The Advantages & Disadvantages of an Anti-Glare Coating on Eyeglasses

Options abound for finding just the right eyeglass frames to compliment your face and fashion tastes. Once you have made the selection, now come the many choices of which lens features to choose. For those new to wearing eyeglasses, the range of lens choices can come as a surprise, as can the sticker price. Regaining clear vision is a welcome and healthy change, however, and well worth making the correct selections.

Purpose of Anti-glare Coating

• One of the lens choices customers often find confusing, particularly those purchasing eyeglasses for the first time, is whether to have an anti-glare, also referred to as anti-reflective, coating applied. Eyeglass stores frequently have displays to help customers experience the difference the coating makes by showing how reducing the glare of oncoming light with the coating results in much clearer vision. Many customers who opted out of purchasing the anti-glare coating return to have it applied. This is often in response to experiencing firsthand the nighttime distortion that can occur with the reflection of oncoming lights, something greatly alleviated by anti-glare coatings.

Other Advantages

• Anti-glare coatings not only reduce nighttime distortions, but also have the benefit of being cosmetically more appealing, with less glare appearing off the lenses. This is particularly important for people frequently in front of a camera, especially those on TV. The coating helps anyone's eyes appear more natural and the lenses to look thinner. In addition to reducing eye strain from nighttime vision, it also provides relief from fluorescent lighting and computer screen glare.

  Another option to be aware of is anti-glare coating applied to prescription sunglasses. On these glasses, however, it is only applied to the back side of the lens to reduce reflections entering from the sides. The coating appears as a film on the darkened lens and is never applied to the front side of the lens. Nevertheless, increased clarity of vision is still achieved.

Disadvantages

• Despite the many advantages, anti-glare coating has the disadvantage of adding approximately $40 to $100 to the cost of a pair of eyeglasses. Unfortunately, it is an add-on option that is not covered by many insurance companies. Some consumers do not feel the additional cost is worth the benefits gained. Also, the quality of lens material, the shape of the lens and other available applied coatings, all influence the degree of glare present in one's eyeglasses.

Other Considerations

• There are several brands of anti-glare coating products on the market and some eyeglass stores offer different products and different grades of products. It can be a confusing choice with many options to consider, but a salesperson can demonstrate the differences. Helpful information can also be found online and by comparing different manufacturers informational brochures. It comes down to personal preference and what works with your budget.