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30 Under 30 Europe 2024
What are thin lenses?
As the name suggests, thin lenses are high index lenses which allow a higher prescription to be packaged in comparatively thinner lenses. The index of a lens refers to how much light it refracts.
Thin lenses are not only lighter, more comfortable and stylish, they are also stronger. That’s why they are recommended for rimless glasses, where strength is of particular importance.
Why thin lenses?
There are a lot of advantages when you go for thin lenses -
Since less material is required, thin lenses are also lighter and more comfortable to wear.
Because of narrow shape and slimmer edges, they can be glazed into a wide variety of glasses. There’s a good, noticeable difference between thin and standard lenses and in most cases thin lenses do not stick out of the frame.
Thin lenses are naturally more aesthetically pleasing compared to bulky lenses. They are streamlined within frames and also avoid the “bug eye look” or fish-bowl effect associated with high prescriptions.
Types of thin lenses
Standard or basic lenses have an index of 1.5 or 1.56.
Thin lenses have an index of 1.6 or 1.63 and are around 20% thinner than basic lenses.
Ultra-thin lenses have an index of 1.67 and are around 30% thinner than basic lenses.
Do I need ultra-thin or thin lenses?
Your lens thickness depends totally on your prescription, frame material and frame style. In simple terms, if you have a combined power above +/- 3 you should consider going for thin lenses, if it is above +/- 6 then go for ultra-thin lenses for ideal glazing and perfect quality lenses.
Acetate, TR90 or Composite Wood frames
| Lens thickness | Suitable for prescriptions |
Price |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Up to +/- 3 | Free |
| Thin | Up to +/- 6 | £27 |
| Ultra Thin | Up to +/- 9 | £60 |
Since acetate frames are thicker than metal ones, it is comparatively easier to hide around the bevel.
Metal frames
| Lens thickness | Suitable for prescriptions |
Price |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | Up to +/- 2.5 | Free |
| Thin | Up to +/- 5 | £27 |
| Ultra-thin | Up to +/- 9 | £60 |
Since metal frames have more of a thin wire, the lens thickness is more visible.
Choosing The Thinnest Lenses for High Prescription Eyeglasses
Ultra-thin glass lenses are a true blessing for individuals with high prescriptions. Conventional lenses tend to become thicker as the prescription strength increases, impacting the aesthetics of the glasses. For those who value fashion, choosing the thinnest lenses for glasses is essential to ensure a stylish appearance. Moreover, these ultra-thin lenses offer added comfort due to their lightweight design, allowing you to wear them throughout the day without any discomfort. You can select the thinnest lenses for high prescriptions during the checkout process, tailored to your specific power.
How high index lenses work?
You may already know that we see things due to the light entering our eyes. We need vision correction (for nearsightedness, farsightedness or both) when our eye lens system doesn’t work perfectly. This makes our eyes unable to focus an image on our retina (think of retina like a cinema screen, on which movies are projected), resulting in blurred vision. Enter prescription lenses! Depending on your power/prescription, these lenses refract or bend light in such a way that its focal point is correctly adjusted, so that we experience clear vision.
Higher the prescription, the more refraction your lenses need - the thicker they will be in case of standard lenses.
High index lenses refract more light, so less material is required even for higher prescriptions.
How to buy thin lenses
FAQs About Thin Lenses
Can thick lenses be thinned?
A particular pair of lenses cannot be thinned, you will have to go for new, high index ones. What makes lenses thick or thin is their index. High index lenses are thin, while low index lenses are comparatively thicker. Higher prescriptions (typically above 3) require these high index lenses.
What are high index lenses?
The index of lenses refers to the way a piece of lens refracts light. In simple words, higher index lenses allow higher prescription to be packaged in a thinner piece of lens. You can choose among Basic (1.5 index), Thin (1.6 index) and Ultra-Thin (1.67 index) lenses.
Do I need thin lenses?
The lens thickness which you need depends on your prescription and type of frames. In the case of acetate frames, you should consider going for thin lenses (1.6 index) if your prescription is +/- 3 or above. Since metal frames are thinner, they might require thin lenses when your prescription is +/- 2.5 or above. Ultra-thin lenses (1.67) are required if you have a prescription of +/- 6 or above.
Are thin lenses better?
If you have a high prescription (3 or above), you might need thin lenses. Their edges fit the frames perfectly and are not visible, making the lenses less noticeable. They are lighter than standard lenses. They also avoid the “bug-eyed” look in the case of very high prescriptions. You can have a discussion with your optometrist to learn more about the perfect lenses for your frames.
Can varifocal lenses be made thinner if already thinned?
No lenses — including varifocals — can be made thinner once they are already cut and glazed. The thickness of lenses depends on the index of the material used - higher the index, thinner the lenses. Please refer to questions 1 and 2 for more information!
Can you have thin and light lenses with bifocals?
Yes! You can have thin lenses with any kind of prescription - single vision, bifocals or varifocals.
Do thin lenses cause light sensitivity?
Thin lenses have no association with light sensitivity! If you have been facing light sensitivity, consider going for tinted or photochromic glasses.
How much difference will ultra thin lenses in glasses make?
Our thin lenses are approximately 20% thinner than basic lenses. Ultra-thin lenses are around 30% thinner.
Are ultra thin lenses a rip-off?
Whether you need ultra-thin lenses or not depends totally on your prescription and frames. For example, if you have a prescription of just 1, you don’t need ultra-thin lenses at all! If you have higher prescription like 4 and have opted for thin, sleek lenses, you might need thin lenses so that they don’t stick out. For more information, please consult your optometrist!
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