• Feel Good Contacts
  • 01 514 3614
  • Need Optical Advice?
  • OFFERS
    • 10% off First Order
    • 5% off on Auto Replenish
    • Glasses up to 70% off
    • Sunglasses up to 60% off
    • Refer a Friend
    • Earn Reward Points
    • Student Discount
    • Download Mobile App for FREE
  • Contact Lenses
    Top Brands
    • Acuvue
    • Air Optix
    • Alcon / Ciba Vision
    • Bausch & Lomb
    • Biofinity
    • Clariti
    • Comfi
    • Cooper Vision
    • Focus Dailies
    • Freshlook
    • All Brands
    Type
    • Daily Contact Lenses
    • Monthly Contact Lenses
    • Two Weekly Contact Lenses
    • Toric/Astigmatism Lenses
    • Multifocal Contact Lenses
    • Coloured Contact Lenses
    • Cheap Contact Lenses
    • Next Day Contact Lenses
    • Extended Contact Lenses
    • Silicone Hydrogel Lenses
    • No Prescription Lenses
    Top Sellers
    • comfi Daily Disposable
    • 1 Day Acuvue Moist
    • Dailies AquaComfort Plus
    • Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe
    • Acuvue Oasys
    • 1 Day Acuvue Moist For Astigmatism
    • Air Optix Aqua
    • FreshLook Colorblends
    • Biofinity
    • 1 Day Acuvue Moist Multifocal
    Buyer's Guide
    • Save with comfi
    • Which comfi is for you?
    • How to put in contact lenses
    • How to clean your contact lenses
    • Guide to Astigmatism
    • Glasses prescription vs contact lens prescription
    • Best contact lenses for dry eyes
    View All Contact Lenses
    feel good contacts menu feel good contacts menu
  • Solutions
    Top Brands
    • Boston
    • Biotrue
    • Comfi
    • EasySept
    • Ote Optics
    • Opti Free
    • OxySept
    • ReNu
    • Total Care
    • All Brands
    Type
    • Multi Purpose Solutions
    • Saline Solutions
    • Peroxide Solutions
    • Travel Pack Solutions
    • Rigid & Gas Permeable
    • Multi Pack Solutions
    Top Sellers
    • comfi All-in-One Solution
    • Biotrue Multi-Purpose Solution Twin Pack
    • Delta Plus Disinfecting Soaking and Wetting Solution
    • ReNu Multi-Purpose Solution Triple Pack
    • Opti-Free Express Twin Pack
    • Opti-Free RepleniSH Twin Pack
    • Refine One Step Solution - 250ml Triple Pack
    Buyer's Guide
    • How to clean and store soft lenses
    • Which contact lens solution do I need?
    • How to clean a contact lens case
    View All Solutions
    feel good contacts menu feel good contacts menu
  • Eye Care
    Top Brands
    • Altacor
    • Artelac
    • Biotrue
    • Comfi
    • Blink
    • Hycosan
    • Optase
    • Systane
    • The Body Doctor
    • The Eye Doctor
    • Thea
    Eye Care
    • Eye Drops
    • Eye Accessories
    • Dry Eye Treatments
    • Supplements & Hygiene
    • Face Masks
    • Covid Essentials
    • Travel Essentials
    Top Sellers
    • comfi Soothe Drops
    • Blink-N-Clean Eye Drops
    • Blink Intensive Tears Vials
    • Clinitas Soothe Multi
    • Feel Good Contact Lens Case
    • Feel Good Cleaning Kit
    • Hycosan Extra Dry Eye Drops
    • The Eye Doctor Lid Wipes
    • Thera-Pearl Eye Mask
    • The AB Mask Anti-Fog Cloth
    Buyer's Guide
    • How to use eye drops
    • How to stop itchy eyes from hay fever - for good
    • Computer Eye Strain:
      Symptoms and Solutions
    View All Eye Care
    feel good contacts menu feel good contacts menu
  • Glasses
    Gender
    • Women
      Glasses for women
    • Men
      Glasses for men
    Brands
    • Barbour
    • Calvin Klein
    • Chloe
    • DKNY
    • Dolce & Gabbana
    • EARTH
    • Emporio Armani
    • Farah
    • Feel Good Collection
    • Gucci
    • Hugo Boss
    • Lacoste
    • Le Specs
    • Marc Jacobs
    • MaxMara
    • Michael Kors
    • Oakley
    • O'Neill
    • Polaroid
    • Polo Ralph Lauren
    • Prada
    • Radley
    • Ralph by Ralph Lauren
    • Ray-Ban
    • Superdry
    • Tommy Hilfiger
    • Versace
    • Vogue
    Frame Shapes
    • Aviator Aviator
    • Oval Oval
    • Rectangle Rectangle
    • Round Round
    • Square Square
    • Wayfarer Wayfarer
    • Clubmaster Clubmaster
    • Cat Eye Cat Eye
    • Butterfly Butterfly
    • Hexagonal Hexagonal
    Special Offers
    • Clearance
    • New Arrivals
    • Best Sellers
    Price Range
    • £6 - £30
    • £30 - £70
    • £70 - £100
    • £100+
    Advice & Top Tips
    • Glasses prescription
    • Glasses frame size guide
    • Glasses lens options
    • Glasses lens coatings
    • How to tighten my glasses
    • Lens packages
    • Glasses tints
    View All Brands View Blue Light Glasses View Sustainable Glasses
    feel good contacts menu feel good contacts menu
  • Sunglasses
    Gender
    • Women
      Sunlasses for women
    • Men
      Sunglasses for men
    Brands
    • Calvin Klein
    • Carrera
    • Chloe
    • Dolce & Gabbana
    • Dunlop
    • Feel Good Collection
    • Gucci
    • Hugo Boss
    • Jimmy Choo
    • Kendall + Kylie
    • Lacoste
    • Le Specs
    • Linda Farrow
    • Oakley
    • O'Neill
    • Persol
    • Polaroid
    • Police
    • Prada
    • Radley
    • Ray-Ban
    • Saint Laurent
    • Superdry
    • Tommy Hilfiger
    • Versace
    • Victoria Beckham
    • Vogue
    Frame Shapes
    • Aviator Aviator
    • Oval Oval
    • Rectangle Rectangle
    • Round Round
    • Square Square
    • Wayfarer Wayfarer
    • Wrap Wrap
    • Clubmaster Clubmaster
    • Cat Eye Cat Eye
    • Butterfly Butterfly
    • Hexagonal Hexagonal
    • Octagonal Octagonal
    • Heart Heart
    Advice & Top Tips
    • Sunglasses tints
    • Face shape guide
    • Types of sunglasses
    • UV protection guide
    Special Offers
    • Clearance
    • New Arrivals
    • Best Sellers
    Lens Coatings
    • Polarised
    • Mirrored
    • Gradient
    Price Range
    • £15 - £50
    • £50 - £80
    • £80 - £120
    • £120+
    View All Brands View Collections
    feel good contacts menu feel good contacts menu
  • Help
    Customer Information
    • Contact Us
    • Delivery Information
    • Returns & Exchange
    • FAQ
    Customer Advice
    • Eye Care Hub
    • Optical Advice
    • Free Eye Test
    • Advice on Covid-19
    Popular Content
    • No Prescription Needed
    • Contact Lens Prescription
    • Glasses Prescription
    • Guides to Brands
    Tools
    • Vision Simulator
    • Dry Eye Quiz
    feel good contacts menu feel good contacts menu
  • Blog
  • search feel good contacts blog
  • search feel good contacts
  • 0
  • Reorder
  • Login Login
      feel good contacts menu
    • My Account
    • Orders
    • Personal Details
    • Log out
    feel good contacts menu
    Existing Customer

    We've sent you an email
    to reset your password.

    Enter your email address

    I would like to receive friendly reminders when it’s time to re-order. I am aware I can easily unsubscribe from these at any time.
    NEW Customer
    Forgot Password Cancel
Price match guarantee
Order by 5:45pm for same day dispatch
Excellent
Reward points
Sustainable Glasses
Home
Eye Care Hub
How to choose the best lenses for my prescription?

Contact Lens Care

  • Which contact lens solution do I need?
  • How to clean a contact lens case?
  • How can I tell if my contact lens is inside out?

About Contact Lenses

  • How do toric contact lenses work?
  • What does the water content of a contact lens mean?

Eye Health

  • What are the best contact lenses for dry eyes?
  • How dehydration impacts your eyes?
  • Computer eye strain: Symptoms and solutions

Children's Eye Health

  • Why does my child get styes?
  • At what age can my child wear contacts?
  • How can I tell if my child has vision problems?

Lenses & Lifestyle

  • Which sunglasses will suit my face shape?
  • What are polarised sunglasses?
  • Guide to different types on sunglasses?

Prescriptions & Eye Tests

  • Difference between an Ophthalmologist, Optometrist & Optician
  • What does axis mean on my prescription
  • Can I buy my contact lenses online

Guides

  • A guide to Astigmastism
  • A guide to eye discharge
  • A guide to Presbyopia

What are the best lenses for my prescription?

Medically reviewed by Khuram Sarwar on 05 December 2022

  • Why is choosing the right lens for your eye prescription so important?
  • Prescription lens materials
  • Treatments for optical lenses
  • Which high index lens should I get?

When choosing a pair of glasses, it is important to consider the best lenses for your prescription to ensure long-lasting wear and optimal clarity of vision.

Finding the right glasses lenses can be quite confusing. As there are so many different choices for lenses, we've put together a guide for you.

Whether you're looking for single vision lenses, bifocal lenses, progressive lenses or occupational lenses, our guide will help you to decide on the best lenses for your prescription.

Lens Material Refractive Index Prescription Abbe Value Key Benefits and Features
High-index plastics 1.6, 1.67 and 1.74 From +/-2.00 to +/-8.00 36 (1.60) 32 (1.67)
  • Blocks 100% UVA and UVB rays
  • 20% thinner & lighter than normal lenses (1.6)
  • 35% thinner and lighter than normal lenses (1.67)
  • Cheaper than 1.70-1.74 high index lenses
Polycarbonate 1.586 From plano to +/-6.00 30
  • About 20 to 25% thinner than plastic lenses
  • Blocks 100% UVA and UVB rays
  • High impact resistance (great for children’s, sports and safety glasses)
  • Available in other lens designs (i.e. progressives)
Trivex 1.53 From plano - +/-6.00 45
  • Lightest lens material available
  • High impact resistance (great for children’s, sports and safety glasses)
  • Higher Abbe value than polycarbonate lenses (meaning better optical experience especially for higher prescriptions)
  • Blocks 100% UVA and UVB rays
CR-39 plastic 1.498 Low prescriptions from plano - +/-2.00 58
  • Superior optics
  • Low cost
  • Weakness: Thickness

Why choosing the right lenses for your eye prescription is so important

Choosing the right glasses lenses is crucial as the lenses you choose will influence your appearance, comfort, vision and safety.

People often overlook their choice of lenses for glasses. However, it is important to carefully consider the lens material, design and coating.

No matter what prescription lenses you need, it is important to choose the best design for your needs. You should consider whether you're short-sighted, long-sighted or whether you have astigmatism or presbyopia.

Prescription lens materials

The table below details various lens materials and the range of prescriptions they are best suited to.

Glass lenses

Glass lenses were the only choice available when vision correction first came about.

While they can offer exceptional clarity of vision, they are also extremely heavy and carry the risk of breaking. Both these factors pose a serious threat to your eyes. While glass lenses are still available, they are no longer a common choice for this exact reason.

Plastic lenses

The first plastic prescription lens was introduced in 1947 by the Armorlite Lens Company in California. These lenses were made from Columbia Resin 39 which is why they are also referred to as CR-39 lenses. They remain a popular choice today due to their high-quality optics and lightweight feel. They are also a cheap option of spectacle lenses.

Polycarbonate lenses

Polycarbonate lenses were first introduced in the 1970s by Gentex Corporation. They were meant for safety glasses but became increasingly popular in the 1980s and remain a popular choice today.

The polycarbonate material was originally used for helmet visors for the US Air Force as they offered a strong bulletproof quality. Due to the high-impact resistant nature, it remains a popular choice for children’s prescription glasses, safety glasses and sports.

Polycarbonate lenses are lighter than CR-39 lenses. However, an even lighter weight prescription lens was introduced in 2001 called Trivex. This lens is also a high impact choice and has a higher Abbe value, giving it a further advantage.

High-index plastic lenses

High-index plastic lenses were introduced by popular demand for even thinner and lighter eyeglasses options. Their higher index of refraction makes them thinner and lighter than CR-39 prescription lenses.

Index of refraction

The index of refraction in a prescription lens for glasses measures the efficiency of the material to refract light. This depends on how fast the light travels through the material.

Light moves slowly through lenses with a higher refractive index. This means that the light ray will refract more. Thinner lenses tend to have higher refractive indexes than lenses made from a thicker material.

The refractive index of prescription lenses ranges from 1.498 in CR-39 plastic to 1.74 in a range of high index lenses. Therefore, lenses made from CR-39 plastic will be the thickest lens regardless of their prescription power or design. The thinnest lens will be a 1.74 high-index plastic lens.

Abbe value

The Abbe value measures the degree to which white, visible light is dispersed or separated into its colour components when passing through lenses. It is also known as the V-number.

A high V-number indicates a low dispersion. A low abbe value can result in chromatic aberration. This is an optical error which causes coloured halos/rainbow effect/colour fringing around objects and light. It is especially noticeable around the periphery/edge of the lenses. Abbe values of prescription lenses range from 59 (crown glass) to 30 (polycarb).

The Abbe value is named after the German physicist Ernest Abbe, who defined this optical measurement.

Aspheric design

An aspheric design will give your lenses a slimmer profile, making them more attractive.

An aspheric lens will feature a change in curvature from the centre of the lens to its edge. Due to the flat nature of aspheric lenses, they do not magnify your eyes as much as spherical lens designs. They can also enhance the clarity of the wearer’s peripheral vision as flatter lenses have less aberrations.

Aspheric designs are featured in most high index plastic lenses for the best appearance and optical performance. An aspheric design will increase the cost of the lenses with Polycarbonate or CR-39 lenses.

Minimum Centre Thickness

Due to the BS/EN (166:2002 and 167:2002) British standards for impact resistance, a laboratory can only make the lenses so thin.

Lenses to correct myopia (short-sightedness) are concave lenses which are thinnest in the middle at the optical centre with a bigger edge thickness. Convex lenses feature a lens which is thinner at the edges but have more centre thickness. These are used to correct hyperopia (long-sightedness).

Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses for myopia are high-impact resistant and can afford to have a centre thickness of just 1.0mm. Other lenses for myopia must be thicker at the centre to pass the BS/EN 166/167 standards for impact resistance.

The thickness of your lenses will depend on the size and shape of your optical frames. A small and well-centred frame will allow you to have a thinner and lighter lens. This is crucial for higher prescriptions.

Aspheric lenses made of a high index material and worn in a small/roundish frame are the thinnest option of lenses available.

The lenses you choose will also influence your choice of frames. For example, if you have a high prescription which requires thick concave lenses, you may decide against rimless frames or metal frames for aesthetic reasons. It’s best to opt for plastic/acetate frames if you have a high prescription as these hide the thickness of the lenses more.

Treatments for optical lenses

There are many lens treatments available which can optimise the comfort, durability and appearance of your lenses. The following eyeglass lens coatings are highly recommended:

Scratch-resistant coating

Lightweight plastic lenses are more prone to scratching and abrasions than glass lenses and require a scratch-resistant coating.

Anti-scratch coatings, also known as hard coats, can make your glasses lenses almost as scratch resistant as glass.

Looking after your glasses is essential to avoiding scratches. Never place them face down and store them away safely in a case or pouch when not in use. When cleaning your glasses, make sure you use a microfibre cloth and avoid other materials as they may cause micro-fine scratches on the lenses.

Anti-reflective coating

An anti-reflective coating (AR or MAR coating) improves contrast and clarity by almost eliminating reflections. This makes them perfect for night driving and using computer screens. They will also make your lenses less visible and therefore more cosmetically appealing.

An anti-reflective coating is necessary for high index lenses as these lenses reflect more light, therefore increasing glare.

UV-blocking treatment

Exposure to ultra-violet radiation from the sun has been linked to many eye-related problems including cataracts and macular degeneration. It is therefore important to protect your eyes from the sun with a UV-blocking treatment on your lenses.

Almost all high-index plastic lenses include 100% UV protection. However, CR-39 plastic lenses will need an additional coating applied to ensure that they offer UV protection.

Photochromatic treatment

Photochromatic treatment allows lenses to automatically darken in response to the sun’s UV rays and return to clear when indoors. Photochromatic treatment is available in all lenses no matter what their material or design. The light reactive lenses in our range come in a variety of lens colours, such as graphite green, grey, and brown. All our photochromatic lens options provide 100% UVA and UVB protection.

Light reactive

Lenses remain clear whilst indoors and darken when outdoors.

Transitions Signature Gen8

These lenses darken outside and become clear indoors more quickly. They provide Blue Light protection. These lenses won’t darken enough in the car, so they aren’t ideal for driving.

Transitions XTRACTIVE New Generation

Excellent for bright and hot sunny days, these lenses turn extra dark in hot temperatures, they turn darkest in the car. They fade from dark to clear 35% faster. These lenses have a mild tint whilst indoors to protect you against Blue Light.

Transitions Drivewear

Enjoy enhanced colour perception and sharper vision with these lenses, which is especially useful when driving. These polarised lenses prevent glare from the sun. They darken outdoors and fade to a very mild tint indoors. The lenses are yellow/green in low light, copper in moderate to bright light, and dark reddish brown in bright light.

Sun tint – prescription sunglasses

You can choose any pair of glasses from our range and choose the ‘sun tint’ option at checkout to create prescription sunglasses. This is a great option for those who spend a lot of time outdoors as they’ll have the benefit of full sun protection as well as their prescription within the lens, providing clear vison.

Which high index lens should I get?

High index lenses will suit any prescription and are highly recommended for those who have a strong glasses prescription.

When choosing high index lenses, you should take the advice given to you by your optician. There are a variety of high index materials to choose from. The higher the index, the higher the cost of the lenses.

You may also want to consider whether you want photochromatic lenses or use tints instead.

No matter what you decide, we recommend choosing an anti-reflective (AR) lens coating. This will ensure optimal clarity of vision as an AR coating will eliminate reflections.

No matter what you decide, we recommend choosing an anti-reflective (AR) and ultraviolet (UV) lens coating. This will ensure optimal clarity of vision as an AR coating will eliminate reflections and UV coating will protect your eyes from harmful UV sun rays.

Should you have any further questions, please contact our helpful optical team on 01 514 3614.

People also searched:

Buy Glasses Online Glasses Prescription Glasses Frame Size Guide Feel Good Collection Glasses Ray-Ban Glasses Best Contact Lenses for Dry Eyes Oakley Glasses Tommy Hilfiger Glasses Glasses on Sale Blue Light Glasses Prescription Sunglasses
Please wait
Join our newsletter

Why Us
  • 10% Off Your First Order
  • Price Match Guarantee
  • 5% Off with Auto-Replenish
  • Feel Good Contacts App
  • Save with comfi
  • Which comfi is for you?
  • Trustpilot Reviews
  • Student Discount
  • Reward Points
  • Reasons to Feel Good
Top Products
  • 1 Day Acuvue Moist
  • Dailies AquaComfort Plus
  • comfi Daily Disposable
  • Acuvue Oasys 1-Day with HydraLuxe
  • Dailies Total 1
  • Acuvue Oasys
  • 1 Day Acuvue Moist For Astigmatism
  • Air Optix Aqua
  • FreshLook Colorblends
  • Biofinity
Order Information
  • Optician Own Brand Contact Lenses
  • No Prescription Needed
  • Delivery Information
  • Click & Collect
  • Returns and Exchange
  • Secure Online Shopping
  • Contact Lens Specifications
  • Optical Advice
  • FAQs
  • About Us
Contact Us
  • 0800 458 2090 (Free)
  • +44 7810 004 929 (WhatsApp)
  • +44 7810 004 929 (WhatsApp)
  • cs@feelgoodcontacts.com
Customer Service Hours

Mon - Fri: 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sat - Sun: 9:00am - 5:30pm
Bank Holidays: 9:00am - 5:30pm

Download the app
Countries
  • feel good contacts united kingdom
  • feel good contacts ireland
  • feel good contacts france
Secure Payments Secure Payments
Secure Payments

Browse by Categories

  • Contact Lenses|
  • Contact Lens Solutions|
  • Glasses|
  • Blue Light Glasses|
  • Sunglasses|
  • Eye Drops|
  • Dry Eye Treatments|
  • Glasses up to 70% Off|
  • Sunglasses up to 60% Off

Browse by Contact Lens Type

  • Daily Contact Lenses|
  • Monthly Contact Lenses|
  • Two Weekly Contact Lenses|
  • Toric/Astigmatism Lenses|
  • Multifocal Contact Lenses|
  • Coloured Contact Lenses|
  • Cheap Contact Lenses|
  • Next Day Contact Lenses|
  • Extended Contact Lenses|
  • Silicone Hydrogel Lenses
©2023 Feel Good Contacts Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
T&Cs Privacy Policy Cookie Disclaimer Affiliate Program
Top