Complimentary lenses explained

No one gets excited about prescription lenses.

Like tyres on a sports car, they're absolutely necessary. But not the first thing that makes you all fired up.

Because a new frame is a whole new you.

To boost your "new glasses feeling" we offer standard complimentary prescription lenses with every pair of Banton Frameworks glasses.

If you’re new here, this article explains exactly what our complimentary lens offer includes, who it’s best suited for, and when it might make sense to upgrade.

Let's dive in.

 

Which lenses come free?

Every pair of our handmade spectacles or sunglasses includes standard index prescription lenses from the Lite Range by Essilor, completely free of charge.

So what does that actually mean in plain English?

• Standard index (1.50) lenses
• From Essilor’s Lite Range
• Available as single vision or varifocal (progressive) lenses
• Optical or sun lenses

They’re designed to give clear, dependable everyday vision without unnecessary upgrades or costs.

 

What is the Lite Range?

The Lite Range is Essilor’s economy lens range. It’s built for reliability rather than bells and whistles, ideal if your prescription is low to moderate and you want lenses that simply do their job well. Lite Range lenses are available as;

• Single vision lenses (close, intermediate or distance vision)
• Varifocal (progressive) lenses

 

What does “standard index” mean?

Standard index lenses have a refractive index of 1.50. This means they’re perfectly suited to low and mild prescriptions where lens thinning isn’t usually required.

If your prescription in the SPH is higher than +/- 3.00 or if the CYL is +/- 2.00 we'd recommend high index (thinned) lenses such as 1.67 or 1.74 index. For a guide on high index lenses, check out this blog post.

 

Recommended Lens Index Based on Prescription

 

Complimentary lens thinning

If your prescription calls for lens thinning, you have the option for complimentary lens thinning up to a 1.60 index too. This extends your complimentary lens offer to slightly thinner lenses, approximately 20% thinner than standard 1.50 index lenses.

You can select this option via our handy lens menu when ordering your prescription lenses.

 

Complimentary coatings

Every Lite Range lens we supply comes with HMC (Hard Multi Coat) included as standard. This is a durable, all-round lens coating designed to protect your lenses during everyday wear while keeping your vision clear.

Key features of HMC are;

• Smudge resistance – easier to keep clean
• Water repellence – rain and splashes bead off
• Anti-reflection – reduced glare from lighting and screens
• Scratch resistance – protection from minor abrasions

HMC is a reliable entry-level coating if you want clear, low-maintenance lenses without any additional upgrades. It’s ideal for daily glasses wearers who spend most of their time indoors, use screens occasionally, or want dependable, easy-to-clean lenses that can handle everyday life.

Learn more about Lite Range lens coatings.

 

Which Lite Range varifocals come free?

From the Lite Range, you can choose 1.50 index Visio Digital varifocals as part of the complimentary offer.

These lenses are digitally designed to provide clear, comfortable vision at near, intermediate, and distance ranges.

They’re a dependable, entry-level varifocal option and work particularly well if you’re new to progressive lenses or want an affordable solution for presbyopia.

 

Do Essilor lenses come free?

No - Essilor lenses are your premium tier, offering higher performance and Crizal® coatings. This includes Essilor single vision lenses and Essilor Varilux® lenses (progressives) such as Varilux® Comfort Max and Varilux® XR.

 

How does lens fitting work?

There three different ways to have prescription lenses fitted to your new Banton Frameworks glasses. Each route is designed to suit different levels of confidence, prescriptions, and timelines.

• You can try the frame first and commit to lenses later.
• You can have your lenses fitted before we send your glasses.
• Or you can have lenses fitted elsewhere entirely.

Learn more here.

 

 

Are prescription lenses refundable?

Prescription lenses are made specifically for you and cut to the exact shape of your chosen frame, so refunds depend on the circumstances.

When lenses are refundable

If there’s a manufacturing defect or an error on our side that affects your vision, that may warrant a refund or remake. These situations are handled case by case.

When lenses aren’t refundable

• If you change your mind about the frame after lens fitting
• If your optician provides an inaccurate prescription

In both cases, the lenses themselves aren’t at fault and can’t be resold or reused.

 

Do complimentary lenses include blue light protection?

No. Blue light protection is an optional paid upgrade.

• Lite Range lenses use Satin + Blue
• Essilor lenses use Crizal® Prevencia

Both options can be added during ordering.

 

Do complimentary lenses include UV protection?

No. The standard HMC coating does not include UV protection. If you’d like additional UV protection for your prescription lenses, you can upgrade to:

• Satin + UV
• Satin + Blue

 

Can I get complimentary sun lenses?

Yes. The complimentary lens offer also applies to sun lenses which includes:

• Standard solid tints include brown, green, and grey
• Non-prescription sun lenses
• Single vision sun lenses
• Varifocal sun lenses

You can preview all options in our sunnglasses collection.

 

Can I upgrade my lenses after ordering?

Yes, absolutely.

It’s worth noting that upgrades require brand new lenses. Additional thinning or coatings can’t be applied to existing lenses once they’re made.

Lens upgrades are available at any time through our reglazing service.

 

Can I send my frames back later for new lenses?

Yes. You can update your lenses any time for your Banton Frameworks glasses as part of our reglazing service. The ordering process is exactly the same.

 

Will my lenses be fitted before shipping?

Only if you select the ‘pre-fit’ option, your lenses will be fitted prior to shipping. As a reward, you'll save £29.95/$69 USD off your total order (at the time of writing this). Ideal for getting your order more quickly or if you're based overseas. Pre-fit orders are non-refundable.

 

How long does lens fitting take?

We begin making prescription lenses in the days after the shop closes. Typical timelines are:

• Single vision: 5–7 working days
• Varifocal: 7–12 working days

 

Are complimentary lenses suitable for strong prescriptions?

To prevent bulky, heavy lenses, stronger prescriptions usually benefit from thinning.

As a general guide, if your SPH exceeds ±3.00 or your CYL exceeds ±2.00, we’d recommend moving to high-index lenses such as 1.67 or 1.74 for improved comfort and appearance.

 

What happens if my prescription changes after ordering?

Ideally, you should provide us with your most up-to-date prescription.

That said, we understand timing isn’t always perfect. If you want to secure your frames while the shop is open, you can place your order first and take all the time you need to book an eye test afterwards.

This means you can get the frames you want without having to wait on your new prescription.

 

What’s the difference between Lite Range and Essilor lenses in real-world use?

Lite Range lenses are a durable, affordable choice for single vision or multifocal prescriptions that deliver good performance and reliable lens coatings. 

Essilor lenses are more advanced, making use of cutting-edge technology and Crizal® coatings for both single vision or multifocal lenses.

You can compare these lenses and learn about their differences in this blog post.

Do thicker frames help hide lens thickness?

Yes, very much so.

Thicker acetate frames naturally conceal lens edges better than thin wire or thin acetate frames. It’s one of the reasons bold, well-proportioned frames often work so well for stronger prescriptions.

It’s also a nice bonus of choosing a handmade acetate frame in the first place.

Still deciding?

If you're gathering intel for your upcoming optical investment, you should definitely check out our before-your-buy blog posts. It's a series of articles designed and written to help you decide if our handmade frames are 'the ones.' 

Thanks for reading x