High index lenses - experiences?

Deusfaux

I recently got replacement lenses done - and I was given high index (1.60) lenses, sort of without my knowledge.

The main advantages are they are thinner and lighter in weight - though neither of those qualities were problems I had with the previous lenses.

The main disadvantage is typically cost - but these were free so it's not a consideration for me.


What I AM concerned about is the increased... spatial distortion I'm noticing, mostly closer to the edge.

for example, when I look at down at the ground in front of me while walking, it appears as though it's at more of an incline and I'm walking almost uphill.


Has anyone else used high index lenses and can you tell me about your experience with them? I'm just trying to figure out if it's something I can live with in time.

Air

how long have you had them
and are these a new prescription in the same frames? or same prescrip in new frames, anythin like that?

i recently got new frames but same prescription and index (i think 1.6 as well)
the new frames are wider and a bit shorter i think and took a while to get used to
i think it was mostly just the extra bit at the sides took some getting used to, or at least its what kept me from wearing them until i didnt have to drive for a while cos it messed up my blindspot checking

its probably just somethin along those lines. high index is gonna affect the edges more than anything so thats why you notice
distortions normal with new glasses and your eyes adjust soon enough

but again, how long have you had them? and do you wear them all the time?

embrik

Yeah, I've got High Index. I have not had any distortion. I did have a change in the size of my lenses (I went from larger to smaller lenses), so that took a bit of getting used to, but I don't think I experienced anything like what you're describing. Did you have the glasses "professionally adjusted" or whatever?

Deusfaux

I got em yesterday, new prescription in same frames. old lens had em about 2 years or a bit more? wear em pretty much all the time

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrective_lens#Refractive_index

see, it's even mentioned in the wiki

embrik

Deusfaux wrote: »

I got em yesterday, new prescription in same frames. old lens had em about 2 years or a bit more? wear em pretty much all the time

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrective_lens#Refractive_index

see, it's even mentioned in the wiki

Hmm... maybe I just got used to 'em.

However, these two lines from the Wiki seem to indicate that if they're made right, you shouldn't have issues:

# Theoretically, manufacturing defects have more impact on optical quality.
# Theoretically, off-axis optical quality degrades (oblique astigmatic error). This degradation should not be perceptible in practice.

EliteLamer

I have been wearing high index lenses for years.

honkymcgoo

Ive had them for years, and its been my experience that everytime I get a new prescription I get the effect youre talking about for a week or two then it just goes away.

Fristle

For me it is the chromatic aberration that I can't stand. It's a big reason behind my switch to contacts years ago. The other thing that helps is getting smaller lenses. They take a while to get used to as well, but they have an upside of making you look hipper. Unless you wear them way down your nose like Senator Carl Levin.

Pheezer

I noticed the spatial distortion at the outer edges of my latest pair of glasses. I've had high index lenses before, but never noticed this. These have an overall curvature to the lens that's made more extreme than most due to the angle of the frame, though.

About a week later I stopped noticing. I've yet to experience any negative impact to my life as a result of having worn them every day for the past six months. I don't imagine you'll have any problems.

Deusfaux

Yeah right now I'm going to wait till Monday to call the optometrist, get his opinion and also

hear back from the optician about how thick my lens would be if they were regular index, and if it's possible to get UV coating on them - which was one of the main selling points on these high index ones