Lens coatings are applied to lenses to provide a variety of functions.
They can tint lenses to protect the eyes from glare or ultraviolet light.
Tints
Tints come in a variety of colors. They also can come
in a variety of shades of colors, from 5% to 80%. Lenses can be tinted
in a solid color all the way through the lens or in a gradient fashion,
usually darker at the top and lighter at the bottom. Different color
tints can be used for different activities. For example, some people
prefer a light rose colored tint for working indoors under fluorescent
lights.
Ultraviolet Coating
This coating protects the eyes from ultraviolet light.
It is particularly important in sunglasses, blocking UVA and UVB
light. It is also important on any pair of glasses worn by people with
macular degeneration or cataracts to protect against a quicker progression
of these diseases.
Anti-Reflective Coating
This coating is applied to lenses to provide a glare free
look to lenses. It helps eliminate glare from the sides or behind that
can reflect off the lenses. It also makes the lenses less visible to
people looking at the glasses. This coating requires a little more
care in cleaning because it can smudge or scratch more easily.
Scratch Coating
This coating is applied to lenses to make them more scratch
resistant. This does not mean that it will prevent the lenses from
scratching at all. Sometimes you can purchase a scratch warranty
that will enable you to replace lenses once in a specified period of time if
the lenses do become scratched. Ask your optician about the
availability of this option.
