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Book an AppointmentThe Role of Glass Lenses
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July 15, 2024Why do we call the eyewear on our faces “glasses” but they are actually plastic lenses? Glasses once were made with real glass, right?
Yes, the term "glasses" originated from the fact that eyewear was once made with glass lenses. In the 13th century, artisans would cut and shape glass to create lenses for reading and other purposes. Over time, other materials like crystal, quartz, and eventually plastics have been used to make lenses. Despite the shift away from glass, the term "glasses" stuck, and we now use it to refer to any eyewear regardless of the material used in its construction.
Glass lenses are still used in specialized applications like cameras, telescopes, and binoculars due to their excellent optical properties. However,their limitations include weight, fragility, and brittleness that make them unsuitable for everyday eyewear. So, glass may work for your camera, but you probably don’t want excessive weight in a pair of eyewear you wear all day.
The need for advanced designs, such as progressive lenses and super thin lenses, has driven the industry to develop lightweight and flexible materials that can be digitally finished to maximize vision. Modern lens designs cannot even be manufactured in glass. There are a number of plastics used to create lenses. These plastic lenses offer improved durability, reduced weight, and increased functionality, making them a safer and more practical choice for eyewear.
