What is the difference between a scuba mask’s plastic lens and a glass lens?

difference between a scuba mask's plastic lens and a glass lens

Introduction

Scuba masks have plastic lenses and glass lenses. Both have pros and cons, and you should choose the one that works for your purpose. So, lets find what is the difference between a scuba mask’s plastic lens and a glass lens.

Plastic is cheaper, lighter and can be made into different shapes.

Plastic is, on the whole, cheaper than glass. It’s also lighter, making it easier for divers to wear their masks for extended periods of time. And because it can be molded into different shapes, plastic lenses are more likely to fit your face than a standard glass lens would be.

Glass doesn’t scratch as easily

Glass is more durable than plastic. The difference between glass and plastic isn’t just aesthetic—it’s also functional. Glass lenses are more scratch resistant and resistant to damage from UV light and salt water than plastic ones are. This makes them a better choice for divers who don’t want to be bothered with cleaning their mask all the time, as well as those who wear glasses on land or in the water for other reasons.

Plastic lenses will fog up faster.

Plastic lenses, as a rule, are less hydrophobic than glass lenses. This means that they can be more prone to fogging up. A plastic lens can be treated with a hydrophobic coating or anti-fog spray, both of which can help it stay clear for longer periods of time. Still, if you want your mask to last and not fog up all the time (or at all), then you’ll want to invest in a glass lens instead.

Plastic bends light more than glass, making it ok for most divers but not photographers

A plastic lens, like that found in a scuba mask, bends light more than glass. This makes it difficult for photographers to use their cameras underwater with a plastic lens as the images become distorted. It also means that divers will have to get used to looking through their masks at an angle since they can’t see directly out of them.

Glass lenses are not only more expensive but also much heavier than plastic ones and therefore not suitable for diving unless they are made into very thick lenses (which significantly increases weight). Glass is also prone to scratching which could adversely affect vision; however, this can be easily fixed by replacing the scratched piece with another one from your dive kit box! Plastic is also less likely than glass to break on impact; if you drop your mask or other equipment into water it’s unlikely that any damage will occur due to its flexible nature (although don’t try dropping anything heavy onto either type of lens!).

Plastic lens are shatterproof, which means they are safer to ship and less likely to break on impact with other equipment or the environment.

This is an important consideration for divers who live in areas where the weather can be unpredictable. If a plastic lens were to break on impact, it won’t shatter into dangerous shards of glass like a glass lens would. It will simply crack or chip and be completely safe to wear underwater without causing injury.

Plastic lenses are also less likely than glass lenses to be damaged during shipping and handling by retailers. Glass is extremely fragile and can easily break during transport, meaning that if you order online at home, your purchase may arrive broken or damaged in some way even if it was packaged well enough when it left the manufacturer’s warehouse.

Glass lenses don’t have distortion problems in large or small sizes.

If you’re looking for a lens that can be made in different shapes, glass is the way to go. Glass lenses can also be made larger or smaller, while plastic lenses tend to be medium-sized.

Glass is stronger than plastic so it’s more durable and it won’t scratch easily. It’s also clearer than plastic which makes it easier for divers to see their surroundings underwater.

There are pros and cons to both plastic and glass lenses, so choose the one that works for your purpose.

Plastic lenses have their advantages: they’re lighter and cheaper to produce, so you can buy them at a lower cost. You can also shape the plastic to fit your face better than with glass. However, plastic will scratch more easily than glass and fog up faster in colder water.

Glass lenses are heavier and more expensive, but they don’t scratch as easily and won’t fog up as easily in cold water. Glass is also a more durable material for scuba masks overall since it doesn’t break as easily as plastic does when it’s dropped or hit by waves on the surface of the ocean; however, some people find that glass lenses are uncomfortable against their skin when diving into deeper depths where there is less pressure around them (such as when diving below 100 feet).

Conclusion: Difference between a scuba mask’s plastic lens and a glass lens

Remember, with so many options out there, it can be hard to choose. The best thing to do is try different types out and see what works best for you. You may even find that one plastic lens fits all of your needs!