What a pair of glasses is made of decides how light, durable and comfortable it is, and how it looks. Here we compare the common glasses materials for frames and lenses, explain the disadvantages of titanium glasses and show what helps against a white film on acetate frames.
Key points at a glance
- Acetate comes in many colours and patterns, is light and can be adjusted by your optician. A white film can usually be washed or polished off.
- Titanium is light and strong, but usually costs more and is harder to adjust or repair than stainless steel.
- Stainless steel is sturdy and versatile, but can contain nickel. If you react to nickel, check the material description.
- For lenses: plastic is light, polycarbonate is very shatter-resistant, mineral glass is scratch-resistant but heavy. The higher the refractive index, the thinner the lens.
What are glasses made of? Frames and lenses
Glasses consist of the frame, with its front, bridge, arms, hinges and nose pads, and the lenses. Both come in different materials. Even the frame itself can be a mix, for example a metal frame with plastic tips on the arms.
Frame materials for glasses at a glance
Glasses frames are mostly made of acetate, stainless steel, titanium or light plastics such as nylon. Natural materials such as wood and horn are also used. The table shows the strengths and weaknesses at a glance.
| Material | Strengths | Weaknesses | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetate (cellulose acetate) | many colours and patterns, light, adjustable by your optician | can develop a white film, sensitive to strong heat | colourful, bold frames |
| Stainless steel | sturdy, corrosion-resistant, easy to shape | heavier than titanium, can contain nickel | everyday wear and classic metal frames |
| Titanium | very light and strong, corrosion-resistant | usually costs more, harder to adjust and repair | fine, light frames, including rimless |
| Nylon (e.g. TR90) | very light and flexible | can only be adjusted to a limited extent | sport, children and everyday wear |
| Wood | light, every frame is unique | dislikes heat and prolonged moisture, fit cannot be changed afterwards | fans of natural materials |
| Horn | natural material, light, often handmade | delicate, rare and laborious to make, so usually more expensive | fans of genuine natural materials |
Titanium glasses: advantages and disadvantages
Titanium is much lighter than steel and very strong. Because a stable frame needs little material, very fine bridges and arms are possible. Titanium is also corrosion-resistant.
- Light: Titanium glasses hardly press on your nose and ears and stay comfortable all day.
- Strong and durable: The frame stays stable despite its fine construction.
- Corrosion-resistant: Sweat and moisture do little to the material.
- Well tolerated: Pure titanium is considered well tolerated.
What speaks against titanium glasses? These are the typical disadvantages:
- Price: The material and its processing are more demanding, so titanium frames usually cost more than stainless steel frames.
- Adjustment: Titanium is tough and springs back. Your optician can adjust arms and nose pads, but cannot bend them as freely as other metals.
- Repair: Titanium is harder to solder than other metals. A broken part therefore cannot always be repaired. Your optician can tell you whether it is worth trying.
- Composition: There is pure titanium and there are titanium alloys. With alloys the composition can differ, and if you are sensitive to nickel it helps to check the material description.
Stainless steel glasses: sturdy and versatile
Most metal glasses are made of stainless steel. The material has a high tensile strength but is easy to shape during production. Stainless steel is corrosion-resistant and can be polished and coated well, which is why glasses made of stainless steel come in many shades.
The downside: stainless steel is heavier than titanium and, depending on the alloy, can contain nickel. If you react to nickel, ask about the exact composition before buying. For very fine constructions, light metals such as titanium or stainless steel are often used for the bridge and arms, for example on rimless glasses. You can read more about them in Rimless Glasses: Pros, Cons and Who They Suit.
Acetate glasses: advantages and disadvantages
Acetate (cellulose acetate) is a plastic based on cellulose. The frame is either cut out of a block or shaped by injection moulding. Acetate scores with its lightness and malleability. It is available in almost any colour, from classic black through havana to transparent shades, and your optician can warm it carefully and adjust it to your head.
The disadvantages of acetate glasses: they are not as resilient as titanium, for example, especially at extreme temperatures. Do not leave them in strong heat, such as on the dashboard in summer. A white film can also form, as described in the next section.
How to remove the white film from glasses frames
A whitish haze on a glasses frame mostly affects acetate. The cause is usually plasticisers: they are part of the plastic and can come to the surface after a longer period of wear. Residues of sweat, skin care or hair products can also make the frame look dull.
Here is how to remove the white film from your frame:
- Rinse the frame under lukewarm water and add a drop of mild washing-up liquid if needed.
- Dry it with a clean, soft microfibre cloth.
- If the film stays, have your optician polish the frame. Polishing usually removes the film.
Avoid alcohol, acetone, nail varnish remover and harsh household cleaners. They can attack acetate. Nobody can promise that the film will never come back. If it appears often, ask your optician for advice.
Plastic, wood and horn: other frame materials
Nylon and TR90
Light, flexible plastics such as nylon, also known under the name TR90, are often used for sports glasses and children’s glasses. The frames are considered very light and hard to break. Your optician can usually adjust them only to a limited extent.
Wooden glasses
Wooden glasses are usually made of veneer, that is, thin glued layers of wood. Every frame has its own grain. Wood dislikes heat and prolonged moisture. In the shop you will find wooden glasses from Wood Fellas. Wood types, care and fit are explained in our article Wooden Sunglasses and Wood Frame Glasses – Naturally Strong.
Horn
Genuine horn, mostly buffalo horn, is a natural material of animal origin. It is laborious to process and therefore rare and usually more expensive than acetate. Most horn-rimmed glasses are in fact acetate with a horn look. What lies behind horn, havana and tortoiseshell is explained in Horn-Rimmed Glasses: The Buddy Holly Style Explained.
What are the best materials for glasses frames?
There is no single best material. It depends on what matters to you. This overview helps you choose:
| What matters to you | Materials that fit |
|---|---|
| as little weight as possible | titanium, nylon (TR90), wood |
| everyday durability and a classic metal look | stainless steel |
| colours, patterns and transparency | acetate |
| sport and children | nylon (TR90) or acetate |
| natural material | wood or horn |
| you react to nickel | titanium, plastic or wood; check the material description before buying |
In the shop you will find glasses in different materials, for example from Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada, Miu Miu and Polo Ralph Lauren. Long-time favourites include the Ray-Ban Wayfarer Ease (RX4340V) and the Oakley Holbrook RX (OX8156). The product description tells you which material is used.
Oakley WINGFOLD EVR (OX5118 511803)£106.15Oakley WINGFOLD EVR (OX5118 511801)£107.82Oakley WINGFOLD EVR (OX5118 511804)£100.70Oakley WIRE TAP 2.0 RX (OX5152 515201)£132.06Oakley WINGFOLD EVS (OX5115 511502)£111.63Oakley WIRE TAP 2.0 RX (OX5152 515203)£127.04Ray-Ban RX8725 1028£95.28Oakley TIE BAR 0.5 (OX5140 514001)£129.32Lenses: material and refractive index
Lenses also come in different materials. Most lenses today are made of plastic because it is lighter and more shatter-resistant than mineral glass.
| Lens material | Refractive index (approx.) | Properties | Well suited to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard plastic | approx. 1.5 | light and widely used | low to medium prescriptions |
| High-index plastic | approx. 1.6 to 1.74 | thinner and lighter than standard plastic at the same prescription | medium to strong prescriptions |
| Polycarbonate | approx. 1.59 | very shatter-resistant and light; with strong prescriptions, slight colour fringes can appear at the edge of the lens | sport, children, rimless glasses |
| Trivex | approx. 1.53 | shatter-resistant, light and easy to drill | sport, rimless glasses |
| Mineral glass | approx. 1.5 to 1.9 | very scratch-resistant, but heavier and brittle | high scratch resistance; not for rimless glasses |
The refractive index tells you how strongly a material bends light. The higher the index, the thinner and lighter a lens becomes at the same prescription. You notice this mostly with strong prescriptions. Which lens suits your prescription is something to settle with your optician.
The same materials apply to sunglasses. Whatever the lens material, look for UV400 and the CE mark.
Frequently asked questions about glasses materials
Are titanium glasses better than stainless steel glasses?
Not across the board. Titanium is lighter and considered well tolerated, but usually costs more and is harder to adjust and repair. Stainless steel is versatile and easier to adjust, but slightly heavier.
Which glasses material suits a nickel allergy?
Titanium, plastics such as acetate and nylon, and wood are considered well tolerated. With stainless steel and alloys it depends on the composition, so ask for the material description before buying. If you get skin reactions, have the cause checked by a doctor. This article does not replace medical advice.
Which material is best for sunglasses?
For the frame the same considerations apply as for any glasses: nylon and titanium are light, acetate offers many colours. For the lenses, UV400 and the CE mark matter most. Polarised lenses reduce glare from reflections.
