Thick Glasses

Stronger prescriptions will have thicker lenses because they require more lens curvature, which means adding more material to make the lenses more durable. Understanding how glasses are made helps demystify why your lenses don't look like someone else's.

If your eyeglass prescription numbers are high, thick frames are a great choice. They'll mask the thickness of the lenses and make them appear more balanced. Thick glasses frames also add definition to your face, which can make you look younger.

Research studies have shown that people wearing thicker frames are perceived as being smarter than those in thinner frames. If you're looking to impress your boss with your brain power, try for yourself and start with a pair of thick-framed glasses.

Stronger prescription lenses tend to be thick, which can also mean additional weight, so a thicker frame will be better able to hold the lenses securely in place and protect them against popping out or getting scratched.

Yes. Thick frames can make you appear younger. Thick glasses frames are quite fashionable these days. Still not sure? Our Virtual Try-On feature lets you see how any of our thick eyeglass frame options will level up your look, no matter what your budget. Our glasses frames start at just $5.95.

Prescription lenses can vary drastically for each individual depending on their unique needs. The density of lenses may range from paper-thin to the ‘coke bottle’ effect. But why is this?

If you have thick glasses, your prescription is likely stronger than most. But what is the purpose of thick glasses lenses? Prescription lenses bend the light through curved lenses as it enters your eye. Short-sighted wearers will have lenses that are thicker on the edge and thinner in the middle, while those who are long-sighted will have the opposite.

To understand why you have thick glasses lenses, you need to be aware of the refractive index. This measures how much the path of light is bent (refracted) when it enters your lenses. Therefore, the stronger your prescription is, the thicker your lenses need to be to effectively bend the light.

Another point to think about is your glasses’ frame size and pupillary distance. Lens thickness will increase as the frame size increases due to the edge of the lens being utilized to fit the frame. Therefore, the larger the frame, the thicker the lens can be with the same prescription and lens index. Your pupillary distance may also change where the thickness occurs to optimize your vision.

How thick the glasses lens will be is determined by a few factors. The material of your lenses contributes to the thickness, as well as your prescription and personal choice. Thanks to new technology, high index lenses were introduced with thinner lenses than the traditional thick glasses.

The high index lenses are made from a material that allows for better light refraction in a thin lens. Many people opt for high index lenses because they have a more sleek look. If you’re asking yourself, “Do I need high index lenses?” you can discover our thin lenses guide to get a better understanding of what they are and whether they are right for you.

Some eyewear users may experience double vision (diplopia) and need prism glasses to correct their eyesight. Prism glasses refract the light before entering your lenses rather than when it passes through. For this reason, it can be quite normal for one lens to be thicker than the other. However, experimenting with various frame styles can help hide the size difference if you feel it is too obvious or bothers you.