Many sporting pastimes and some other occupations, such as driving, increase the risk of damage to the eye. Polycarbonate lenses are impact resistant making them the ideal choice for active wearers.

They are also suitable for children involved in active sports as well as normal spectacle wearers, because they are thinner and lighter compared with standard plastic lenses. Polycarbonate lenses also have built-in ultra violet protective properties (other types of plastic lenses must be further treated to give the same level of protection).

Polycarbonate lenses are actually constructed out of material that is identical to what is called "bullet proof glass."