Polycarbonate Lenses: Popular, But Not Perfect

By Jon J. Trutt

Published: 9/30/2025

If you’re still defaulting to polycarbonate lenses for most patients, it’s time to rethink that approach. While polycarbonate gets a lot of hype for being “shatterproof,” it comes with serious drawbacks, and there are plenty of better options available today.

The Downside of Polycarbonate

• Poor Optical Clarity: Polycarbonate has the lowest Abbe value of any common lens material. That means more color fringing, blur, and visual distortion, especially noticeable in higher prescriptions or on digital screens.

• Scratch-Prone: Despite protective coatings, polycarbonate is the least scratch-resistant lens material. Everyday wear and tear can leave lenses looking worse over time.

• Overrated Impact Resistance: Yes, polycarbonate is highly impact-resistant. But Trivex offers nearly the same protection—without the optical compromises. For most patients, the difference in safety is negligible.

What’s Better than Polycarbonate?

1. Trivex

   • Almost as impact-resistant as polycarbonate

   • Superior optics with higher Abbe value

   • Higher tensile strength and naturally more scratch-resistant

   • Lightweight and comfortable

2. CR-39 Plastic

   • Excellent optical clarity and color fidelity

   • Very scratch-resistant (Second only to glass)

   • High Abbe Value (Second only to glass)

   • Lightweight and cost-effective for standard prescriptions

   • Perfect for everyday wear when impact resistance isn’t critical

3. 1.60 & High-Index Lenses

   • Thinner and lighter for stronger prescriptions

   • Better optics than polycarbonate

   • Comfortable and aesthetically pleasing

   • Comparable price to polycarbonate in many cases

Why Europe Barely Uses Polycarbonate

Across Europe, polycarbonate is rarely the default choice. Eye care professionals there overwhelmingly recommend Trivex, CR-39, or high-index lenses because they deliver better vision, more scratch resistance, and similar impact protection without a significant price increase.

The Bottom Line

Polycarbonate has its place: children, sports eyewear, or certain high-risk situations, but for most patients, it’s far from the ideal material. Between Trivex, CR-39, and high-index lenses, you can provide superior optics, better scratch resistance, and nearly the same durability, all for around the same cost.

Doctors and practices should stop automatically reaching for polycarbonate and start choosing the lens material that truly benefits the patient. Better vision and better lenses are possible without paying more.

Contact AccuLab Optical if you have any questions about lens materials and their pros & cons: 800-688-3904 or info@acculab.net