What Are The Thinnest Prescription Lenses Available? How Do They Work?

If you have a relatively strong prescription for your glasses, it may be a good idea to invest in High-index Lenses.

High-index lenses are built using advanced materials and optical techniques, which reduce the apparent thickness of your glasses, resulting in a more pleasing appearance, and a lighter-weight, more comfortable pair of glasses. Wondering what the thinnest prescription lenses are, and how they work? You’re in the right place. Here’s what you need to know.

How Do High-Index Lenses Work? What Are They Made Of?

All eyeglasses work by doing the same basic thing. They correct refractive errors of the eye by bending (refracting) light as it goes through the lens. The extent to which this light is “bent” to provide proper vision is what determines your eyeglass prescription from your optometrist.

The more “bending” required, the thicker your lens usually is. Your lens may be thicker in the center and thinner at the edge if you are farsighted, or thinner near the center and thicker around the outside, if you are nearsighted.

If you have a very high need for optical correction, your glasses can become quite bulky, as the material will become thicker, because it needs to “bend” more light into the proper part of your eye.

While this may not be obvious if you have a lower prescription, like -2.00 D nearsightedness, the difference is quite pronounced if you’re at -5.00 D or higher prescription.

This is where high-index lenses come in. These lenses are made from an advanced type of plastic that is much more effective at bending light. This means that high-index lenses can “do more with less”. You can still get your vision corrected, without the mass and bulk of a large traditional glass or plastic lens.

What Does “High-Index” Actually Mean?

The ability of an eyeglass lens to bend light is determined by what is called the “index of refraction” – essentially, the ratio of the speed of light when it’s traveling through the air, compared to the speed of light when it passes through the lens.

A lens that has a 1.31 index bends light less efficiently than a high-index lens with a refraction index of 1.67. The more advanced the material, the better it is at bending light and slowing it down – hence the term “high-index”.

Because high-index lenses are more efficient, less material is required to achieve the same level of optical correction.

What Are The Benefits Of A Thinner Lens?

Wondering if high-index lenses are worth it? It’s true that the thinnest prescription lenses are often quite a bit more expensive than lower-index lenses – but they are definitely worth the investment.

• Reduced weight and bulk – A thinner lens means that your glasses will be more comfortable, especially when you are wearing them for extended periods of time, or wearing them during a physical activity such as a hike or a workout.

• Less optical distortion – Low-index lenses have a tendency to make your eyes appear smaller or larger, depending on whether you’re nearsighted or farsighted. This can negatively affect the proportions of your face. Modern high-index lenses use an “aspheric” design to minimize this distortion.

• More frame designs available – Some frames simply cannot accommodate the extremely heavy, large, and thick lenses of a high-prescription low-index lens. This is especially true of designer frames, as well as minimalist, frameless designs. The thinnest prescription lenses allow you to choose from the highest possible number of designs and options.

Get The Thinnest Prescription Lenses For Your Eyes Now!

Depending on your prescription, you may not need to pay extra for extremely high-index lenses, such as 1.74 index lenses. However, it still may be a good idea to purchase high-index lenses, to ensure that your glasses are comfortable, attractive, and minimize optical distortion.