In today’s highly competitive optical market, the ability to flexibly and efficiently meet the diverse vision needs of wearers has become more important than ever.With progressive and multifocal lenses gaining increasing popularity among presbyopic users, the demand for progressive multifocal lenses is growing at an annual rate of 12%. However, traditional finished progressive lenses come with three major drawbacks: limited adaptability, high inventory pressure, and compromised optical performance. As a result, more and more lens processing labs and eyewear brands are choosing semi-finished lenses to offer higher-quality, more personalized visual solutions.

What Are Semi-Finished Lenses?

Semi-finished lenses refer to lens blanks where one surface—usually the front—is pre-molded, while the other surface remains unprocessed. The front surface typically includes a specific base curve or design contour, and the back surface is precisely ground and polished based on the customer’s prescription.

This structure offers great customization flexibility for labs and eyewear brands, especially for progressive and multifocal lenses tailored to complex prescriptions or personalized needs.

Why Choose Semi-Finished Lenses for Progressive and Multifocal Designs?

1. High Customization and Flexibility

The biggest advantage of semi-finished lenses is the ability to tailor them to individual wearer parameters. Labs can use freeform technology to precisely grind the back surface of the lens, enabling:

• Optimized design based on fitting height, frame shape, and wearing habits
• Precise control of transitions between distance, intermediate, and near vision zones—reducing peripheral distortion by up to 50%
• A more comfortable and natural visual experience, suitable for various lifestyles

2. Lower Inventory Pressure and Higher Production Efficiency

For lens manufacturers and eyewear brands, using semi-finished lenses greatly reduces inventory requirements. By stocking only commonly used base curves, different prescriptions can be produced flexibly according to orders.

• Fewer SKUs and lower warehousing costs
• Higher prescription coverage to meet personalized customer needs
• Reduced risk of overstock and improved cash flow

3. Superior Optical Performance

Progressive lenses require highly precise optical designs to carefully control zone distribution and transitions. Semi-finished lenses can be perfectly combined with digital freeform technology to deliver:

• Wider clear vision zones
• Reduced edge distortion
• Shorter adaptation periods

4. Compatibility with Various Materials and Functional Coatings

Semi-finished lenses are suitable for a wide range of materials, providing a fully customizable solution from lens material to functionality to meet different wearer needs and usage scenarios. These include:

• Resin lenses (1.50 / 1.56)
• Polycarbonate lenses (1.59)
• Trivex material
• High-index lenses (1.60 / 1.67 / 1.74)

Supported coatings and treatments include:

• Scratch-resistant coating(Hard coating)
• Anti-reflective (AR) coating(Hard multi coating)
• Anti-glare(AG) coating
• Anti-fog coating
• Blue light blocking coating
• Spin photochromic coating

How to Choose the Right Semi-Finished Lens Supplier?

If you are an optical lens distributor, lens processing lab, or eyewear brand, consider the following factors when choosing a semi-finished lens supplier:

• Surface quality – The lens surface should be smooth, with no bubbles or impurities
• Base curve range – The more base curves available, the better the adaptability
• Material variety – Does the supplier offer a wide range of refractive indices and functional options?
• Certifications – Does the supplier hold CE, FDA, ISO, and other international certifications?
• OEM/ODM capabilities – Can they customize branding and packaging according to your needs?

Aogong Optical offers semi-finished lenses that meet all these criteria, helping you significantly enhance your product competitiveness and customer satisfaction.

Semi-Finished Lenses – The Future of Custom Optical Solutions

As demand continues to rise for personalized and high-quality visual experiences, semi-finished lenses—with their exceptional flexibility, optical performance, and broad applicability—have become the go-to choice for progressive and multifocal lens designs.

Whether you’re producing freeform progressives or more complex bifocals or prescription sunglasses, semi-finished lenses empower you to deliver premium optical products that truly meet user needs.