Polycarbonate lenses are very high impact resistant lenses. They are one of the safest materials to use for eyeglass lenses. Typically they cost a little more than regular plastic lenses but they are much lighter in weight and very impact resistant.

Many eyeglass stores try to push Polycarb lenses as an upgrade. There are many reasons for this. A common reason is that there is less risk of liability caused if a customer gets eye damage due to the lenses shattering. Another reason is cost. Even though retailers sell Polycarb lenses as an upgrade, they actually cost less to make. The lens blanks cost a lot less from the manufacture and most finish stock (pre-made lenses) only cost a few dollars a pair.

Plastic lenses cost the retailer more money but because of the hype about polycarb they yield less profit for the optical store. Some customer don’t adapt very well to polycarb lenses due to their index of refraction (the speed in which light passes through the lens). Some customers report that the optics appear differently compared to plastic.

Many optical stores will mislead their customers by telling them that Polycarb lenses are more scratch resistant. This is actually not true. Plastic lenses are a harder more rigid material compared to Polycarb. Polycarbonate lenses are a very soft resin material and can scratch very easily. In fact, to help prevent scratches all polycarbonate lenses go through a standard back coating process whether scratch resistant coating is sold or not.

All children should be fitted with Polycarbonate lenses for sure. Not for the scratch resistant aspect (again they are less) but for the safely. If a child should get their glasses hit with a rock, Polycarbonate lenses absolutely will not shatter. Instead they will dent.