Technical innovation and customizations in eyewear over the years have led to major developments in the types of glasses a person can now choose from. Earlier, a person with a stronger prescription would require having to settle with thick lenses for their eyeglasses while sacrificing on the aesthetic end. Bulky eyeglasses that have limited frame and style options, would have to be the ultimate choice for a person with high lens power.
Since eyeglasses are a vital part of a person’s overall appearance, they can make lasting impressions on people. They are often the first thing, another person may notice about you, so wearing a bulky pair of eyeglasses that overpower your features may become a hurdle in social spaces. But new and improved lenses that help maintain the sleek appearance while fulfilling your prescription needs are now available. High index lenses are an example of the same, where you have stronger prescriptions and yet you can choose from the same frame and style options as those with regular prescription needs. To understand what lens index is and how high index lenses work, keep reading.
Lens Index Meaning
The fundamental purpose of the lenses in a pair of eyeglasses is to bend the light penetrating the lenses and fixing the focal error within your eyes. The way this error is rectified is by installing corrective lenses with a refractive index that corresponds to the extent to which the light needs to be bent. The refractive index of the lens quantifies its ability to bend light.
Lens index, therefore, determines how thick or thin the corrective lenses will be. When a corrective lens has a high lens index, it means that the speed of the light traveling through the lenses is slow and bent more compared to conventional lenses. Therefore, the inference is that lenses with a high lens index can often fulfill stronger prescription requirements with less material. A high lens index allows the lenses to stay slimmer while bending the amount of light to a significant degree without having to compromise on the aesthetics of the glasses.
Corrective eyewear with a high lens index usually falls between 1.59 to 1.74 on the lens index scale. Conventional prescription lenses have a lens index of 1.50. This difference in lens index highlights how high index lenses have a higher capacity to bend light than what the standard corrective lenses have.
Benefits of High Index Lenses
The introduction of corrective eyewear with a high lens index is a way in which you can fulfil your prescription requirements without compromising on appearances. Eyewear with a high lens index can be a significant investment for you eventually, and it always helps to know all the enlisted benefits of wearing them.
1. Aesthetic: One of the foremost concerns you might have as an eyeglass wearer, is the overall appearance of your glasses and how well they complement your face. A concern with stronger prescriptions is that you may have to settle for thick lenses which may give a bug-eyed appearance. But that is not true. Eyewear with a high lens index mitigates those concerns with a slimmer and flattering lens that does its job seamlessly.
2. Lightweight: Due to the slim design and finishing of glasses with a high lens index, they are lightweight and long-lasting. Compared to the traditional lenses, high index lenses require little readjustment.
3. Options: Thicker traditional lenses for higher prescriptions often limit you to certain frame options and styles. High index lenses allow for a diverse range of frame options, as the thickness of the lens ceases to be a concern. One can go rimless or even have metal frames, as per personal style preferences.
4. Versatile: As per technicalities and other add-ons, a high lens index does not limit the lenses from being turned into progressive or diverse types of focal lenses. They can easily be adapted into multi-focal and photochromic lenses alike.
Reputed brands such as Titan Eyeplus host a variety of frame and lens options for you to choose from. You can also seek professional consultation and find an ideal match for your eyewear needs.