens coatings, making them an excellent choice for those who spend a lot of time outdoors.
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Customized Choice
Polycarbonate lenses are available in a wider variety of lens designs than trivex lenses, such as progressive lenses and other multifocal lenses. In addition, polycarbonate lenses are available in both blue light blocking and spin photochromic.
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Cost
Polycarbonate lenses are generally more affordable than Trivex lenses in terms of cost. This is because polycarbonate is a more common material and is easier to produce. However, for some people, the added benefits of Trivex lenses may be worth the extra cost.
Trivex and polycarbonate lenses offer unique benefits and are a good choice for those looking for impact resistant lenses. While polycarbonate lenses are slightly cheaper, Trivex lenses offer better clarity and are lighter in weight. Ultimately, your best choice will depend on your personal needs and preferences. Whichever lens you choose, Aogang Optical has you covered.
