Lenses · September 21, 2026 · 1 min read
High-index lenses: when they are worth it
Thinner lenses cost more. For some prescriptions they transform how glasses look; for others the difference is barely visible.
Lens index describes how strongly a material bends light. A higher index needs less curvature for the same prescription, so the lens can be thinner.
Below about ±2.00
Standard 1.50 or 1.60 lenses are already thin. Paying for 1.67 or 1.74 changes very little. Spend the money on anti-glare instead.
Between ±2.00 and ±5.00
1.60 is usually the sweet spot. Frame size matters as much as index: a smaller lens width can save more thickness than a step up in material.
Above ±5.00
1.67 or 1.74 make a real difference, especially for short-sighted prescriptions where the thickness is at the edge. Higher-index materials show slightly more colour fringing, which most people never notice.
Try it on our lens guide: put in your prescription and frame size and compare the four indices side by side.