Mid-index / Hi-index vs Polycarbonate / Trivex

[IMQ]

I never had glasses with polycarbonate or Trivex lenses. Just glass
(heavy) and CR-39.

I started wearing glasses with glass lenses. Then I even had at one
time photogrey with glass lenses. And the last pair was with clear
CR-39.

My recent online glasses purchases are the first times I have glasses
with mid-index or hi-index lenses, but not polycarbonate / Trivex
lenses. From what I read about polycarbonate lenses, their optical
quality is not as good as CR-39 or glass. But Trivex has better abbe
value than poly, in addition to having the same superior impact
resistance.

So my questions for those who have experieced both. What your take on
polycarbonate / Trivex lenses? What problem optically, if any, did
you have with them?

[ppe...@yahoo.com]

I have my doubts about polycarbonate. Many years ago, I got glasses
with polycarbonate lenses with a simple (but strong) -6.50
prescription in each eye, and I could not wear them comfortably. I
kept getting disoriented and kept seeing distortions all over the
place. I have no problem with the usual CR-39 material.

I'm watching this thread in the hopes of finding a reasonably-priced
material with a nice clear view like CR-39 offers, but with higher
refractive index.

[ehb]

I try to avoid poly at all costs! With my prescription there is just
too much color fringing. Trivex were much better but the pair I had
scratched very badly compared to the cr39 and mid index lenes I have
had. I have a fairly strong prescription and I still like cr39 if i
can get them but I have found mid index with AR are not too bad when
it comes to the optics.. I have had high index a few times and, IMHO,
they are no better than poly lenses in terns of the optics. Good
optics are more important to me than cosmetic appeal. I have Been
wearing strong glasses for almost 50 years now so 'coke bottle' lenses
do not bother me as long as my vision is crisp and clear! One thing I
have found is that an AR coating is a necessity with ALL mid and high
index, poly and trivex materials because they have greater surface
reflections than CR39 and transmit less light. The AR coating does
sharpen the optics quite a bit! ((All these were bought at brick and
morter opticians for a LOT of money, BTW, before I found this site and
the great info on it.).

[mailbox]

I tried polycarbonate and the chromatic aberration was terrible,
street signs had color fringing and I was very surprised how bad it
was. I switched to CR-39 and the difference was dramatic, my
prescription is roughly +150 add +125 bifocals and I really couldn't
see a difference in the thickness of the material. So, for me I'm
sticking with CR-39 unless my prescription deteriorates.

BTW, 2 brick and mortars stores, pushed polycarbonate and another I
heard while prowsing the store was recommending polycarbonate because
of its optical qualities over "plastic"..... and this is why we are at
glassyeyes.com!

regards.