Anti-reflective coating on eyeglasses costs more, but it may be beneficial in specific situations, such as night driving and preventing eye strain from computer use. On the other hand, the lenses are easily scratched and may require replacement.
Anti-reflective coating (also known as AR, no-glare, or glare-free coating) reduces glare by absorbing and redirecting reflected light. This allows more non-reflected light to pass through, leading to fewer visual disturbances. Unlike reflective lenses with mirror-like finishes, anti-reflective coatings are transparent with a very faint green or blue tint. Photochromic Bifocal Glasses
This article discusses how anti-reflective coating works, the pros and cons of anti-glare glasses, and how much it costs.
While it's not an outright necessity, anti-reflective coating is something you may want to consider if you have symptoms of eye strain or spend a lot of time in front of a computer.
Anti-glare glasses can also make driving safe, particularly for those who drive at night or do long-distance driving.
Anti-reflective coating is also useful for people who:
In the past, anti-reflective coatings were either painted onto the lens or applied to the lens like a sticker. But that's not the case anymore. Today, anti-reflective coatings are fused onto the lens matrix, a technology first employed with high-powered telescopes and microscopes.
The coating is made up of carefully calibrated layers of metal oxides that are applied to the front and back of the lens and then irradiated with high-intensity ultraviolet (UV) light to enhance their light absorbency. This reduces reflected light and allows more non-reflected light to be transmitted through the lens.
Key benefits of anti-glare glasses include:
Vision problems caused by prolonged computer use are common. A 2020 study published in the journal Cureus reported that computer vision syndrome—a condition characterized by headache, itchy eyes, and temporary vision changes—was higher in eyeglass wearers and those who reported glare on their computer screens.
The American Optometric Association lists eyeglass lens coatings as one of the more useful solutions for computer vision syndrome.
Glare while driving at night is a common cause of accidents, especially for people with astigmatism . This eye disorder, which affects one in three Americans, can cause visual disturbances like halos and "whiteouts" with approaching headlights.
Anti-glare glasses also may help people who are sensitive to light while driving in the daytime or those boating in bright daylight. AR coatings are available for sunglasses too.
Yellow-tint glasses often touted to improve night driving vision, haven't been shown to be all that effective in clinical studies. Anti-reflective coating, on the other hand, does reduce glare and can improve nighttime driving performance.
Anti-reflective technology has come a long way in recent years, but there are still some cons worth noting:
If you are considering anti-reflective coating, check the grading scale offered by your optician. Some opticians offer a choice of "good," "better," and "best" (or a similar scale) with the "best" grade costing considerably more.
Even so, a higher-end coating can be well worth your money. In addition to the benefits, these lenses tend to have better warranties and may be replaced at no charge if your lenses are scratched within a year.
According to Vision Center, AR coating can add $20 to $150 to the cost of lenses. Insurance may cover some or all of that cost.
Some quality brand-name lenses made with anti-reflective coatings include:
It's worth asking your optician about other available AR coatings. Manufacturers are constantly updating their materials and may offer superior products specifically designed for night driving, sports, or computer use.
Anti-reflective coating on eyeglasses is designed to reduce glare, making nighttime driving easier, and reducing eye strain from computer use. The coating is fused into the surface of the lens, giving it a very faint blue or green tinge. Despite their benefits, anti-glare glasses tend to scratch easily and would then need to be replaced.
Hedaya MK, Elbahri M. Antireflective coatings: conventional stacking layers and ultrathin plasmonic metasurfaces: mini-review. Materials (Basel). 2016 Jun;9(6):497. doi:10.3390/ma9060497
American Optometric Association. How to choose eyeglasses for vision correction.
Altalhi A, Khayyat W, Khojah O, Alsalmi M, Almarzouki H. Computer Vision Syndrome Among Health Sciences Students in Saudi Arabia: Prevalence and Risk Factors. Cureus. 2020 Feb 20;12(2):e7060. doi:10.7759/cureus.7060.
American Optometric Association. Computer vision syndrome.
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Hwang AD, Tuccar-Burak M, Peli E. Comparison of Pedestrian Detection With and Without Yellow-Lens Glasses During Simulated Night Driving With and Without Headlight Glare. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2019;137(10):1147–1153. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.2893
Vision Center. Are Anti-Glare Glasses Worth It?
By Troy Bedinghaus, OD Troy L. Bedinghaus, OD, board-certified optometric physician, owns Lakewood Family Eye Care in Florida. He is an active member of the American Optometric Association.
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