Glass magnifiers allow for very high light transmission, which provides a very clear and precise image. Glass magnifiers are also durable and extremely difficult to scratch. There are many grades of glass available; however, the best grade of glass magnifying lenses is better than the best grade of acrylic lenses. Glass magnifiers typically magnify slightly more than acrylic magnifiers as a result of the material density. The most popular glass magnifier from Carson is the SG-10 SureGrip Magnifier.

Glass magnifiers have declined in popularity over the years. Twenty years ago, nearly all the magnifiers sold in the United States were made from glass. Today, however, more than 90% of the magnifiers sold in the U.S. are made from acrylic.