What Are High-Index Glasses?
The Complete Guide

High-index glasses are essentially the latest in eyewear upgrades. Unlike standard eyeglass lenses, high-index lenses are designed to be significantly thinner and lighter while still correcting the vision woes of those with uber-high prescriptions. 

They achieve this extraordinary feat by bending light more efficiently than your average lens, thanks to being made from a high-index material. In our case, that’s polycarbonate. High-index merely means they can refract light – for those who aren’t eyewear experts, that’s the key to visual clarity – more efficiently than standard lenses. Yep, there’s an “and” coming: they do it all while being sleeker and more comfortable than your run-of-the-mill high-prescription lens. Wowza, indeed. ​​

So, how do you know if you’re someone who could benefit from these advanced lenses? Well, as with most eyewear-related inquiries, it all comes down to your prescription and specific vision needs. If your prescription indicates severe nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, high-index lenses will prevent you from needing to lug around a bulky frame and offer a far more elegant solution. Read on to find out more about common vision problems that may mean you need high-index lenses. Do any of these sound like you?

1. High Prescription: If your prescription is significantly high (typically above +/- 3.00), standard lenses can become excessively thick and heavy. This applies whether you have myopia (nearsightedness, or difficulty seeing objects at a distance) or hyperopia (farsightedness, or trouble seeing things up-close). High-index lenses can help by reducing the thickness of your lenses, so you won’t be broadcasting your prescription to everyone who looks you in the eye. 

2. Presbyopia: For those experiencing more difficulty focusing on up-close objects as they age, high-index progressive lenses could be your most convenient (and stylish) solution.

3. Astigmatism: Astigmatism sounds scary, but it really just means you need both up-close and far-out vision correction. If that’s you, high-index lenses can provide crisp, distortion-free vision even whilst you maintain a sleek lens profile.

4. Fashion and Comfort: Hey, even if you don’t have an uber-high prescription, who are we to tell you not to run towards the cutting edge of eyewear? Feel free to opt for high-index lenses merely for the sake of comfort and style – thinner lenses means less weight on your face, not to mention all of the fabulous frame options.

Not all high-index glasses are created equal, so allow us to give you the low-down on two common options. The two most common offerings are 1.67 and 1.74 high-index lenses. The main difference between the two lies in the refractive index – a fancy way of saying they’re really good at their job. The higher the refractive index, the thinner the lens. We only offer 1.67 high-index lenses, which we find tend to hold up better under pressure.

1.67 High-Index Lenses: While also suitable for moderate prescriptions, 1.67 high-index lenses are designed for very high prescriptions, and are noticeably thinner and lighter than your average lens. “Flabbergasted” will likely be the only word to describe your reaction upon realizing just how thin and lightweight your new frames are, especially if you’re used to inch-thick glass.

Feeling a little wishy-washy? Even if not, we’d recommend consulting your eye care professional to determine which option is best for you.

While high-index glasses are a blessing for those with strong prescriptions, they may not be a perfect match for everyone. Some potential disadvantages include:

Cost: High-index lenses can be pricier than standard ones. Still, their benefits in terms of aesthetics and comfort make them well-worth the investment. Quality doesn’t come cheap, after all. You’ll find it for less at eyebobs, but you didn’t hear that from us.

Glare: Because of the sensitive material they’re made from, high-index lenses can be more reflective, resulting in more frequent glare. Opting for an anti-reflective coating can help mitigate this issue.

Durability: The higher the refractive index, the more delicate the lens material can be. This just means you’ll need to treat your new glasses like newborns, even after years of use. Adding a scratch-resistant coating means you’ll be able to treat them more like a regular baby, though.

In a word, yes. High-index lenses are worth it for individuals with high prescriptions and those simply seeking sleek, lightweight, and comfortable eyewear. They can improve your vision while reducing lens thickness and weight, enhancing your overall eyeglasses-wearing experience. And it’s not just about aesthetics: high-index lenses can also provide superior optical clarity.

Some may say high-index lenses are overpowered, but we say you can never have too many eyewear upgrades. If you enjoy improved aesthetics, comfort, and visual performance, you’ll love these. While these advanced advantages come at a higher price point, particularly if you’re tricking them out even further with anti-glare and scratch-resistant coatings, we feel compelled to remind you that you’re essentially purchasing a pair of bionic eyeballs. Pretty good deal, no?

Say goodbye to bulky glasses and hello to carefree days of seeing through your new high-index lenses. Ultimately, they’re a pretty remarkable solution for individuals with hefty prescriptions, ensuring their glasses need not be hefty as well. “Everybody eats,” as they say – well, here, it’s “everybody sees.”

So, if your prescription is particularly intense (and even if it’s not), why wait? We’re serving the future of eyewear up to you on a silver platter: high-index glasses that will revolutionize your vision and your style.