The Science Behind the Lens

There’s a lot of us wearing glasses, but did any of us take the time to really think about the amazing science that goes on our unappreciative faces?  No. I didn’t think so.  Did you know that not all lenses are made of glass?  That came as a big shock to me, seriously.

There’s all types of plastic that are used instead. Not only is that impressive, but there are several types of lenses for different purposes. Cool right? Okay, you don’t sound too enthused, but you will be when it comes in handy.

Types of Lenses available

The Polycarbonate Lens

The polycarbonate lens is made to be impact-resistant. It’s the best choice for someone who’s active and needs glasses.

People who are into sporting or in a job environment that calls for glasses resistant to constant breaks or scratches will do well to pick these up.

Trivex Lens

As we gradually go from sturdy to practical, the next lens type is a mix between the two.

It esembles the polycarbonate lens, as it’s durable and impact resistant, but it’s also lighter, thinner and has better vision correcting capabilities.

High Index Lens

Think of high-index as the new-age substitute to thick glasses. These lenses carry most of the magnifying power but alternatively, are lighter and thinner.

They are the go to choice for strong prescriptions without the bulk.

 Aspheric Lens

If lenses were swans, this one would be black.

Aspherical lenses are unlike most, as they are made up of different degrees of curvature over their surface. This actually, allows them to be thinner and flatter than most others and in turn, has more of a usable surface.

 Photochromic Lens

At this point, we’re crossing the whole sturdy/practical scale and heading towards sunglasses territory, but we’re not quite there yet.

Photochromic lenses are made of either glass or plastic and are designed to correct vision. They appear to be normal glasses, until they’re hit with sun. Have you seen the movie Transformers?

Well, these glasses apparently have because when they’re hit with sun rays, they turn into sunglasses. I’ll give you a minute to pick up the pieces of your scattered brain parts. Now, you don’t need a separate pair of prescription sunglasses.

 Polarised Lens

Now we’re in sunglasses town. Polarized lenses are lenses that reflect glare.

They’re used on sunglasses by using filters to block UV light.

 In Action

Our awesome Antares Glasses 2011 are made from a TR-90 material, making them incredibly lightweight and flexible but super strong making them perfect for active people – and to prove it, these free runners tried them out in the video above.

The Trivex lens also adds to that lightness but despite being thin it has a high resistance to impact.

Now that our class is done, check out our site to see if you can spot the differences.