Eyeglasses are essentially made up of two basic parts: the lenses and the frames. The frames are the fashionable part of the duo, so they get most of the fanfare. But the lenses in your glasses do most of the "heavy lifting" and provide the prescription you need for better vision.

Learn more below about the pros and cons of different types of eyeglass lenses and how to choose the best lenses for your vision needs.

Comparing different types of lenses for glasses

The material used in your eyeglass lenses affects their clarity, durability, weight and cost. That’s why it’s important to understand what different types of lenses can do for you and how to choose the right lenses for your eyeglasses.

Eyeglass lens materials: options and features

Below are some of the most popular types of eyeglass lens materials. These lens materials apply to prescription lenses for glasses, including single vision lenses to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.

Plastic/CR-39® lenses: With good optical quality, this lens material is lightweight and more shatter-resistant than glass, and it accepts tints easily.

Disadvantages. Plastic/CR-39® lenses are thicker than polycarbonate or high-index plastic lenses. They are also lower on the durability scale and may not fully block ultraviolet light. You may want to add a scratch-resistant lens treatment for added durability and a special treatment for 100% ultraviolet (UV) protection.
Polycarbonate lenses: This material is even lighter and more impact-resistant than plastic, making it an ideal lens choice for children’s eyeglasses, safety eyewear and sports eyewear. Polycarbonate lenses also have built-in ultraviolet protection.

Disadvantages. You may want to add a scratch-resistant lens treatment to your pair of glasses to increase durability, and an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare.
Trivex lenses: This material offers top-notch impact resistance, making it another good lens material choice for safety glasses, sports goggles and children's eyewear. It's the lightest eyeglass lens material available, it blocks 100% of UV rays, and it may produce sharper central vision than polycarbonate lenses.

Disadvantages. You may want to add an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare.
NXT lenses: This material offers superior impact resistance and excellent optical clarity, even for higher prescription strengths. It's flexible, ultra-lightweight and blocks 100% of UV rays, without needing a special lens treatment.

Disadvantages. NXT lenses tend to be more expensive than other types of lenses.
Mid-to-high index lenses: These glasses lens materials weigh up to 50% less and are up to 60% thinner than traditional plastic lenses, making them a great choice for stronger prescriptions, which can often mean thicker lenses.

Disadvantages. You'll probably want to add a scratch-resistant lens treatment for durability and an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare.
Photochromatic lenses: Also known as progressive lenses, these lenses contain a special coating that maintains a clear view in low lighting (like indoors or at night), while changing to a darker tint in sunlight. Progressive lenses are a good option for those who don’t want to carry an extra pair of prescription sunglasses.

Disadvantages. Car windshields prevent most UV light from reaching the lens. However, some newer progressive lenses may darken slightly inside a car on a sunny day.

Healthy vision starts with a comprehensive eye exam

Whether you’re looking for bifocals, blue light glasses or a pair of glasses with single vision lenses, consider scheduling an appointment for an eye exam to ensure that your prescription is up to date. During your eye exam, ask your eye doctor which eyeglass lens materials, as well as which coatings, would be best for your specific vision condition and your lifestyle. Your eye doctor can recommend the best eyeglass lens options for your next pair of glasses to help you see clearly.

Did you know? The CareCredit credit card is an easy way to pay for your vision care needs, including frames, lenses, eye exams, contact lenses, eye surgery and more.* To find a vision care provider near you that accepts CareCredit, visit our Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit mobile app.