Can you add anti glare to glasses

Applying anti-reflective coating to eyeglass lenses is a highly technical process involving vacuum deposition technology. The first step in the AR coating process is to meticulously clean the lenses and inspect them for visible and microscopic surface defects. Even a tiny smudge, piece of lint or hairline scratch on a lens during the coating process can cause a defective AR coating. Modern vacuum coating machine for applying AR coating to eyeglass lenses.

Image: SatisLoh. Typically, a production line includes multiple washing and rinsing baths, including ultrasonic cleaning to remove any traces of surface contaminants.

This is followed by air drying and heating of the lenses in special ovens to further remove unwanted moisture and gases from the lens surface. The lenses are then loaded into special metal racks with spring-loaded openings so the lenses are held securely but with virtually all lens surfaces exposed for the coating application.

The racks are then loaded into the coating chamber. The door of the chamber is sealed, and the air is pumped out of the chamber to create a vacuum.

While the lens racks are rotating in the coating chamber, a power source within the machine focuses a beam of electrons onto a small crucible that contains a series of metal oxides in separate compartments. When the coating materials are bombarded by electrons, they vaporize within the coating chamber and adhere to the surfaces of the lenses — creating a uniform, microscopically thin optical layer on the lens. The only type of lenses that we can not add the coating to is lenses that already have anti-fog technology, as the two coatings cannot be applied together.

Some of the benefits of anti-glare glasses include: Improved vision — as your eyes do not experience glare and intense light reflections Better appearance — as the light is not reflected off your glasses' front, it is easier to see your eyes, particularly in photos.

Reduced eye strain — as more light gets through your lenses instead of being reflected, the eyes do not need to work as hard. Water repellant — anti-reflective coating also repels water, meaning that it will not dry and smudge on your lenses. Blue light blocking — blue light from computers and technology is also reflected, meaning your eyes are less damaged.

Your glasses last longer — anti-reflective coating reduces eye fatigue, meaning that the pace of your eye degeneration slows.

This will mean your current prescription will last for longer, saving you money in the long run. Kids' lenses, especially, benefit from a scratch-resistant hard coat for greater durability. Today, most eyeglass lenses, including high-index lenses and lenses made of polycarbonate and Trivex , have a built-in scratch-resistant coating. Since scratch-resistant coatings are sometimes optional, make sure your optician knows that you want your eyeglass lenses to include hard coating for extra durability.

Also, ask about the warranty on eyeglass lenses that are treated with scratch-resistant coating versus those without the coating. Keep in mind that even the best scratch-resistant coating can't completely protect your lenses from wear and tear. To keep your glasses looking new, store them in a cushioned case when not in use, and clean your lenses with a microfiber cloth and the cleaning solution your optician recommends. Also, be wary of products that promise to repair scratched lenses.

These products may fill in the scratches, but it is impossible for them to make the scratches disappear so the lenses look new again. If you live in a cold climate, nothing is more frustrating than having your eyeglasses fog up when you come in from the cold.

This also can be a safety issue, since it limits your ability to see until the fog clears. Lens fogging can be especially dangerous for police officers and other first responders to emergency situations. If there are some scratches in the lenses you cannot recoat it too.

There are many benefits of anti-glare glasses: With light reflections and glare removed, vision is sharper and clearer. As there will be less need to squint or strain the eyes, the effects of eye strain are significantly reduced. The difference is, the blue defense coating has the added blue light-blocking capabilities in addition to the AR coating.