Understand every lens before you choose it.
Eyeglass lenses should not feel like a list of unexplained upgrades. This guide shows what each design, material, and option actually does, who it may help, and the limitations worth knowing before you order.
The design decides where the lens helps you focus.
Material changes thickness, weight, and impact performance. The lens design changes how vision is arranged inside the lens. Start with the design that matches your prescription and daily tasks; then choose a material.
Why our single-vision lens is priced for quality.
Our Single Vision lens is an IOT digitally calculated design—not the least-expensive stock lens placed into a frame with no design refinement. Digital processing lets the optical surface be calculated and produced with greater precision.
From $89 per pair of lensesLined Bifocal
From $109 per pairA lined bifocal places distance vision in the upper lens and reading power in a clearly defined lower segment. The visible line marks the change between the two powers.
Office Lens
From $89 per pairAn office lens is designed for close work and intermediate distances such as a desk, computer, counter, or room. It can give more usable workspace vision than the near portion of an everyday progressive.
One lens. Three viewing ranges. Different designs for different lives.
A progressive blends distance, intermediate, and near power without a visible line. The design determines how those zones are balanced. Every progressive has some soft focus toward the sides; accurate PD, segment height, frame fit, and learning to point your nose toward the task all matter.
How a progressive works
The prescription changes gradually from the top of the lens to the bottom. You look straight ahead for distance, slightly lower for intermediate tasks, and through the lower portion for reading.
- No visible bifocal line
- Smooth power change rather than a hard jump
- Some peripheral blur is normal and varies by design
- A new wearer may need an adaptation period
- A deeper frame usually provides more room for the design
Standard Progressive
From $189 per pairA balanced no-line design for regular daily use. It distributes the lens between distance, intermediate, and near tasks without favoring one specialized activity.
Driving Progressive
From $209 per pairDesigned to support the repeated shifts drivers make between the road, mirrors, dashboard, navigation, and the area beside the vehicle. Distance and intermediate vision receive extra attention.
Sport Progressive
From $209 per pairA lifestyle design intended for active movement and changing surroundings. It emphasizes comfortable awareness across distance and intermediate tasks while retaining near vision.
Top-tier Progressive
From $329 per pairOur most refined progressive design. It is intended to provide smoother changes between viewing zones and a more carefully balanced visual experience across the lens when paired with accurate measurements and a suitable frame.
Material affects thickness, impact resistance, weight, and clarity.
The most expensive material is not automatically the best. A lower prescription may look and perform beautifully in CR-39, while a stronger prescription may benefit from 1.67. Children and active wearers often benefit most from Polycarbonate.
CR-39 (Plastic)
CR-39 is a traditional optical plastic known for good visual clarity and affordability. For many mild to moderate prescriptions, it produces a comfortable everyday lens without paying for a higher index.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is lightweight and much more impact resistant than ordinary optical plastic. It is frequently selected for children, active lifestyles, and situations where durability matters.
1.67 High Index
1.67 bends light more efficiently, allowing a stronger prescription to be made thinner and flatter than CR-39 or Polycarbonate. Frame size and shape still have a major effect on final thickness.
What every treatment does—and what it does not do.
Sun and color choices are separate paths in our builder so incompatible selections cannot be stacked together. Coatings and coverage are added separately unless the option specifically says they are included.
Photochromic · +$89
Photochromic molecules react to outdoor light—especially ultraviolet light—by darkening, then gradually return toward clear when the UV exposure is removed. We offer Gray or Brown.
Polarized · +$119
Polarization filters intense reflected glare from horizontal surfaces such as wet roads, water, snow, and vehicle hoods. It can make bright outdoor environments more comfortable and is often a strong choice for daytime driving.
Solid Tint · +$39
A solid tint keeps a similar color density across the entire lens. It is useful for consistent sunglass color, fashion, or light sensitivity preferences when a fixed tint is appropriate.
Gradient Tint · +$49
A gradient is darker at the top and fades lighter toward the bottom. It can reduce overhead brightness while leaving the lower lens lighter for reading a dashboard, phone, or menu.
Mirror Finish · +$89
A mirror finish adds a reflective front appearance over a Gray or Brown base. Customers select both the base color and mirror color. It is a sun/color path and cannot be combined with Photochromic or another tint path.
Premium Anti-Reflective · +$79
Premium AR reduces reflections from the lens surfaces, allowing more light to pass through the lens. It can improve cosmetic appearance, make the eyes easier to see in photographs and conversation, and help reduce distracting lens reflections at night.
Backside AR · +$39
Light can enter from behind you and reflect off the inside surface of a sun lens back toward your eye. Backside AR reduces those rear-surface reflections, which can be especially useful on sunglasses and strongly reflective front treatments.
Blue-Filter Material · +$15
This material filters a portion of visible blue light and may slightly change how reflections or color appear. Some customers prefer it for personal comfort or appearance.
Scratch-Resistant Coating · Included
Our base lens pricing includes a premium scratch-resistant coating to improve everyday durability. It is especially useful because optical plastic can otherwise mark during normal handling.
One-Year Lens Warranty · +$30
The optional warranty covers qualifying normal everyday lens wear for 12 months, including eligible scratches or coating issues, plus one eligible doctor-documented prescription change during the coverage period.
30-Day Return Period · Included
Contact us within 30 calendar days after delivery to request a return. Normal try-on and progressive-adaptation wear are allowed, but the complete pair must be returned with all included items and without customer-caused damage.
Lens prices are per pair. Your selected frame is added separately.
We do not inflate prices for insurance billing. These prices are built for direct-pay affordability while using the IOT designs selected for our launch lineup.
| Lens design | CR-39 | Polycarbonate | 1.67 High Index | Best starting point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single VisionDigital IOT quality | $89 | $99 | $159 | One viewing distance |
| Lined BifocalVisible distance/near segment | $109 | $139 | $219 | Stable distance and reading zones |
| Standard ProgressiveBalanced everyday design | $189 | $219 | $269 | Affordable all-around progressive |
| Driving ProgressiveRoad/intermediate emphasis | $209 | $229 | $289 | Frequent driving and travel |
| Sport ProgressiveMovement/lifestyle emphasis | $209 | $229 | $289 | Active everyday environments |
| Top-tier ProgressiveHighest design refinement | $329 | $359 | $439 | Demanding all-day progressive wear |
| Office LensNear/intermediate workspace | $89 | $99 | $129 | Desk and room distances |
Availability depends on prescription, measurements, selected frame, material, color, and design. The Optic Forge verifies the complete build before production. Applicable tax is confirmed during secure payment.
Still deciding?
The builder lets you choose the closest match. The lab reviews the prescription, frame, material, and options before production begins.
Is the most expensive lens always the best?
No. The best lens is the one that fits the prescription, measurements, frame, and daily use. A mild prescription may be excellent in CR-39, while a stronger prescription may justify 1.67. A Standard Progressive may be the right value even when a Top-tier option exists.
Will a progressive have perfectly clear vision everywhere?
No progressive can make every point of the lens equally clear because multiple powers must share one lens. The goal is to arrange the useful zones well and manage peripheral blur. Design quality, measurements, frame fit, and adaptation all matter.
How should a first-time progressive wearer begin?
Start with the new pair first thing in the morning and wear it consistently instead of switching repeatedly to the old pair. Point your nose toward the task, use care on stairs, and wait to drive until vision feels clear and comfortable. Consult your eye doctor if symptoms persist or if you have any sudden or concerning vision change.
Do photochromic lenses become sunglasses inside a car?
Usually not to the same degree as outdoors. Most car windshields block much of the UV that activates ordinary photochromic lenses. A dedicated polarized sunglass is usually the stronger driving-glare choice.
Should every child have Polycarbonate?
Polycarbonate is generally our preferred starting point for children because impact resistance is usually more important than making a mild prescription thinner. The final choice still depends on the prescription, frame, and intended activity.
Does AR stop all nighttime glare?
No. AR reduces reflections created by the lens surfaces, but it cannot remove glare caused by weather, windshields, eye conditions, large pupils, or uncorrected prescription changes. Night-driving difficulty should be discussed with an eye-care professional.
Can I add Backside AR to Mirror?
You do not need to. Mirror already includes Backside AR in our pricing, and the builder prevents a duplicate charge.
Can I combine Photochromic, tint, Polarized, and Mirror?
No. These are presented as separate sun/color paths. The builder prevents incompatible combinations and then allows eligible coatings or warranty coverage to be added separately.
What is the difference between the return period and lens warranty?
The included 30-day return period applies to a complete pair when the return is requested within 30 calendar days after delivery. The optional one-year lens warranty applies to eligible normal-wear issues and one eligible doctor-documented prescription change during its coverage period. Both require the glasses to be returned for inspection, and neither covers loss, intentional damage, misuse, or unauthorized alteration.
What if I choose the wrong option?
Send the closest build you can. The Optic Forge reviews the prescription and product choices before payment and production. If something is incompatible, unclear, or poor value, we pause and contact you.
Ready to build your pair?
Return to the home page, choose a frame, and the builder will carry these lens prices and compatibility rules into your live total.