Glasses Direct - lens material

John_Gray

I've emailed them to ask whether their lenses are made of glass or of plastic but haven't had a reply after several days.

Does the lens material depend on which "lens package" you choose, or the strength of your prescription?

Thanks!

theoretica

Lenses made of real glass are rather specialised items nowadays.  I would always assume the default is some sort of plastic.

Undervalued

John_Gray said:

I've emailed them to ask whether their lenses are made of glass or of plastic but haven't had a reply after several days.

Does the lens material depend on which "lens package" you choose, or the strength of your prescription?

Thanks!

They will be plastic.

However there are different types and qualities, plus different coatings to give scratch resistance and reduce reflections. You can also get high refractive index lenses, which are thinner and lighter for the same optical power. Normally only needed for stronger prescriptions, particularly for short sighted people so that the lenses are not as thick at the edges.

John_Gray

Thank you both!  I've just gone from about -16D in both eyes, which required the highest density Zeiss glass lenses available at £gasp! , to about 0D, following cataract surgery, and found that cleaning plastic lenses is more of a faff compared with glass ones.  Maybe I will just have to get used to plastic!

Undervalued

John_Gray said:

Thank you both!  I've just gone from about -16D in both eyes, which required the highest density Zeiss glass lenses available at £gasp! , to about 0D, following cataract surgery, and found that cleaning plastic lenses is more of a faff compared with glass ones.  Maybe I will just have to get used to plastic!

It is and you will I'm afraid!

However if you are not too fashion conscious about frames and can live without designer labels you can get excellent prescription glasses very cheaply online. Just replace them every six months or so! Certainly have the hard coating if it is not included as standard. I've not used Glasses Direct but have been very happy with SelectSpecs.

You will of course need to adjust them to fit yourself....