Are high-index 1.67 lenses worth the extra money?

I'm trying to decide if getting $70 high-index 1.67 lenses are worth
the extra money.

My prescription:

Right:
sphere: -3.250
cylinder: -0.750
axis: 172

Left:
sphere: -1.500
cylinder: -0.250
axis: 180

I went to Costco today to get some eyeglasses. The guy selling the
glasses was pushing for the $70 1.67 lenses. He said that the right
lens will look REALLY thick if I get the $20 regular plastic lenses. He
said that since the frames I brought in were kind of big lengthwise,
the thickness of the right lens would really stand out. Going on his
advice, I got the 1.67 lenses.

After a couple of hours, I started having second thoughts about getting
the more expensive lens. I wasn't too sure if the 1.67 lenses were
worth the extra $50. I postponed my order for now on the phone so that
I could make a more intelligent decision. Now I'm trying to decide
between regular plastic lenses (CR-39, I think) and high-index 1.67
lenses.

I was doing some searches on Google Groups, and I read that CR-39
lenses have better visual clarity than the thinner lenses. If that's
true, then CR-39 lenses seem like the better option.

I plan on getting lenses for the following glasses. The size of the
frame is 50-18-140

http://tinyurl.com/b3dyo

I don't know how thick the right lens will look. I plan on getting the
lenses rolled & polished, so that should reduce the thickness a bit.
Based on the prescription above, will the right lens look like a coke
bottle in the frame I brought in?

"dave191" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> I'm trying to decide if getting $70 high-index 1.67 lenses are worth
> the extra money.
>
> My prescription:
>
> Right:
> sphere: -3.250
> cylinder: -0.750
> axis: 172
>
> Left:
> sphere: -1.500
> cylinder: -0.250
> axis: 180
>
> I went to Costco today to get some eyeglasses. The guy selling the
> glasses was pushing for the $70 1.67 lenses. He said that the right
> lens will look REALLY thick if I get the $20 regular plastic lenses. He
> said that since the frames I brought in were kind of big lengthwise,
> the thickness of the right lens would really stand out. Going on his
> advice, I got the 1.67 lenses.
>
> After a couple of hours, I started having second thoughts about getting
> the more expensive lens. I wasn't too sure if the 1.67 lenses were
> worth the extra $50. I postponed my order for now on the phone so that
> I could make a more intelligent decision. Now I'm trying to decide
> between regular plastic lenses (CR-39, I think) and high-index 1.67
> lenses.
>
> I was doing some searches on Google Groups, and I read that CR-39
> lenses have better visual clarity than the thinner lenses. If that's
> true, then CR-39 lenses seem like the better option.
>
> I plan on getting lenses for the following glasses. The size of the
> frame is 50-18-140
>
> http://tinyurl.com/b3dyo
>
> I don't know how thick the right lens will look. I plan on getting the
> lenses rolled & polished, so that should reduce the thickness a bit.
> Based on the prescription above, will the right lens look like a coke
> bottle in the frame I brought in?
>
The higher the index, the worse the optical quality of the lens. CR-39 is
1.50 index. The only exception is polycarb 1.59 which is worse than even
1.67 index.

For your Rx, you definitely do not need, and do not want, 1.67 index lenses.
You could use 1.60 but no higher than that, and a mid-index like 1.54
Spectralite (only on Sola lenses) would be fine. CR-39 would be acceptable,
but would be a bit heavier and thicker.

If Costco does not have what you need, try Wal-Mart Optical. I believe they
carry Sola Spectralite.

To review, here most of your options:

1.50 regular plastic CR-39
1.53 Trivex (safety lenses, excellent optics) from Hoya or Younger
1.54 Sola Spectralite (excellent choice) from Sola only
1.56 mid index from certain other companies
1.59 polycarb (safety lenses - crappy optical quality)
1.60 Sola Finalite (better than most other 1.60 lenses) from Sola only
1.60 High index lenses from many companies
1.66/1.67 Very high index from many companies.

Mark A wrote:

> For your Rx, you definitely do not need, and do not want, 1.67 index lenses.
> You could use 1.60 but no higher than that, and a mid-index like 1.54
> Spectralite (only on Sola lenses) would be fine.

I tend to agree. I think for his Rx a Trivex or 1.56 would be about
right, and anything over 1.6 is ridiculous.

w.stacy, o.d.

"Mark A" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:AuudnY1DKJOc4CLfRVn-(E-Mail Removed):

> For your Rx, you definitely do not need, and do not want, 1.67 index
> lenses. You could use 1.60 but no higher than that, and a mid-index
> like 1.54 Spectralite (only on Sola lenses) would be fine. CR-39 would
> be acceptable, but would be a bit heavier and thicker.
>
> If Costco does not have what you need, try Wal-Mart Optical. I believe
> they carry Sola Spectralite.

Sola Spectralite seems like a good compromise between optical quality and
thickness. I'll call my nearest Wal-Mart tomorrow and check if they carry
them and how much they cost. Hopefully, they're not too expensive.
Otherwise, I'd have to go with the plastic lenses. I can handle a little
thickness, as long as it isn't very noticable from a distance.

Wooly <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> If you're purchasing a rather
> thick-rimmed frame the difference in lens thickness won't really be
> noticeable - anyone who can detect it is probably too far into your
> personal space, eh?
>
> I'm guessing the geek at Costco sees a bigger commission from the
> upsell...

If the Costco people get a bigger commission from selling higher-priced
options, that would explain a lot. When I postponed the order, the guy was
really urging me to stick with the thinner 1.67 lenses before he gave in.

As for the frames I brought in, they're rather thin-rimmed, so I don't know
if the thicker lens would go by unnoticed.

I have another question; this one concerns polished edges. Will polished
edges affect optical quality in any way? I read in another newsgroup that
this isn't recommended sometimes, but no specific reason was given.

"Dave" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns9681EBFB0D0D0Dave@199.45.49.11...
>I have another question; this one concerns polished edges. Will polished
> edges affect optical quality in any way? I read in another newsgroup that
> this isn't recommended sometimes, but no specific reason was given.
>
If you have rimless frames, polished edges can sometimes allow light to
enter the edge of the lens, which can be a distraction. I guess the same
thing could happen to a lesser degree on frames with very thin edges, but I
am not an expert on this subject.

William Stacy <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:ChLve.34309$(E-Mail Removed). com:

> I tend to agree. I think for his Rx a Trivex or 1.56 would be about
> right, and anything over 1.6 is ridiculous.
>
> w.stacy, o.d.

Is the reduction in thickness compared to CR-39 significant enough to
justify the extra cost of Trivex or Spectralite lenses? Would the
difference be like night & day for my prescription?

I never knew there were so many lens options. Before today, I only thought
there was thick plastic, thin, and extra thin.

"Mark A" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:ffqdnQhWwuYsOyLfRVn-(E-Mail Removed):

> The weight of the lens is not only a matter of comfort, but can also
> affect vision since it keeps the lens from sliding off your nose, away
> from the optimum lens position.

I didn't think about the weight of the lens that way before. It should've
been obvious to me. I'll ask Wal-Mart if they carry Spectralite lenses. I
don't think Costco had Spectralite as an option. If Wal-Mart doesn't have
it, I'll have to go with CR-39 lenses from Costco. From what I've
learned so far, CR-39 and Spectralite seem like the two best options when
considering optical quality and price.

"Dave" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns96829E4CE6EDave@199.45.49.11...
>
> I didn't think about the weight of the lens that way before. It should've
> been obvious to me. I'll ask Wal-Mart if they carry Spectralite lenses. I
> don't think Costco had Spectralite as an option. If Wal-Mart doesn't have
> it, I'll have to go with CR-39 lenses from Costco. From what I've
> learned so far, CR-39 and Spectralite seem like the two best options when
> considering optical quality and price.
>
Just so that you ask for the right thing, the lens manufacturer is Sola, and
the lens material is Spectralite 1.54 index.