4 Kinds of Lens Materials [Composition & Thickness] | We use Essilor prescription lenses, the best brand for the sharpest vision.

It is likely that more than your choice of frames, the lenses you select for your eyeglasses will determine how happy you are with your glasses. Buying eyeglass lenses isn't a simple task. In fact, during a recent issue, Consumer Reports magazine said "There are so many choices for lenses and coatings, it's easy to be confused about what's worth buying."

Here's a little guide to help you choose the most ideal lens material according to your prescription and lifestyle. The eyeglass lenses you select influence four factors: appearance, comfort, vision and safety.

A common mistake people often make when buying eyeglasses isn't spending enough time considering their choices of eyeglass lens materials, designs and coatings.

Lens Materials, their differences and advantages

No matter your type of prescription — single vision lenses to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism, or progressive lenses, bifocals or other multifocal lenses to also correct presbyopia — the choice of lens material depends on the power of your lenses.

Depending on their composition and thickness, there are 4 kinds of lens materials: