If you wear glasses, you understand the hustle that comes with the reflection of different light forms on your lenses; goodness! The irritation, right? Naturally, an anti-reflective glasses coating is an awesome addition to your glasses when you buy new lenses. However, what happens when you have already bought your glasses and realize the merits of this addition? You might think there is a complex answer to this. In some aspects, there is; however, it is still simple: yes, you can acquire anti-reflective coating for your existing glasses, even after buying them.
There are, definitely, several caveats to that fact, which we shall dive into below. Join us for a deep exploration into the merits of anti-reflective coating, how the coating is generally applied to your lenses and what all that implies for adding this form of coating to your glasses after that fact. We shall also look into the steps you may take to ensure you experience the benefits of this type of coating.
What are the benefits of anti-reflective coating for your lenses?
Anti-reflective coatings make your lenses easier to clean by preventing water, dirt, and oil from sticking on the glasses. However, you might not be aware is that they also play a huge part in how you see, how your eyes feel at the end of the day, and how you generally look. Below are several significant benefits to consider when considering improving your glasses with the best quality anti-reflective coating.
Anti-reflective coatings increase your visual clarity. They improve the way you view things by letting more light penetrate the lens while removing the glare; thus, you can have a clearer vision of your tasks such as driving, reading, or random chores around your house.
The anti-reflective coatings also improve your physical appearance. By getting rid of dangerous reflections from your glasses, the anti-reflective coatings let others see the real you without that annoying glare.
Regardless of whether you are video chatting with your loved ones, posing photos, among others, you can be confident when your eyes are the center of attraction.
Additionally, anti-reflective coatings extend your lenses life. They protect your lenses against smudges and scratches; hence your glasses will last longer. This also implies you will not be replacing your glasses as regularly as before; this will help you save more money.
Anti-reflective coating minimizes the intensity of blue light exposure. There are special anti-reflective coatings that fight digital eye challenges by minimizing your exposure to blue light originating from digital devices. In case you are not familiar with digital eye strain, it is that weary, irritated feeling you experience in your eyes after staring at a digital screen for several hours.
If you wear glasses, then at some point, you know how irritating the sun rays can be when they hit your lenses. As people enjoy the warmth on their faces, you are there blocking it with your hands or something opaque. Anti-reflective coating can also assist in shielding your eyes from the sun's ultra-violet rays. The ultra-violet protection can be added to the back of your glasses to protect your eyes against ultra-violet rays reflected on surfaces such as windows and sidewalks.
Can you tell if your lenses have an anti-reflective coating?
The advantages might sound too alluring that you feel tempted to add the anti-reflective coating. However, before the actual process occurs, it would be advisable to ensure that you need them; check whether the coating already exists in your current prescribed glasses.
Learn more when holding your lenses, try tilting them at different angles and check for glare. If you already have the anti-reflective coating, whatever you see is a small amount of glare, although it is frequently pinkish or greenish in color. You might also realize that if there is no bright light, similar to overhead lights, attempting to reflect off your glasses, it looks really clear. If you do not have the AR coating, the glare will look the same in color as the reflecting light, mostly white, and the reflection's intensity will be too strong when you hold your lenses.
If you are not certain, you should visit your optician to help you perform a similar test. Either way, you can ensure whether this option is already available on your glasses before you decide to go through the process of adding it.
What do you need to know when adding an anti-reflective coating to your current lenses?
It is time to finally get to the central question of this article, now that all factors are out of the way. As we mentioned in the beginning, yes, you can add AR coating to your current lenses even after buying them. However, this is only viable if your current glasses meet the conditions below.
❖ The glasses are not oily, especially from skin oils. This is significant because the coating traps that oil, which reduces visibility in a potentially considerable way.
❖ The glasses are not scratched or blemished. The scratches will be worsened by the anti-reflective coating and will, similarly to oil, immensely minimize your lenses' efficiency.
Given these two conditions, it is evident that the process is not always a cakewalk. This could be why most opticians will not perform it; they refuse to add the AR coating or outsource it to a third party which minimizes quality and greatly escalates the expenses. Many customers run into these challenges and conclude that the process of adding the AR coating is impossible. However, if you meet the right vendor, they will add the AR coating perfectly and perform a cleaning process that flawlessly clears the glasses before the coating is applied. Contrary to that, you will decrease the quality of your glasses.
Additionally, honesty is significant when considering adding an anti-reflective coating to your lenses. If your glasses are blemished, you should be able to trust the merchant you purchase from so that you don't destroy the whole pair with an imperfectly applied anti-reflective coating. Do not work with vendors who promise the services to you with no particular credibility and a history of remarkable services.
When you get the perfect merchant, the process is quite simple. When you know whether they can assist in this process, send them your current glasses with the precise description of you what you want. Frequently, this implies simply realizing you only require the new coating, not a whole new lens. Personal contact with the merchant aids in reducing misunderstandings and increase the chances of getting what you are seeking.