As we optimistically brush off the BBQ and dig out our sunhats, thoughts often turn to sunglasses and sun protection for the summer months. Anti-reflection coatings crop up again and again in our query box, as people wonder if they give relief from glare. The coating actually helps for night driving, stops eye strain under bright lighting, and makes your lenses look invisible. Here are a few Q and As that might help your buying decision…….
What does the coating look like? How do I know if it’s on my specs?
The coating is not visible like a dark tint, but if you look at the back of your lenses, and tilt them under a bright light, you’ll see what we call a residual colour, like an oil slick on water. Colours vary from greeny-blue through to gold. With the specs on the coating is invisible, and it looks as if you have no lenses in your glasses.
Does the anti-reflection layer work like a sunglass colour?
The short answer to this is no! However the anti-reflection coating does have some value on bright days. The coating cuts glare by allowing all visible light through to the eye. On an uncoated lens some light is reflected back, which interferes with your vision, causing discomfort. So although it doesn’t darken things down like a sunglass tint, a coating does make your vision sharper and clearer, even on sunny days.
Do you need an anti-reflection coating on sunglasses?
The point to note here is that the dark tint and the AR coating do two different things. The coating makes your vision sharper; the coloured tint dulls everything down. The AR coating will help you to make the most of your sight; it will also cut annoying back reflections, like being able to see your own reflected eye in the back of your lenses. So for most people it helps to have both.
The coating has peeled off my specs in the past – what did I do to it?
In the early days, coatings were only expected to last the life-span of the prescription, and often degenerated over time. Nowadays, they’re a lot tougher. Do be careful with them though – don’t leave them anywhere really hot, clean as instructed by your supplier, and take care not to get anything sticky like hairspray on the lenses.
We’re always happy to help, so if we haven’t covered your query here, feel free to mail us at TheinternetGlassesCompany We’ll try to help with any aspect of eye wear, so come, on, give us a challenge!