When it comes to eye wear that is both durable to lightweight there are two real options, Trivex and polycarbonate. Today we're going to compare the two materials and see which is best for your next set of lenses.
The qualities we're going to compare are thickness, weight (part of what causes those nasty nose marks), impact resistance, UV protection, and clarity.
Thickness: Trivex lenses have an ever so slightly lower index of refraction that polycarbonate lenses. 1.53 vs 1.58 respectively. This measures how effectively the material bends light. It's most important in sunglasses but translates to a 10% thinner lens when going with polycarbonate.
Weight: Despite being made with a thinner material polycarbonate lenses are heavier than Trivex lenses. Trivex lenses are made of an urethane-based monomer that is 10% lighter than polycarbonate. If you're wearing your glasses for an extended period of time or wearing them during an active activity such as hiking, or biking it can lead to red nose marks and general discomfort, a lighter lens can help reduce some of this.
Impact Resistance: Neither of these materials does a better job than the other at preventing breaks. They're both shatter and scratch resistant. You need not worry about either choice if a primary concern is what happens if you drop your glasses.
UV Protection: Trivex and polycarbonate both offer 100% UV ray protection. Neither need special coatings to do so if you're hoping to wear your glasses to protect from blue light, either material can be used.
Clarity: Abbe numbers are given to all lenses. These numbers describe the amount of chromatic aberration of an optical lens. It describes problems such as distorted or blurred images while looking through the lens. Trivax lenses have a higher Abbe value, meaning they produce both sharper central and peripheral vision with less distortion than a polycarbonate lens.
In conclusion, Trivax lenses are the clear choice no matter the activity. They offer a lighter profile with clearer vision. If you plan on wearing your glasses for extended periods of time or wearing them while active polycarbonate can't compare to the benefits that Trivex lenses give you.If you're struggling with the weight of your glasses, a Nose Fender can really help make them more comfortable and sustainable to wear long term.