An ophthalmic glass lens having a compressively stressed surface zone after ion exchanging which is at least 60 micrometers in depth can be formed from an alkali metal oxide silicate glass comprising by weight about 4 to about 15 percent sodium oxide, about 3 to about 15 percent potassium oxide provided the total amount of sodium, potassium and other alkali metal oxides is up to about 20 percent and about 3 to about 15 percent lanthanum oxide. The ion exchange process can take place at a temperature either above or below the strain point of conventional ophthalmic crown glass to produce satisfactory physical properties in the ophthalmic glass lens.