Questions about eyeglasses for opticians

BananaRepublic

I believe some posters in this forum have worked in opticians. If so, I was wondering if you have views on the quality of the different products available.

When I recently bought new glasses, the assistant was ignorant about the lenses and coatings. In fact she described Zeiss Lotutec as lenses, whereas it is a coating technology. She knew nothing about the different lens materials. I opted for polycarbonate lenses with Lotutec coatings in a rimless frame. The clarity is amazing, and water does form drops on the surface and runoff rather than forming a layer. They are also less prone to condensation. So I am convinced that broadband and hydrophobic coatings are worth having. And a hard coat is essential with plastic lenses.

In your experience is there much difference between generic AR coatings, and the big names such as Essilor, Zeiss and Hoya? Do any of the hydrophobic coatings stand out, or are the generic okay? Do any resist scratches better than others? And in terms of lens material, have you noticed any issues with wear and cracking with specific lenses when used in rimless glasses?

I have poly, but I have heard they have a tendency to crack when used in drill mount frames such as mine due to stress at drill holes. My last rimless glasses had poly lenses, and a piece at the edge broke off, and it looks like it fractured at a drill hole. I am having my old frames reglazed with poly lenses and generic coatings, which will give me an idea of the relative quality.

sillyvixen

Polycarb is the lens of choice for rimless frames, standard plastic will star and crack with general wear and tear quicker and easier than polycarb. Zeiss and e ssilor lenses have better coatings than own brand lenses (with own brand most companies offer an enhanced coating, at extra cost, with hydrophobic, easy clean, more scratch resistant coatings). You don't say weather you have single vision or varifocal lenses, if the latter you will get wider fields of vision and an easier to adapt to design with a Zeiss or e ssilor lens than other own brands.

kirtondm

I would personally go with 1.6 or Trivex for Rimless. Polycarbonate is a difficult material to work - Also although tough it is soft and scratches easily.

The lens coatings from the major manafactures are better but you will be pay more. We using Nikon but Hoya are also good.

The quality of the lenses as a general rule improves the more you pay but you do pay for the brand and the coatings as well.

A lesser known lens may have similar optical properties but the coatings won't be as good.