Trivex

Trivex is a brand name for a lightweight, high‑impact resistant lens material used in eyeglasses and safety eyewear. It was developed by PPG Industries and introduced in the early 2000s as an alternative to polycarbonate and high‑index plastics. Trivex lenses are made from a urethane‑based thermoplastic, offering a combination of optical clarity, durability, and light weight.

Key properties include a refractive index of about 1.532 and an Abbe value near 44, which contribute to good optical clarity and reduced chromatic aberration. The material has a low density of around 1.10 g/cm3, making lenses lighter than glass and typically lighter or comparable in weight to many polycarbonate options. Trivex inherently blocks 100% of UVA and UVB rays. It generally meets or exceeds standard impact‑resistance requirements such as ANSI Z87.1, making it suitable for everyday wear as well as sports and safety eyewear.

Optically, Trivex offers higher Abbe value than polycarbonate, which can result in crisper vision with less color fringing. Its lower refractive index compared with many high‑index materials means lenses may be slightly thicker at higher prescriptions, though the difference is often modest for many users. Trivex is compatible with standard lens coatings, including anti‑reflective and scratch‑resistant finishes.

Applications include single‑vision, bifocal, and progressive lenses used in general eyewear, sports, and safety contexts. Availability spans multiple ophthalmic lens manufacturers. In practice, Trivex is valued for its balance of lightness, impact resistance, and optical quality, occupying a middle ground between polycarbonate and higher‑index lens materials.