Are Polycarbonate Spectable Lenses Really Safer?

Accidents resulting in eye injuries can happen to anyone. A Baltimore Eye survey revealed that, approximately 20% of men and 10 % of women ofder than 40 years have experienced an eye injury at least once.(4) According to the University of Michigan (U of M) Kellogg Eye Center, over haft (55%) of the victims of eye injuries are under 25. Many of these injuries, over 100,000 annually, occur during sports or recreational activities. Most important of all, 90% of all injuries could have been prevented.(12) Our question here is, wiU any form of spectacle lens or eye shield prevent these eye injuries, or is polycarbonate lens material the only safe form of eye protection for prevention of eye injury. At present, four materials are commonly used in eyeglass lenses: glass, CR-39
plastic, high index plastic, and polycarbonate plastic. Evidence has shown that the polycarbonate material, also known by the trade name Lexan, is the most impact resistant material when tested against other spectacl& lens materials in the drop ball test.