Anti-Reflective Coating

Anti-reflective coating – what is it and why do I need it?

These are great questions and I hear them all the time.  Anti-reflective coatings are typically comprised of silica based or metal oxide components that are adhered to the surface of the lens usually through a vacuum deposition process.  These coatings use a theory called destructive interference to equalize light reflected from the inner surface of the lens and the outer surface of the film to nearly cancel out these reflections thereby minimizing the visually experienced glare seen by the wearer.

Ok, let’s take a breath!  These are complicated processes that utilize optical theory, physics and mathematics to create solutions for those of us who wear glasses.  Our glasses correct our vision with customized prescriptions.  But when we put these prescription lenses in front of our eyes, we are creating a new problem from the reflective surface of the lenses – glare!

The answer: Anti-reflective coating – a simply beautiful solution.  But don’t they scratch easily and make my lenses smudgy and harder to clean?

No!  Anti-reflective coatings don’t make it any easier to scratch your lens.  Your lenses should always have a scratch resistant foundation hard coating.  You may notice small scratches more easily when the anti-reflective coating is scratched because now your glare free lenses suddenly have a spot on them without the glare protection.  So what you are noticing is the increased glare.  If your anti-reflective coating feels hard to clean and seems to smudge a lot, come talk to me.  It’s possible you have an inferior coating on your lenses and I can help you select a more durable, anti-static, hydrophobic, anti-reflective coating that will make you fall in love with your glasses all over again!