If you are a spectacle enthusiast, eyeglass aficionado, or a passionate devotee of all thing’s eyeglass related, let’s dive into selecting a quality pair of reading glasses. This quest is a little complicated because of the plethora of choices you have regarding the many manufacturing materials available for frames and eyeglass lenses.
Now, I’m talking with a filter of an optometrist and not a fashionista or someone that follows the current trends in eye wear (because I’m not cool). I will be talking about concrete things like materials of differing qualities that might appeal to you for both eyeglass frames and available lens materials.
First let’s talk about eyeglass lens materials…
Acrylic Lenses - Aspheric: Acrylic aspheric lenses are the overachievers of the optics world - light weight, good optical quality and cost effective. Acrylic single vision aspheric lenses are commonly used for reading glasses. There are different grades of these lenses, so avoid dollar store variations. Acrylic lenses of higher quality are appreciated for their flatter base curve aspheric design qualities that provides crystal-clear vision with minimal distortion, even at the edges.
CR-39: CR-39 stands for Columbia Resin #39 because apparently #38 wasn’t good enough. CR-39 was developed in 1940 and was originally used to help bomber aircrafts lose some weight (it was used to create lighter fuel tanks—yes, I’m an eyeglass history nerd). It’s got an old-school vibe, like a vinyl record in the world of Spotify. This is the most common lens material and is your basic plastic lens. One reason why it’s common is because it’s inexpensive, fairly light, reasonably durable, and is easy to put a tint on. However, CR-39 is good for low eyeglass prescriptions but gets thicker with higher prescriptions in single vision options. Thickness is not affected on progressive reading lenses.
Polycarbonate Lenses: To most people, polycarbonate material is recognized for its impact resistance and is used for safety equipment such as safety helmets, face shields, and protective eyewear. It’s the Chuck Norris of lens materials—tough, and ready to say, “Hold my beer, I’ve got this.” It is also a common material used for eyeglass lenses due to its impact resistance—making it a good choice for kids’ eyeglasses for obvious reasons. Polycarb is thin, light, strong, and protects you against ultraviolet light rays. Polycarb is the preferred lens material for semi-rimless frames since it’s harder to chip or fracture.
Mid-Index Photochromic Lenses: Mid-Index lenses are the Goldilocks of lenses - not too thick or thin - perfect for someone that doesn’t want to look through a submarine porthole. Mid-index lens material is a fantastic choice for photochromic lenses! It strikes a perfect balance between lightweight comfort and optical clarity, making it ideal for everyday wear. Its moderate thickness allows for efficient light-sensitive tint transitions, ensuring your eyes stay protected and comfy in changing light conditions—perfect for those on the go!
MR-8: This material is exceptional for fully rimless frames due to its impressive strength and lightweight feel. It outperforms polycarbonate in terms of fracture resistance, ensuring superior durability for delicate designs. When it comes to optics, MR-8 lenses are among the best high-end options, offering excellent clarity and sharpness. This quality is due to their high refractive index and low dispersion, which minimize chromatic aberration.
Let’s switch gears and talk about eyeglass frame materials…
Injection Molded Petroleum Eyeglass Frames: Oh, injection-molded petroleum eyeglass frames - what a spectacle! These frames are made by injecting petroleum-based plastic into a mold to make frames. It is one of most inexpensive and quick ways to make frames. It’s your go-to choice when you want a budget friendly alternative that literally made of oil - except it’s lightweight and doesn’t spill.
Cellulose Acetate Eyeglass Frames: Cellulose acetate frames are a form of plastic that is made from cotton and wood pulp. These bad boys are the lovechild of a tree and a chemistry lab. They are lighter, durable, and hypoallergenic as opposed to injection-molded petroleum frames. So, there is no chance of becoming allergic to your eyeglass frames (unless you’re allergic to cotton or wood pulp). Cellulose acetate frames are a popular choice due to their light weight, durability, variety of color options, and being easy to work with. The also tend to have a wire core embedded in the temples that makes it easy to adjust the temple-arms shape around the ears to accommodate the wearers individual measurements.
Metal Eyeglass Frames: Another common material that frames are made from includes titanium and stainless-steel frames. Metal frames say, “I’m sophisticated, but I could also pick up cell phone calls if close to a cell tower. Metal frames are popular due to their light weight, flexibility, and resistance to corrosion. This corrosion resistance is important because the oils from your face can corrode the surface of the eyeglass frames and strip it off. Titanium frames are easy to adjust to your face and hypoallergenic.
If you’re like me, I always focus on the quality of a pair of eyeglasses since I will be using them literally every day and they must last because if they don’t, I will waste time trying to replace it. These days, my time is worth more than money (within reason).
So, this is just my opinion as both a consumer of eyeglasses as well as an eye doctor that recommends and prescribes them.
To start off, let’s talk about lenses because that’s the main working part of the eyeglasses. I have several pairs since I use each one for different purposes. If I’m working at the office, doing computer tasks or just out and about, I use my mid-index lenses for their light weight and cosmetic appeal.
For frames, I usually stick with metal frames for light weight, durability, and high tensile strength. I have the habit of taking them on and off throughout the day, and that gets them out of whack, so it’s easier to adjust them without breaking them. Also, metal frames usually have nose pads which I need since I have a flat Asian nose (no bridge whatsoever) and need nose pads to act as a brake, so my glasses don’t fall down my nose.
I also have an oily face so I don’t worry that the finish will strip off with my titanium frames, and they usually last longer than plastic frames. So, while metal frames maybe more expensive, I feel I’m getting the best bang for the buck.
Finally, most readers would like me to rank frame material from best to worst in terms of quality.
First, I’d like to say this is just my opinion and there’s always room for differing opinions—this is just mine.
For frames, I think the best is metal. Like I said before, I’m biased since I have a flat Asian nose (and I’m not even Asian…just kidding again) so it fits better for me. Also, I tend to be hard on my eyeglasses and have snapped quite a few plastic frames but have never done so with metal. I don’t think there is a worst frame material as long as the frame material is of high quality.
But again, this is all my opinion and personal experience. To make the best choice for yourself, please review all the info and pros and cons I’ve provided. There’s a reason there are so many choices for frames and lenses—they all serve different purposes. Being informed is the best way to pick your new favorite pair of eyeglasses!
