What is Low-Iron Glass?
Low-iron glass is optically more clear than standard clear glass due to the low iron content. Clear glass will have a higher level of iron in the silica used to make it. This creates a greenish tint in the finished product. Different manufacturers have their own special formula & trademarked names like Starphire, Crystal Clear, OptiWhite or UltraClear. The one thing they all have in common is the low amount of iron in their raw materials. This extra refining increases the cost of the glass.
Most people will not notice the difference unless it is pointed out to them. For many applications clear glass is perfectly adequate. Where budget is the biggest concern, clear is the way to go. You might consider low-iron in certain cases. If visual cohesiveness is important such as in an all white bathroom or one with special tile, low-iron might be worth the added cost. The green tint is also more obvious in thicker glass, satin & patterned glass or when viewing the edges of glass. Most people will not pay attention to glass edges, such as when the doors are folded. This may be more apparent if the shower doors will be in the open position when not in use. Edges will have a green color with clear glass and more of a bluish tint with low-iron, as pictured above. It is up to you to decide if the clarity is worth the extra expense.