3 Reasons You May Need an Anti-Reflective Coating on Your Lenses
Years ago, I told my optometrist to skip the anti-reflective coating on my new glasses. Our budget was tight and I didn’t think it would matter. Boy was I wrong.
So, last week when I picked out my two new pairs, I ordered it without a second thought! Sure, your insurance may not cover the anti-reflective (a/r) coating – but I do think it is worth it for many people.
Why Anti-Reflective Coating Matters on Glasses
Some have been turned off by the anti-reflective coatings of decades past, but if you fall in that category I’d encourage you to try again! The newer anti-reflective coatings will actually help preserve your lenses by keeping them cleaner and reducing how substances like grease and water stick to them.
Anti-reflective coatings work by putting layers of metal oxides on the lenses. This layering reduces the amount of reflected light while allowing more light to shine through the actual lens. The technology was first developed for camera and microscope lenses, but works really great on eyeglasses as well.
You Should Try Anti-Reflective Coating If…
You are in the spotlight.
Anyone who does television appearances, gets photographed a lot, or performs on stage will need an anti-reflective coating so that their glasses don’t show up as a big, bright blurry glare on screen or in photos. Even if you aren’t a celebrity, you may still want to get an a/r coating on your lenses if you have a big event coming up where you’ll get lots of photos taken–like a wedding, a special family vacation, or a work event.
You work (or play) in bright light.
Is your office full of computer screens and bright fluorescent lights? Or, do you have a hobby where a little bit of glare could mean the missing your target or losing the game? You may want to be sure your lenses are coated with a higher-end anti-reflective coating that will significantly reduce the amount of glare you see.
You drive at night.
One scenario in which many, many people benefit from coated lenses is night driving. For those of us who need vision correction, sometimes the combination of darkness and bright headlights coming at us creates a blurry and fuzzy field of view. Anti-reflective coatings cut down on halos around lights and allow your eyes to more clearly distinguish what’s coming at you!
Talk to your optometrist at your closest America’s Best retailer about whether or not an anti-reflective coating will be helpful for your lifestyle.
