Key Points
Lens Thickness and Materials
Lens thickness depends on the refractive index, with higher indices (e.g., 1.74) resulting in thinner, lighter lenses. Essilor offers various materials, including standard plastic (CR-39, ~1.5), polycarbonate (~1.586), and high-index up to 1.74.
Essilor’s Thinnest Option
The 1.74 high-index lens is Essilor’s thinnest, designed for high prescriptions (e.g., above ±4.00 diopters), and is often used in premium products like Eyezen Digital 1.74 lenses.
Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Essilor’s Thinnest Lens Type
This section provides a comprehensive exploration of Essilor’s lens offerings, focusing on identifying the thinnest lens type based on refractive index and material properties. The analysis aims to clarify the options available, their suitability for different prescriptions, and how Essilor’s offerings compare to industry standards, ensuring a thorough understanding for both lay readers and those with a technical interest in eyewear.
Background on Essilor and Lens Thickness
Essilor, a global leader in prescription lenses, is known for its innovative lens technologies, including high-index lenses designed to be thinner and lighter. Lens thickness is primarily determined by the refractive index of the material, which measures how efficiently the lens bends light. Higher refractive indices allow for thinner lenses, as less material is needed to achieve the same optical correction, making them particularly beneficial for strong prescriptions.
Factors Affecting Lens Thickness
Lens thickness is influenced by:
Essilor offers a range of materials, including organic (plastic), polycarbonate, and mineral (glass), each with varying refractive indices affecting thickness and weight.
Essilor’s Lens Material Options
From various sources, Essilor’s lens materials and their approximate refractive indices include:
The 1.74 high-index lens is frequently mentioned as Essilor’s thinnest option, particularly in products like Eyezen Digital 1.74 and Advanced Digital HD Progressive 1.74 lenses. These are designed for very high prescriptions, such as more than 7.00 sphere and above 4.00 cylinder, and are noted for being the thinnest and lightest polycarbonate lenses available from Essilor.
Comparison with Industry Standards
While Essilor’s highest refractive index is 1.74, some other brands, such as Tokai, offer lenses with higher indices like 1.76. For example, a Quora discussion compared Tokai 1.76 BI-AS lenses to Essilor 1.74 Crizal Prevencia, noting that both are thin but Tokai’s 1.76 is slightly thinner. However, this is not part of Essilor’s current offerings, as confirmed by multiple retailer listings and Essilor’s own product pages, which consistently list 1.74 as their top index.
Detailed Lens Thickness Chart
To illustrate, here is a table comparing common Essilor lens materials and their properties, based on available information:
| Material | Refractive Index | Typical Thickness (for Strong Prescriptions) | Key Features |
| CR-39 (Standard Plastic) | ~1.5 | Thicker | Heavier, suitable for lower prescriptions, standard option. |
| Polycarbonate | ~1.586 | Thinner than CR-39 | Lightweight, impact-resistant, often used for safety glasses. |
| High-Index 1.6 | 1.6 | Thinner than polycarbonate | Lighter, suitable for moderate prescriptions. |
| High-Index 1.67 | 1.67 | Thinner than 1.6 | Very thin, ideal for prescriptions between ±4.00 and ±8.00. |
| High-Index 1.74 | 1.74 | Thinnest available from Essilor | Extremely thin and light, best for very high prescriptions (above ±8.00). |
This table highlights that the 1.74 high-index lens is Essilor’s thinnest, offering up to 65% thinner profiles compared to standard 1.5 index lenses for high prescriptions, as noted in some sources.
Practical Implications and User Considerations
For users with strong prescriptions, the 1.74 high-index lens is recommended for aesthetic and comfort reasons, reducing the “coke bottle” effect and making glasses lighter. However, some sources note that 1.74 lenses may not be suitable for rimless frames due to potential fragility, and opticians often recommend them for full-rim or semi-rimless frames.
User experiences, such as those on Reddit, sometimes compare Essilor 1.74 lenses to other brands’ 1.74 lenses, noting variations in thickness, which could be due to differences in manufacturing or design. However, these discussions reinforce that Essilor’s 1.74 is their thinnest offering, with no evidence of higher indices like 1.76 being available from Essilor as of May 17, 2025.
Conclusion
In summary, Essilor’s thinnest lens type is their 1.74 high-index lens, designed for very high prescriptions and offering significant thinness and lightness compared to lower-index options. While other brands may offer lenses with higher refractive indices (e.g., 1.76), Essilor’s current range tops out at 1.74, as confirmed by multiple sources including retailer listings and Essilor’s product descriptions. For personalized advice, consult your optician, who can recommend the best material based on your prescription and lifestyle needs.
Key Citations