COMPARE LENS MAKERS
Essilor, Rodenstock or EGMA? Three makers, side by side.
FrameLens fits lenses from three makers: Essilor, for which we are an authorised distributor; Rodenstock, the German lens maker; and EGMA, an independent lens lab in Dubai. All three are genuine, all three are cut and fitted in our DIFC atelier, and all three are sold at least 25% below their official price list.
The table below compares what each one offers at FrameLens, using the names you will see when you order. Real prices follow underneath, each beside its official price.
| Feature | Essilor | Rodenstock | EGMA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | France | Germany, since 1877 | Dubai, made locally |
| Single vision lines | Crizal (clear), Eyezen Start, Eyezen Boost | Cosmolit, Multigressiv Mono, Impression Mono | Solo, Vista Solo, Panoramic Solo |
| Progressive lines | Espace, Varilux Liberty 3.0, Comfort Max, Physio Extensee, XR Design | Progressiv, Multigressiv, Impression | Flex, Vista Flex, Panoramic Flex |
| Coatings | Crizal Easy Pro, Crizal Rock, Crizal Sapphire HR | Solitaire Protect 2, Solitaire Protect Plus 2 | Diamond, Diamond Pro |
| Photochromic option | Transitions Gen S | Colormatic 3 | Colormatic |
| Blue light option | Blue UV Capture, built into Eyezen and included with Transitions | Solitaire Protect Balance 2 | Bloc Pro |
| Prescription sun lenses | Xperio tints, category 3 | No prescription sun lenses | No prescription sun lenses |
| Turnaround | 48 hours standard | Up to 72 hours | Up to 72 hours |
| Price at FrameLens | At least 25% below the official list, see the table below | At least 25% below the official list, see the table below | At least 25% below the official list, see the table below |
No account, no obligation — your exact price before you decide.
25%
below the official price list, always
48h
for most lenses, frame to collection
DIFC
cut and fitted in our Dubai atelier
Single vision lenses, maker by maker
Per pair, index 1.60 with Crizal Rock, Solitaire Protect Plus 2 or Diamond Pro coating. VAT and fitting included.
| Lens | Official price | FrameLens |
|---|---|---|
| Essilor Crizal, clear | AED 790 | |
| Essilor Eyezen Start, blue light | AED 1,015 | |
| Rodenstock Cosmolit | AED 1,275 | |
| Rodenstock Multigressiv Mono | AED 1,650 | |
| EGMA Solo | AED 790 | |
| EGMA Vista Solo | AED 1,015 |
Progressive lenses, maker by maker
Per pair, index 1.60 with Crizal Rock, Solitaire Protect Plus 2 or Diamond Pro coating. VAT and fitting included.
| Lens | Official price | FrameLens |
|---|---|---|
| Varilux Comfort Max | AED 1,890 | |
| Varilux Physio Extensee | AED 2,370 | |
| Rodenstock Progressiv | AED 1,875 | |
| Rodenstock Multigressiv | AED 2,625 | |
| EGMA Flex | AED 1,050 | |
| EGMA Panoramic Flex | AED 1,800 |
What sets each maker apart
Essilor is the maker behind Crizal coatings, Eyezen lenses for screen-heavy days and the Varilux progressive range, from Liberty 3.0 to XR Design. Its range is the widest we carry, and it is the only one of the three in which we cut prescription sun lenses, with Xperio tints.
Rodenstock is the German lens maker, making precision lenses since 1877. Its range runs from the Cosmolit single vision lens to the individually computed Impression progressive, finished with Solitaire coatings.
EGMA is an independent lens lab in Dubai, a few minutes from our atelier. Its Solo single vision and Flex progressive lines go up to the Panoramic designs, computed on your individual parameters, and every EGMA lens includes the Diamond anti-reflective coating.
How to choose
Budget: each maker has lenses at several price points, as the tables above show. The individually computed designs cost the most: Varilux XR Design and Rodenstock Impression sit at the top, while EGMA's Panoramic designs, also computed on your individual parameters, are priced lower.
Progressives: all three makers offer them, from an everyday design to an individually computed one. For demanding progressive wearers, Varilux remains our first recommendation; Rodenstock Impression and EGMA Panoramic Flex are the individualised options from the other two.
Timing: Essilor standard lenses are ready within 48 hours of your frame reaching us, Rodenstock and EGMA lenses within 72 hours. Special orders take up to 10 days, and you are told before you pay.
Options: photochromic and blue light filters exist at all three, under their own names. On Essilor, Blue UV Capture comes included with Transitions Gen S; on Rodenstock and EGMA, the blue light filter is a separate option you can add to Colormatic.
The same 25% below, whichever you choose
Our price rule does not change with the maker: every lens, Essilor, Rodenstock or EGMA, is sold at least 25% below its official price list, VAT and fitting included. You see both prices side by side in the order flow before you pay.
The service is the same too: your prescription is verified by a licensed optician, your lenses are cut and fitted in our DIFC atelier, your frame is covered at its market value while it is with us, and every coating is guaranteed for one year. A second pair ordered at the same time gets 40% off its lenses.
QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
Which is better: Essilor, Rodenstock or EGMA?
There is no single answer: all three make good lenses, and the right one depends on your prescription, your budget and how soon you need your glasses. All three are genuine and cut in our DIFC atelier. If you are unsure, our optician can advise you on WhatsApp at +971 55 752 4880.
Where are EGMA lenses made?
In Dubai. EGMA is an independent lens lab a few minutes from our atelier, with its own single vision and progressive lines. It publishes an official price list, and FrameLens sells every EGMA lens at least 25% below it.
Do Rodenstock and EGMA lenses come in photochromic?
Yes. The photochromic option is called Colormatic 3 on Rodenstock lenses and Colormatic on EGMA lenses. Unlike Essilor's Transitions, they do not include a blue light filter: it is a separate option, Solitaire Protect Balance 2 on Rodenstock and Bloc Pro on EGMA.
Are the prices the same as the official price list?
No, they are lower: every lens is sold at least 25% below its maker's official price list. The tables on this page show both prices for typical lenses, and the order flow gives your exact total before you pay.