6 Reasons to Get Anti-Reflective Coatingon Your New Glasses
When you get a new pair of glasses, you might be offered the option to get an anti-reflective (AR) coating. What is an anti-reflective coating, and why should you get it? An anti-reflective coating is a lens coating that reduces reflections on your glasses, providing benefits like clearer vision with fewer distractions and reduced eye strain. Every eyeglass retailer has its own anti-reflection solutions, so always check the advertised benefits of any AR coating you’re considering. Let’s explore some of the main reasons to consider an anti-reflective coating for your glasses.
Why Anti-Reflective Coating Matters
Your eyes depend on light to create and interpret images of the world around you. In eyeglass lenses, a certain amount of the light that would normally reach your eye is blocked or reflected away from your eye by the plastic. Using an anti-reflective coating on your lenses increases the light passage to nearly 100%, providing both practical and aesthetic benefits. Here are six reasons why Visionworks recommends our Elite Non-Glare anti-reflective coating for your glasses.
1. Helps Reduce Eye Strain During Screen Time
Anti-reflective coatings are one effective way to reduce digital eye strain for those who spend a lot of time on electronic devices like computers and smartphones. Most people’s digital screens are set to give off a lot of light. This can create glare on your glasses and make it harder for your eyes to focus. Over time, your eyes become fatigued, and you may experience headaches. If you spend more than four hours a day on screens, an anti-reflective coating is a very good idea.
2. Aids Night Driving Safety
Everyone knows how the glare from oncoming headlights can throw off your vision when driving at night—it’s uncomfortable and distracting. If you wear glasses, the odds of experiencing this kind of effect are greatly increased. If you’re a frequent night driver, anti-reflective coated lenses can reduce glare from headlights, streetlights, signs, and buildings you pass when driving. Having clearer vision during nighttime driving is in everyone’s best interest.
3. Ideal for Strong Prescriptions and Specialty Lenses
When you need a strong prescription (for vision below 20/40) to see your best, the lenses inside your eyeglasses are often quite thick. You may choose plastic lenses to help reduce the weight of your glasses and keep you comfortable. Unfortunately, the thicker the lens, the more light is restricted from reaching your eye, and the more visible reflections become. An AR coating can significantly reduce these bothersome distractions.
Even better, an anti-reflective coating is compatible with a variety of specialty lenses. Anti-glare lens coatings can be applied to:
- Single-vision lenses
- Progressive lenses
- Blue light filtering lenses
- Reading lenses
- Photochromatic lenses
- UV-blocking lenses
- Sunglasses
- High-index lenses
- Safety glasses
4. Improved Appearance
The same light and image reflection that gives your eyes grief also affects how others see you. If you’re an eyeglass wearer, you probably carefully choose your frames to enhance and complement your appearance. Still, few realize that without an anti-reflective coating, it’s hard for those looking at you to see your eyes. This is especially important to keep in mind if you work in a profession where making a good first impression, maintaining a certain appearance, or open personal communication is important. Choose Elite Non-Glare from Visionworks and let people see you, not your glasses.
5. Virtually Eliminates Glasses Glare in Photos and Videos
Conference calls, photos, and videos have become part of our everyday lives. Wearing glasses with an anti-reflective coating helps remove distractions and distortions in your appearance during video calls and similar activities while keeping your eyes comfortable. It also helps you look better in photos by reducing glare from the sun, harsh lighting, or camera flashes. AR helps you put your best foot forward and look like yourself in every situation.
6. Keeps Glasses Cleaner
Plastic vision lenses get dirty and scratch more easily than other types of lenses. That means frequent glasses wearers spend a lot of time cleaning their glasses daily to keep their vision clear. An anti-reflective coating helps your glasses resist dirt and buildup, meaning less frequent cleaning. It also provides extra protection against lens scratches.
How to Clean Eyeglasses with Anti-Reflective Coatings
When cleaning your glasses, it’s essential to use a glass cleaner designed to be safe for AR coatings. Never use a normal household glass cleaner.
The best way to clean glasses with an anti-reflective coating is to grab your microfiber cleaning cloth. This is enough for a simple cleaning. If more is needed, we recommend using warm water and liquid soap. Gently clean the lenses with your fingers using a circular motion and dry them with a microfiber cloth.
You Decide: Is an Anti-Reflective Coating Worth It?
Now that you’ve had a chance to review the benefits of having an anti-reflective coating on your glasses, the choice is yours to make. AR coatings help reduce eye strain, improve vision during night driving, protect your lenses, and ensure you see and are seen in the best light. If you have a stronger prescription, spend a lot of time on electronic devices, or frequently drive at night, Visionworks highly recommends our Elite Non-Glare anti-reflective coating for your new glasses.
You can easily find your new favorite pair of glasses by shopping in-store or online at visionworks.com. Then, choose Elite Non-Glare lenses to keep you and your glasses looking great. If it’s time to renew your glasses prescription or get your yearly eye exam, schedule an appointment with Visionworks today!
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Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Claims regarding blue light efficiency are supported by manufacturer-provided test results.
