Enhancements

Lens treatments are added enhancements to improve function that are incorporated into the lens during the manufacturing process. The treatments can vastly protect your eyes, enhance material performance, and increase overall comfort. Multiple treatments can be utilized to ensure optimal function for your vision. The type of treatment and its benefit can help you determine which are best suited for your needs.

Anti-reflective Coating

Glare is a frequent but preventable complaint from people who wear eyeglasses. Intense reflections are distracting on a sunny day, while vehicle headlights at night can put drivers at risk. An anti-reflective treatment blocks reflected light, which means less squinting while driving or working at a computer.

In addition to reducing external reflections on the outside of lenses, an anti-reflective lens treatment applied to the inside of lenses decreases internal reflections. Internal reflections can also cause lenses to appear thicker than they are. As an additional benefit, most anti-reflective treatments have a special layer that prevents spots and makes them easier to clean.

Scratch Resistance Coating

Unfortunately, no lens is completely scratch-proof, not even glass. However, lenses that are treated front and back with a clear, scratch-resistant coating have a much harder surface that is more resistant to scratching. This includes accidentally dropping your glasses on the floor or mistakenly cleaning them with a paper towel.

Childrens’ eye-wear greatly benefit from a scratch-resistant hard coat. 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 only clean your lenses with a microfiber cloth and recommended cleaning solution.

UV Protection Coating

Another beneficial lens treatment is an invisible solution that blocks ultraviolet (UV) light. Just as sunscreen keeps the sun’s UV rays from harming your skin, UV-protective treatments for eyeglass lenses block those same rays from damaging your eyes. Overexposure to ultraviolet light is thought to be a cause of cataracts, retinal damage and other eye problems.

Regular plastic eyeglass lenses block most UV light, but adding a UV-blocking dye boosts UV protection to 100% for added safety. Other eyeglass lens materials, including polycarbonate and most high-index plastics, have 100% UV protection built-in, so an extra lens treatment is not required for these lenses. Photochromic lenses also block 100% of the sun’s UV rays without the need for an added UV lens treatment.