How to Put Anti-Glare Coating on Glasses

Glare and reflection are two big problems when you wear glasses but anti-reflective coatings, also called anti-glare or AR coating, help cut down on both 1. In addition to helping you see better, anti-glare coatings have the added benefit of making your glasses more cosmetically appealing because they not only cut down on the reflections you see through the lens, but also the light reflected off the front of the lenses that other see. Most people who are on television who wear glasses have an anti-glare coating on their lenses. There is only one way to get AR coating.

Getting Anti-glare Coating

Get a copy of your current glasses prescription. By law, your eye doctor must give you your prescription and you can order your AR lenses from any optical retail store or online seller. Anti-glare coating can only be added to new lenses, not applied to lenses that have already been worn.

How to Find Out My Glasses Prescription

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Take your prescription to an optical retail store. Discuss anti-reflective coatings with the optician who is helping you order your lenses. Many different companies sell AR coatings, and cost varies depending on the quality and manufacturer.

Order your AR lenses yourself if you are purchasing your new lenses online. Most online glasses retailers have limited options for anti-reflective coated lenses. Be sure to check the box for AR coating. You may find several levels, or grades of AR. Prices usually reflect quality, so the more expensive coatings reflect light and glare better than the less expensive choices 1.

Tips

The word "coating" when referring to anti-glare properties of lenses refers to an older method of applying the layers of anti-reflective properties to lenses. As of 2011, AR lenses are made by fusing or baking the layers of special chemicals into the lens in an optical laboratory. The process takes several hours to complete.

  • Get a copy of your current glasses prescription.
  • Discuss anti-reflective coatings with the optician who is helping you order your lenses.
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