Ophthalmic Lens Blank Manufacture – Glass & Plastic

Ophthalmic Lens Blank Manufacture Ophthalmic lenses are manufactured from either glass or plastic materials . The process involves multiple steps, including raw material selection, melting, molding, grinding, polishing, and coating. Below is a detailed explanation of the manufacturing process of ophthalmic lens blanks for both glass and plastic lenses. 1. Glass Lens Blank Manufacturing Raw Materials: Silica (SiO₂) – Main component Boric oxide (B₂O₃) – Improves chemical durability Sodium oxide (Na₂O) & Potassium oxide (K₂O) – Lower melting point Lead oxide (PbO) – Increases refractive index (used in high-index lenses) Barium oxide (BaO) – Enhances light transmission Manufacturing Process: Step 1: Melting and Mixing Raw materials are mixed and heated in a furnace at 1400–1600°C to form a homogeneous glass melt. The molten glass is refined to remove bubbles and impurities. Step 2: Molding into Lens Blanks The molten glass is poured into molds to form lens blanks. The blanks are then annealed (slowly…