Essilor and Hoya Lenses: How They Compare

Hoya and Essilor are two of the most popular brands of premium lenses for your glasses. But what is the difference between them? How should you choose the right lenses for your glasses?

In this guide, we look at the main differences to help you decide which is the right lens for you.

Essilor Lenses Overview

Essilor is the largest manufacturer of eyeglass lenses in the world. It is a French company, and it manufactures several popular lens brands including Varilux and Eyezen lenses among others.

Hoya Lenses Overview

Hoya is a Japanese company making lenses and other optical products. Hoya lenses are popular around the world, and they are known for being lightweight and boasting excellent durability.

How the Lenses Compare

Let’s take a closer look at some of the key features of the lenses and how they compare:

Durability

Both lenses are excellent in this respect. Scratch resistance is hard to beat due to their advanced coatings, but Hoya lenses are also known for being lightweight, tough and impact-resistant.

Coatings

Hoya offers several coatings, including anti-reflective and anti-scratch options, including its popular Recharge anti-static coating that prevents the buildup of dust.

Essilor Crizal is one of the best anti-reflective coatings available. It minimises glare, repels dust and water and reduces smudges. Its Xperio coating is also a great option if you are looking for UV protection.

Materials

While Essilor is also good in this respect, Hoya is known for its excellent lens materials, and its lenses are popular for being thin and lightweight while also incredibly tough.

Innovation

Hoya invests heavily in research and development, which has led to features like iD Free Form Design Technology and Binocular Harmonization Technology.

Essilor is a pioneer in the industry, and it boasts innovations like Eyezen DualOptim technology.

Specialised Lenses

Both brands have specialised lenses you can choose from. For example, Hoya has the Hoyalux iD LifeStyle 3 and Essilor also has several specialised lenses, like the Varilux X series.

Cost

Budget is often a concern when choosing a lens, and this is where Hoya comes out on top. It is typically more affordable than Essilor while still offering some of the best lenses on the market.

How to Choose Between Them

This all comes down to your individual situation. If budget is a big factor, you might prefer Hoya, which offers excellent quality for a typically lower price.

Also, consider your vision requirements and lifestyle, and look at the features above and determine which is most suitable for you. Your optometrist can also help if you’re having difficulty choosing.

Choose the Right Lens for You

At the end of the day, both Hoya and Essilor are excellent brands at the top of their game, and there is little to separate them. In short, you can’t go wrong with either.

Essilor provides clear optics, durable coatings that reduce reflections and glare, and excellent brand recognition. However, its lenses are often more expensive.

Hoya offers more materials, lightweight designs, and lenses that are durable and scratch-resistant. However, it has fewer progressive lens options.

So explore all the available options and choose the lens that is right for you. And if you want any help, just let us know and we’ll be happy to assist.