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A-Z Glossary

Table of Contents

Zyl

Vasudha Rao
Written byVasudha Rao
Vasudha Rao
Vasudha Rao4th Year Optometry Student, UC BerkeleyBerkeley, CA

Bio

Vasudha Rao is a fourth-year optometry student at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry with aspirations of specializing in ocular disease or community care. She is currently on clinical rotations. She enjoyed serving veterans at the Miami Veterans Affairs Hospital and learning from renowned clinicians at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute as a part of her clinical training. Vasudha is passionate about helping underserved communities receive optometric care, and actively volunteers to provide vision screenings to those in need. In her spare time she enjoys partaking in a game of Scrabble, enhancing her cooking skills, and sharing her clinical cases on her Instagram page @visions.of.vasudha.

  • Last updated November 3, 2022

What is Zyl?

Zyl is a type of material that is used to make frames for eyeglasses. It is also known as cellulose acetate or zylonite. Zyl is a lightweight, inexpensive, plastic material. Zyl comes in various colors and sizes and can also be made transparent. Most importantly, this material is environmentally friendly as it is derived from plant sources.

Key Takeaways

  • Zyl is the most common plastic material used to make eyeglass frames. 
  • Advantages of zyl material include unlimited colors and styles, eco-friendly, and hypoallergenic.
  • Disadvantages of zyl include discoloration, and fading when exposed to heat or skin oils over time.
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Understanding Zyl

Zyl is a plastic-like material that is used to make eyeglass frames. It is also known as cellulose acetate or zylonite. The acetate material is derived plant-based fibers, including wood flakes, cotton fibers, and wood pulp. The mixture is plasticized and spread out into thin sheet-like formations. Dye is added to the zyl to give it colors. It is melted and put into a mold. The mold is then cooled down. These molds give zyl frames their unique shapes such as cat eye, aviator, circular, or square. Zyl can be molded into any type of color and shape per the wearer’s need.

Zyl Or Plastic, Which Is The Better Option?

Zyl, or cellulose acetate, is the most common frame material used today for making glasses frames. Zyl is a type of plastic material. The words zyl and plastic are essentially synonymous.

While zyl is a type of plastic, not all plastic frames are zyl frames. There are other types of plastic used to make frames, including cellulose propionate and Optyl materials. Cellulose propionate is a nylon based material that is hypoallergenic, thinner, and lighter than Zyl material. Optyl is a memory based plastic that returns to its original shape once heated. Overall, Zyl is the most common type of plastic-like material in the market today, and it is a good option for people who want colorful, lightweight glasses frames.

Advantages Of Zyl

Zyl has many advantages compared to other traditional glass frames:

  • Versatility
    The layering technique of the zyl material make it more versatile than other frames. Zyl can come in an unlimited amount of styles and colors, which makes the material sought after by consumers who want to make a bold fashion statement.
  • Durability
    Zyl material tends to hold up well when heated, which is beneficial when opticians make glasses adjustments. Zyl material softens after heating, so it can be mechanically manipulated into the preferred position.
  • Easy Adjustment
    Most optical stores have instruments that heat up frames either using hot air or hot salt. An optician can adjust the pair of glasses so that it sits appropriately on the nose and one the sides of the temples without being too tight or too loose.
  • Eco Friendly
    Zyl frame materials are made from natural sources, including cotton and wood. Because zyl material is made from renewable resources, it is biodegradable and better for the environment.
  • Lightweight
    Zyl frames are made of plastic-like materials which are lightweight compared to metal frames. Zyl is less likely to cause discomfort induced from heavy weight, such as nose pad indentations on the nose or headaches.
  • Hypoallergenic
    Since zyl is made up of plant-based materials, it rarely causes allergic reactions. However, stainless steel and titanium are the most hypoallergenic materials. 

Disadvantages of Zyl

  • Discoloration
    Zyl tends to be more prone to yellowing and discoloration than other frame materials.
  • Fading
    Leaving zyl frames in the sun or hot environments for a prolonged period of time can make their colors fade. Oils from the skin can also cause the frame colors to fade over time.

Bibliography

  • Zhao, Xiaohong & Yan, Xianguo & Chen, Zhi & Su, Hang. (2021). Lightweight Design and Dynamics Analysis of ZYL-15000D Directional Drill Reducer. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering. 2021. 1-14. 10.1155/2021/7164276.
  • Pillay, Michael N., et al. “A Construction Guide for High-Nuclearity (≥50 Metal Atoms) Coinage Metal Clusters at the Nanoscale: Bridging Molecular Precise Constructs with the Bulk Material Phase – Nanoscale (RSC Publishing).” A Construction Guide for High-Nuclearity (≥50 Metal Atoms) Coinage Metal Clusters at the Nanoscale: Bridging Molecular Precise Constructs with the Bulk Material Phase – Nanoscale (RSC Publishing), pubs.rsc.org, 24 Nov. 2020,
  • Ulrik Ahrensbøll-Friis, Anne Birgitte Simonsen, Jakob Dahlin, Marléne Isaksson, Claus Zachariae, Jeanne Duus Johansen, Allergic contact dermatitis from dyes used in the temple of spectacles, Contact Dermatitis, 10.1111/cod.13989, 86, 1, (25-28), (2021). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/cod.13989
  • Francisco J. Navarro Triviño, Ricardo Ruiz-Villaverde, Allergic contact dermatitis to eyeglass frame nosepiece caused by tetraethylthiuram disulphide and resorcinol monobenzoate, International Journal of Dermatology, 10.1111/ijd.15105, 60, 4, (e156-e158), (2020).

 

Related Terms

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Anterior Chamber

is located between the iris and the innermost corneal surface. It is filled with fluid called aqueous humor

Leukocoria

means “white pupil,” and is characterized by the presence of white light reflected off the back of the eye

Scotopic Vision

refers to your eyes’ ability to see in low light levels

Femtosecond Laser

is an infrared laser primarily used for laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) eye surgery

Emmetropia

is an eye with no refractive error (no prescription for nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism)

Keratometer

is an instrument that measures the corneal curvature and power. It helps diagnose keratoconus and astigmatism

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