If you are a user of regular lenses for eye glasses, only around 90% of available light actually enters the eye to aid your vision. You might wonder if there is a chance to improve this rate so that almost all the available light can be utilized to help you see better.

Anti-reflective coating, also known as AR and as anti-glare, has been developed to eradicate light reflections from both front and back surface of your eye glasses.  By practically eliminating the reflection of light from your eye glasses, up to 99.5 percent of available light can now enter to assist your visual impairment. This is especially helpful in low light situations, like night driving.

AR coating can be applied on both front and back surfaces of eye glasses. It can also be used on the back surface of sunglasses. Some factory lenses are already coated with AR, although progressive and multifocal lenses are coated with AR only after the customization of the lens based on your prescription.

Benefits of AR Coating on Eye Glasses

•    Visual Benefits. Eye glasses fitted with AR coating will result into better vision. You will especially notice the difference during low light situations and during extended use of the computer.

•    Improvement in Appearance. The virtual removal of reflections means that your lenses will seem invisible. Other people will be able to clearly see your eyes and expressions.

•    Defense against Skin Oils and Water Spots. A lot of AR coating now includes hydrophobic and oleophobic surface layer. This means that water spots and skin oil smudges are prevented, thus making it easier to clean the eye glasses.

•    Removes Glare in Sunglasses. AR coating can be applied on the back surface of sunglasses to remove the reflection from the sunlight that can reflect from the back surface of your sunglass lenses into your eyes.  There is no need to coat the front surface of your sunglasses however as it will not yield any visual nor appearance benefits.

Applying AR Coating

•    Clean the lenses thoroughly. The smallest defect, be it a smudge or a scratch, may result into defective application of the coating.

•    The lenses will undergo several washing and rinsing baths. This will eliminate all the contaminations in the lenses’ surface.

•    Moisture and gas are eliminated by heating and air drying.

•    The lenses are held by a special apparatus that will hold the lenses firmly in place. The device is then placed inside the coating chamber.

•    Metal oxides are beamed into the lenses through an electron gun. These are transformed into vapors, which will fill the chamber and stick to the lenses.

Different manufacturers will have its own way of applying the metallic oxide layers, but it will all result into a thin and precise AR coating of either blue or green.

AR Lenses Care Instructions

Refrain from using cleaners with harsh chemicals as it may destroy the coating. Use the solution that was recommended by the manufacturer. Also, make sure to wet the surface first. Using dry cloth on a dry lens may result into scratches.

Are All AR Coatings the Same?

Absolutely not!  In Australia we choose between 4 laboratories that we know we can trust.  AR coatings if not applied properly can fray.  If this occurs they will actually detract from the vision, therefore it is imperative to have a quality AR coating.

At The Eye Practice we recommend most of our prescriptions to have AR coatings.  Why would you choose to have inferior vision?  AR coatings are must.  Think about the last camera you purchased. It definitely had an AR coating on the lens.

Call us on (02) 9290 1899 or MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ONLINE so we can discuss the various AR coatings available.