New glasses- polycarbonate or glass lenses?

[Paul K]

All:

Title pretty much says it all. Polycarbonate always seems to scratch- glass is clearer and less to worry about when cleaning but heavier.

I have a couple of old pairs of polycarb for when I'm wrenching, so no worries there.

Any insight (pun intended) on which is better?

Thanks in advance,

Paul.

[nynor]

i think you've answered your own question.

it comes down to what it is you expect/want from the eyeglasses. lightweight vs clarity and scratch resistance, etc.

[flyenby]

I work with my hands and tools...glass lenses have been my choice

[sketchers356]

Polycarb guy here. My glasses are thick enough as is.

[Nickshu]

I love glass but wear polycarbonate because I'm afraid of an airbag to the face and glass in my eyes.

Currently have Carl Zeiss polycarbonate lenses. Expensive but the best I've ever had.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

[look 171]

I don't think glass and safety mix well in this country unless its 3" thick ( I never asked anymore when I go and get new ones). My eyes are really bad from looking at too many girls in my youth so glass is out of the question. I have had poly all my life but did have a couple of pairs of glass ones made over seas when I broke my glasses there (story of my life being active and stupid). I had my first pair when we visited Italy, it was a super thin German glass lens. I found them to be far superior to poly and it doesn't scratch. That pair lasted me for few years after we got back home. My other pair was done in Hong Kong until my wife sat on them and broke the frame.

[JAR0023]

Crizal poly user here. I ponied up for the lenses about three years ago and they have been great. Still scratch free as the first day and the anti-glare/reflection works well. I can appreciate nice glass lenses but can't stand the added weight. -J

[Lusso1]

Get the plastic coated.

[sketchers356]

I hate the coatings they put on the lenses. They always pit and make the optics fuzzy. I go with naked polycarb and have only ever had one small scratch without being particularly careful.

[look 171]

I get the best from Costo has to offer and its been scratch free for about a year now.

[ddbach]

Look into a newer material - Trivex
About equal breakage resistance, better light transmittance and fewer internal reflections compared to polycarbonate. Both can be ground in safety thickness or standard dress thickness. It accepts coatings well. On anti-reflective coatings go for the top of the line for best scratch resistance. Older formulas now cheaper were not as durable. Damaged coating can often be removed and reapplied as long it is just the coating that is damaged.

[Hugh R]

Going for the plastic here. I usually don't wear my glasses around the house. A few years ago I had them on and saw a loose sheet metal screw on my roll up garage door cable. I stupidly decided to tighten it (under tension) , and it ripped loose and the sheet metal screw ripped out of the sheet metal and hit my glasses. My right eye vision exploded, it hit me so hard it knocked me on my butt. My vision blurred and I thought I'd lost my eye. It turned out the screw destroyed the right eye plastic lens, I was fine. I doubt that glass would have saved my eye.

[sketchers356]

I had a professor that got hit in the eye with something that left a big scratch on his polycarb glasses. You never know.

[stomachmonkey]

Switched to contacts a year ago but will not wear glass and have not in 30+ years.

Plenty of options available that are lighter, just as clear and scratch resistant.