When an antiglare coating is provided for lenses on glasses, then it can improve a person’s vision, reduce their eye strain, and make the frames look more attractive. These benefits and more are possible because of the ability of the anti-glare coating to eliminate the reflections from the front and back surface of the glasses.
The modern anti-reflective coatings can reduce almost all light reflections from a pair of glasses. That leads to 99.5% of available light passing through to answer the eye, offering better overall vision.
This coating will also make your lenses look almost invisible to those who pass you by, allowing others to see your facial expressions, eye color, and similar attributes with greater efficiency. Some would even say that the anti-reflective glasses make someone more attractive.
Although sharper vision and better looks are excellent reasons to think about this service in addition to your frames, there are several anti-glare lenses pros and cons to think about before you decide to make this investment.
List of the Pros of Anti-Glare Lenses
1. There are cosmetic perks to think about with this service.
When you choose an anti-glare coating, then people will not see the reflections in your prescription glasses. This design increases the visibility that others have when approaching you, while the same benefit applies as you approach them. It is an opportunity to maintain enhanced eye contact while in public without dealing with bothersome reflections. It’s the perfect opportunity for those who do a lot of public speaking because you will appear to be more photogenic thanks to the qualities of this coating.
2. It offers an improvement to your vision.
The anti-glare lenses which are available today offer you a visual quality that is clearer and sharper when compared to a standard lens. You will see colors that are closer to their natural state when using this product. With fewer reflections interfering with your vision, each element in the environment around you shines with its brilliance in a way that you may have never seen before.
3. They offer more durability over the long-term life of the product.
When an anti-glare coating is applied to glasses lenses, then the product will last longer for the consumer when compared to the standard lens with any frame. This coating is exceptionally resistant to scratches and common elements of damage which occur every day for people who wear glasses to correct their vision. They will also do an excellent job of resisting both dirt and water to keep your view clear.
4. It is a way to reduce eye fatigue at work.
The anti-glare lenses found on modern glasses reduce the fatigue and strain that your eyes encounter when staring at computer screens for a long time. There are fewer reflections within the blue light spectrum that can be bothersome to some users. Your eyes are also protected against the glare from the screen, which reduces the work that your eyes must do to ensure you see each element correctly while working. You can step away from the computer with more energy after the day thanks to this technology.
5. There are other screen benefits to consider as well with anti-glare lenses.
You will receive the same benefits while watching TV as you do when working on the computer when wearing anti-glare lenses. This technology reduces the glare on other screens that can make your eyes feel tired too. The same benefits apply for those who use tablets, smartphones, or similar devices. There is a noticeable reduction in the number of headaches, neck strain, and posture issues because viewers are more comfortable with the lack of glare, allowing them to stay focused on their posture.
6. It can improve a person’s night vision.
Anti-glare technologies can reduce the glare that some people see at night when bright lights are present in the environment. Instead of having headlights or streetlamps create a halo effect with the visual input, you receive pure colors and better optical data to generate an improvement in your overall night vision. This design makes it possible to stay safer at night while driving, cycling, or walking because it reduces the impact of brightness with its unique design.
7. The anti-reflective surface can aid in your detail work.
When the anti-glare surface is applied to your glasses, you gain the advantage of reducing common issues with detail work. Lenses without an anti-reflective coating can create issues with haze, glare, or double vision. This problem interferes with your work when focusing on finely detailed items, such as trying to affix a small screw or attach a sensitive mechanical part. Wearing lenses with this tech can even make it easier to read the fine print on contracts, circuit boards, or other consumer products.
8. You can replace the anti-glare coating without replacing the entire lens.
Although some anti-glare coatings do get damaged with regular wear, most consumers are not forced to purchase an entirely new lens to restore their vision. You can strip off the failed anti-reflective surface to add another one to the restored glasses. Even small scratches can receive a polish to remove them from the surface. If your eyeglass manufacturer provides this service, then you will find that it is much cheaper to replace just the coating instead of an entirely new pair of glasses.
9. Maintaining the anti-glare coating is cheap and easy.
The only thing that your anti-glare lenses require for regular cleaning is the mild dish soap. You should avoid any products which contain a robust fragrance, lotions, or claims that it will soften your skin upon contact. Gentle detergents which can quickly rinse clean are your best option when trying to take care of your frames that are equipped with this technology. You can also choose to use a standard lens cleaner, computer screen cleaner, or similar product if you have access to a microfiber cloth.
List of the Cons of Anti-Glare Lenses
1. These lenses always seem to look dirty.
One of the biggest concerns that people have with anti-glare lenses is that they offer cloudiness to your vision. They actually look dirty because of the overall clarity that they provide. These lenses are never “dirtier” then what you would see with a typical pair of frames, but the issue can be bothersome enough to cause wearers to clean their lenses more frequently because it “seems” like they are dirty. You’ll notice specks of dirt or smudges on the lens with more regularity because there are fewer negative impacts to your vision.
2. They don’t work well for all lens types.
Anti-glare lenses work best for glasses which are worn full-time for vision needs. If you only wear glasses to help with your reading, then this technology is not worth the investment. If you do not spend a lot of time working on a tablet or phone, then any frames which sit low on the nose could create more negative impacts to your vision than positive ones. Although there are still vision enhancements to consider here that would be beneficial to some, the cost factor makes the value somewhat questionable.
3. The coating can sometimes peel off.
If you wear glasses frequently, then the anti-glare lenses come with a coating that eventually begins to wear off. It is not unusual for the outside of the lenses to start peeling, scratching, or flaking off. Although this issue does not impact adults in a negative way, young children who need to wear glasses should only have this technology applied to their lenses if there is no other viable solution. Some of the kids may be tempted to stick the coating in their mouths out of curiosity, which could lead to potential health concerns down the road.
4. You will pay more for the lenses with an anti-glare coating.
If you want to invest in the anti-glare coating for your glasses, then be prepared to pay more for your prescription lenses. The anti-reflective surface will cost between $20-$90 more per lens when you are purchasing your frames. That added cost could double the price of the glasses you’re trying to acquire. That’s why less than 30% of eyewear shoppers in the United States choose this option. The cost required to obtain the benefits of these lenses is not equal to the advantages this technology can provide.
5. The lenses must always be cleaned with a microfiber cloth.
What happens when your glasses seem to be a little cloudy? Do you clean them with your shirt? Maybe wipe them down with your tie? If you would do that with anti-glare coatings on the lenses, then you could potentially damage the frames. You can only use a microfiber cloth as a way to clean your glasses when they get dirty with this technology. Using anything else creates a higher risk of damage to the lenses, creating a vision issue which could not be immediately repaired.
6. Extreme temperatures can damage the anti-glare coating on lenses.
The anti-glare coating that you can find on lenses today is suitable for daily wear. What you must avoid with this technology are temperature extremes. The surface of the lens which is treated with the anti-reflective tech can experience damage when it encounters situations where you are near either fire or ice. Low-quality AG coating can bubble or peel when you’re close to a campfire, open a hot oven, or look for something in your freezer. That’s why you should always invest in the highest quality solution possible if you think your vision could benefit from this technology.
7. The anti-glare coating can be damaged very quickly.
Most of the coatings that you’ll find available on the market today are extremely thin. This design helps to keep the cost of the new frames lower for consumers, but it also creates an issue with potential damage. Many users find that the anti-reflective surface begins to rub off over time, even with the usual wear-and-tear conditions of part-time use. Scratches, peeling, and other forms of damage occur as well despite not being used heavily.
8. You can ruin them by cleaning them too frequently.
One of the most frequent complaints about anti-glare lenses is that they can have the anti-reflective surface ruined if you clean it too frequently. Since any little smudge becomes a noticeable issue, some users might wipe them down multiple times per day to maintain clear vision.
If you clean these lenses more than once per day, you will create a negative impact on the glare reduction benefits this technology provides to your vision.
9. They are not available as a contact lens.
If you want to take advantage of this technology to reduce the glare experienced in your vision, then you must wear glasses to do so. The anti-reflective technologies are not yet available for those who wear contact lenses to correct their eyesight. These coatings work well when applied to the outer surface of the lens, which means the wetness of the contacts in the eye would counteract what is possible using current knowledge.
10. It must be applied to both sides of the lenses to be effective.
Some consumers believe that they can save a little money by asking for the anti-glare coating to be on the outside of the lens only. This technology does not work that way, however, as you must have the surface treated on both sides to receive the advantages listed above.
Even when this coating receives a thin application, it is not unusual for people to have their eyelashes or eyebrows come into contact with the surface, which then leaves behind oils which must be cleaned away.
11. People with sensitive eyes may find anti-glare lenses to be bothersome.
Although the purpose of an anti-glare lens is to let more light into the eye, people with sensitive vision issues may find that it routes too much for their brain to process. This situation would cause higher levels of headaches and eye strain for the consumer, even though the technology would prevent some issues when starting at electronic screens all day. If this issue applies to your vision health, then speak with your doctor or lens manufacturer about adding a light shade of gray to the coating to compensate for the problem. The added coloring will darken the lens, reduce visual inputs, and help you see more effectively.
These anti-glare lenses pros and cons can help you decide if this anti-reflective surface for your new glasses is the best choice to meet your needs. Although there are enhancements to your vision, there are some significant disadvantages to consider as well – especially if you’re shopping for frames that your children require. Only you can decide if the cost of this technology provides an equal or better value through wear over the lifetime of the product.