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Essilor vs ZEISS lenses: which suits your prescription and budget

Written by Alvin, Store Manager · Manh Long Optical · 147A Le Duan, Cua Nam, Hanoi · Updated 10 September 2026

Both are the same global brands you can buy at home. What this page adds is our own counter prices, so you can hold them against a quote you already have.

Every figure below comes from the price list at our counter, last updated 2 September 2026. Prices are per pair of lenses, frame not included, in Vietnamese đồng; your phone's currency converter will give you today's figure. The final price is confirmed after your eye test, before anything is cut. We compare price and prescription range only. We do not rank one brand above the other.

1. The short comparison

Nine lines, each one a point where the two brands differ on our list. The last column says which side comes out ahead on that line alone. "To -6.00" means the lens is made for short-sightedness up to -6.00 dioptres.

2. Blue-light filtering lenses

At 1.56, 1.60 and 1.67 the two brands cover almost the same range, and Essilor Blue UV Capture costs less than ZEISS ClearView at each step. At 1.74 it flips. ZEISS ClearView DuraVision Gold is 100,000₫ cheaper and goes to -20.00, where Essilor stops at -18.00.

The gap at the three lower indices is 192,000₫ at 1.56, 470,000₫ at 1.60 and 220,000₫ at 1.67. The prescription ranges there barely differ, so the choice usually comes down to budget, or to staying with a brand you already wear.

What these lenses actually do: they cut glare and reflections from screens. On eye strain the evidence is thin. A 2023 Cochrane systematic review found no evidence that blue-light filtering lenses reduce it, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology puts screen-related strain down mainly to blinking less while you concentrate.

3. Photochromic lenses

Essilor has the lower entry price, starting with Transitions Classic 1.56 at 2,080,000₫. ZEISS adds a 1.74 option, and its DuraVision Gold line takes astigmatism up to 6.00, which suits a strong or strongly astigmatic prescription.

There is no Essilor photochromic 1.74 on our list. Beyond -10.00, only ZEISS of the two has one: 1.67 to -12.00, or 1.74 to -14.00.

One limit applies to both brands. Photochromic lenses darken in response to UV, and a car windscreen filters much of it out, so inside a car they stay lighter than you might expect. If you drive a lot in daylight, a separate pair of prescription sunglasses does that job better.

4. Progressive lenses: plan for three to four days

Essilor and ZEISS progressives both take three to four days, because the lenses are surfaced at the manufacturer's lab to your measurements rather than cut in store. Neither brand is quicker. If you are only in Hanoi for a few days, that wait matters more than the logo.

Tell us your departure date when you walk in. We will only suggest lenses that can be finished before you leave. If you fly out first, international shipping can be arranged, and we confirm the destination, the cost and a realistic delivery time before you order.

Progressive prices are not listed on this page. They are quoted after the eye test, once the lens design is chosen. For how the timing works for each lens type, see lenses in Hanoi: what they cost and how long they take.

5. When you do not need either brand

If your prescription is within -8.00, astigmatism is 2.00 or less and you want to keep the cost down, our list has Elements Blue UV Cut 1.56 at 480,000–580,000₫ a pair (the higher price is for stronger astigmatism), also a blue-light filtering lens. The lens index guide lays out all seven indices, 1.56 to 1.76, with the price range at each.

A premium lens does not fix a wrong prescription. The measurement matters more, and the eye test here is free whether or not you buy. Get that right first.

6. Ask to see the packaging

Genuine Essilor and ZEISS lenses come in sealed packaging with the maker's warranty card. Ask to see it before the lens is edged, because once it is cut the packaging is what remains as proof. You are also given the full price before anything is cut. Nothing is added later.

Common questions

Is ZEISS better than Essilor?

On our price list, neither wins on every line. Essilor costs less for blue-light filtering lenses from 1.56 to 1.67 and is the cheaper way into photochromic lenses; ZEISS costs less at 1.74, covers stronger prescriptions, and in its DuraVision Gold photochromic line takes astigmatism up to 6.00.

How much are ZEISS 1.74 lenses in Hanoi?

At Manh Long Optical, ZEISS ClearView DuraVision Gold 1.74, a blue-light filtering lens, is 12,280,000₫ a pair and covers up to -20.00 with astigmatism up to 6.00. The photochromic PhotoFusion DuraVision Gold 1.74 is 16,380,000₫ and covers up to -14.00.

Do you have Essilor photochromic lenses in 1.74?

Not on our current price list. The highest Essilor photochromic we list is Transitions Gen S 1.67 at 8,280,000₫, up to -10.00; for stronger prescriptions, ZEISS PhotoFusion DuraVision Gold comes in 1.67 (to -12.00) and 1.74 (to -14.00).

Can I get Essilor or ZEISS glasses before I leave Hanoi?

Single-vision lenses in stock from either brand are usually cut the same day. Essilor and ZEISS progressives take three to four days because they are surfaced at the manufacturer's lab, so tell us your departure date as soon as you arrive.

Sources

• Manh Long Optical counter price list, updated 2 September 2026. The source of every price and prescription range on this page.
• Cochrane Library (2023), Blue-light filtering spectacle lenses for visual performance, sleep, and macular health in adults. Systematic review of blue-light filtering lenses.
• American Academy of Ophthalmology, Are Blue Light-Blocking Glasses Worth It? Why screen-related eye strain comes mainly from blinking less.