Types of eyeglass coatings
Ordinary glass and plastic materials reflect light up to 9% when taking into account both – the front and back end of a lens, which means that visual sensation loses nearly a tenth of its potential. When talking about thin lens materials which reflection is even greater, the light loss may exceed up to 20%. All this influences our vision acuity significantly.
Antireflection coatings
Antireflection or AR-coating is applied on the glass surface in order to avoid reflection and to obtain more clarity and contrast. A normal eyeglass, whether it be glass or plastic, reflects light from one surface about 4%, from both surfaces together about 8%. Because of reflection, the eyes don’t receive the entire light or information through the eyeglasses. When we have a thin glass, the light loss may exceed up to 20%. Light losses due to reflection can be avoided by applying an antireflection coating on the eyeglass optical surface that diminishes reflections down to 1%. Antireflection coating brings out the natural beauty of the eyes and also ensures good vision in complex light circumstances, for example, when driving a car in the dark. In addition to optical amelioration of the glass, it is also important to bring out the aesthetical impact – the glass is almost unnoticeable leaving the impression of lighter and airier eyeglasses.
Hardcoat
Hardcoat makes plastic glasses significantly more durable to scratches. Still, hardcoat doesn’t guarantee a 100% durability to scratches, therefore we advise you to clean your eyeglasses only with special eyeglass cleaners and cleaning cloths.
Hydrophobic or water and dirt repellent surfaces
A hydrophobic surface ensures an easier cleaning process of eyeglasses and the glasses become less foggy. It also helps to keep them clean for a longer period of time.
Since 2004, all major eyeglass lens manufacturers have significantly improved the quality of antireflective surfaces adding a molecularly dense hydrophobic (water repellent) layer. Because of that, the lens surface is essentially more durable and slippery that decreases the need to clean eyeglasses too often. Glasses with hydrophobic coating are water and dirt repellent, and ensure faster liberation from fogginess. It is enough to use a special microfibre cleaning cloth to clean the glasses – that will prolong their lifespan.
Digital protection coating
The digital protection coating or coating that neutralizes blue light is intended to protect our eyes against the harmful blue light emitted by digital screens. Different digital appliances, either television, computer screen, tablet or smartphone, emit blue light. Blue light for us is a normal phenomenon as it is part of daylight – its task is to keep us awake during daytime. But overconsumption of this light may cause too much stress, fatigue and even insomnia. The digital protection coating protects the eyes from redundant tension and provides more contrast when using smart devices.
100% UV-protection
This coating protects eyes from sun’s ultraviolet light damage. UV-protection means that the eyeglassses block ultraviolet light (so-called blue light, less than 400 nm from visible light). UV-protection is needed in order to avoid harmful damage from ultraviolet rays. A great deal of UV-light that is harmful for eyes is reflected from snow and water during sunny days.