64% of people in America wear glasses, and even more need some kind of vision correction. Glasses have become more than a medical device. You can use them to show off your fashion sense, compliment your personality, and make you seem more professional.
Glasses coatings are placed on your lenses to protect your lenses. They can also help enhance your vision. After you’ve picked out your perfect glasses frame, your optician will ask you what kind of coating you want on your lenses.
Understanding what different glasses coatings will do for your glasses and vision can help you make a more informed decision. This guide will explain the primary glasses coatings available and what they can do for you.
Anti-Reflective Coating
This is one of the most common glasses coatings you can find on the market. Many lenses will have it built-in with other coatings Anti-reflective glasses have a thin coating that prevents reflections on the front and back of the lenses.
The first reason people will get this style coating is cosmetic. Your lenses are virtually invisible, which lets people focus on your eyes. This quality is great when you want a metal or thinner frame because it will make your glasses look even lighter.
If you have a lot of photos taken, an anti-reflective coating will prevent the flash from bouncing off your lenses. For sunglasses, this glasses coating can prevent the sun from bouncing into your eyes when you’re facing away from it.
The second reason is the vision improvement this coating provides. If you struggle with night driving, this coating will stop lights from reflecting on your lenses. This eliminates distractions and makes it easier to focus on the road.
Polycarbonate and Hi-index lenses can also be more reflective than plastic lenses. This coating is highly recommended if you’re getting polycarbonate or hi-index lenses.
Scratch-Resistant Lenses
This is one of the best glasses coatings you can get, especially for younger or first-time glasses wearers. Accidents can happen and sometimes we drop our glasses or forget to store them in a case when we aren’t wearing them.
Scratch-resistant coatings protect your glasses. Lenses on their own can be soft, so this coating is an absolute must. The harder surface reduces the risk of glasses getting scratched from drops, bumps, or cleaning with a textured cloth.
Your lenses will not be 100% scratchproof, but they will hold up better than lenses without this coating.
Anti-Fog Coatings
From increased mask-wearing to cold climates, glasses fogging up is one of the most annoying things to deal with. Fogged lenses can reduce your vision, which is a major safety risk. This is a rarer glasses coating and not everyone offers it.
Anti-fog coatings prevent moisture from turning into condensation on your lenses. It can be put on any type of glasses lenses, even if they already have other coatings. You can maintain a clear lens going from a cold outside to a warm inside.
Blue Light Glasses
As more people shift to work from home, computer usage is increasing. Between our screen technology usage and general light absorption, the amount of blue light we take in is increasing. Blue light can make our eyes tired and cause difficulty falling asleep at night.
Blue light glasses are the best glasses coating for keeping our eyes healthy in our digital environment. Cheaper blue light coatings will have a yellow tint that counteracts the blue light. Technological advances have produced blue light glasses options that don’t have a tint, which makes them look more appealing.
Combined with an anti-glare coating, these lenses block the blue light wavelengths from your eyes. This coating can help reduce headaches, eyestrain, and make falling asleep easier.
While we recommend these lenses for everyone who loves using technology, we feel they are mandatory if you have a job that requires a lot of computer work. Having a blue light filter on your computer can help, but blue light glasses are a must-have.
Transition Lenses
Transition lenses are popular glasses coatings for anyone who spends a lot of time outside. If you don’t want to have one pair of regular glasses and one pair of sunglasses, transition lenses are for you. Almost every lens type can have this coating applied, and everywhere offers it.
These lenses automatically get darker when UV light from the sun hits them. When you go inside, they will slowly transition back to learn lenses. The transition speed gets faster with each new iteration.
Traditional colors for transition lenses are grey/black and brown. But, some offices have more colorful options, like blue, green, and pink. Each color has unique benefits. For example, grey/black is great for harsh light, but brown can make some colors pop.
UV Treatments
24.4 million Americans over the age of 40 experience cataracts. One of the biggest factors for cataracts is your eyes absorbing too much ultraviolet light. Having an ultraviolet glasses coating can help reduce the amount of UV light your eyes absorb.
You will have to request a UV treatment if you want plastic lenses. But, polycarbonate, hi-index, and other high-quality lenses will have it built-in. Adding a UV treatment will also block 100% of UV light from hitting your eyes.
Transition lenses will also have UV treatment built into the lenses.
Tips to Help You Decide
Now that you know what the different options for glasses coatings are, here are some tips to help you decide which coatings are best for you!
First, everyone should have an anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and UV-coated lense. These are the basic coatings you need for your glasses to last longer and protect your eyes. Many lenses will have these built into their base prices.
Next, figure out what works best for your lifestyle. If you spend a lot of time outside, transition lenses would be beneficial. But, when you spend a lot of time using technology, the blue light coating would be a better option.
Finally, determine how much money you can afford to spend on your glasses. Glasses are expensive, and the last thing you want is to break the bank. Focus on what benefits you can afford, then see what the price would be like if you added extra features.
Add a Glasses Coating and Enhance Your Vision Today
Glasses Coating can protect your eyes, improve your vision, and help your lenses last longer. After walking through the popular options available, it’s time for you to enhance your vision.
EZ Optical in Houston is here to help you find the perfect pair of glasses for you and your lifestyle. We offer convenient exams and glasses purchases in one place. Book an appointment today and take charge of your eye health.
