Anti-Reflective Coating for Eyeglass Lenses
Anti-reflective coating, often called AR coating, is applied to eyeglass lenses to reduce distracting reflections from the lens surfaces. It can make lenses look clearer and help reduce visible reflections from lights, screens and everyday surroundings.
Cleaner-Looking Lenses With Fewer Reflections
AR coating is designed to reduce light reflected from the front and back surfaces of your eyeglass lenses.
If your existing lenses have damaged or peeling coating, see our dedicated guide below.
What Is Anti-Reflective Coating?
Anti-reflective coating is a thin optical treatment added to eyeglass lenses to reduce reflections from their surfaces. Without an AR coating, some light reflects away from the lens rather than passing through it.
By reducing those surface reflections, an AR-treated lens can appear clearer and less reflective. This is why anti-reflective coating is commonly selected for everyday prescription lenses, progressive lenses, high-index lenses and other premium lens designs.
Helps reduce visible reflected light from the front and back surfaces of your lenses.
With fewer reflections, your lenses may appear clearer and your eyes can be easier to see.
AR coating can reduce distracting reflections caused by headlights, overhead lights and other bright sources.
AR is commonly selected when customers are already replacing their prescription lenses.
What Does Anti-Reflective Coating Actually Do?
Eyeglass lenses naturally reflect some of the light that reaches their surfaces. Those reflections can sometimes be visible to the wearer and to people looking at the glasses.
Anti-reflective treatment is designed to reduce those surface reflections so that more light can pass through the lens instead of being reflected away.
Lenses Without AR Coating
Untreated lens surfaces can show more visible reflections depending on the lens material, lighting and viewing angle.
- More visible surface reflections
- Light sources may reflect from the lenses
- Your eyes may be less visible in certain lighting
- Reflections can be more noticeable in photographs or video calls
Lenses With AR Coating
AR treatment reduces surface reflection and gives lenses a more transparent appearance.
- Reduced reflections from lens surfaces
- Cleaner appearance in many lighting conditions
- Your eyes can be easier for others to see
- A more finished appearance for many prescription lenses
Who May Benefit From Anti-Reflective Coating?
AR coating is not limited to one type of eyeglass wearer. It is often selected by people who use prescription glasses throughout the day and want to minimize distracting reflections.
Everyday Eyeglass Wearers
If you wear glasses for most of the day, AR coating can provide a cleaner lens appearance across many common lighting environments.
Drivers
Reflections from headlights, street lighting and other bright sources can be distracting. AR treatment reduces reflections from the lens surfaces.
Computer Users
Screen users often encounter multiple indoor light sources. Anti-reflective treatment can help reduce reflections visible on the lenses.
High-Index Lens Wearers
Higher-index materials can produce more surface reflections than some standard materials, making AR coating a common pairing.
Progressive Lens Wearers
Progressive lenses are often worn throughout the day, making anti-reflective coating a popular upgrade for everyday use.
People Frequently on Camera
Reduced surface reflections can make your eyes more visible during video meetings, photographs and other face-to-face interactions.
Standard vs Premium Anti-Reflective Coating
Not every anti-reflective coating is identical. Different coatings may vary in durability, cleanability, reflection control and other surface treatments.
Everyday Anti-Reflective Coating
A standard AR treatment is designed primarily to reduce surface reflections and improve the appearance of prescription lenses.
- Reduced lens reflections
- Cleaner visual appearance
- Good everyday lens upgrade
- Available for many lens types
Premium Anti-Reflective Treatments
Premium coatings may combine anti-reflective treatment with additional surface technologies designed around durability, ease of cleaning or overall lens performance.
- Advanced reflection control
- Enhanced surface treatments may be available
- Often selected with premium lenses
- Suitable for customers seeking a higher-end lens package
Add Anti-Reflective Coating to Your New Prescription Lenses.
Choose your lens type, provide your current prescription and select the available coating options that fit your lens order.
Can Anti-Reflective Coating Be Added to Different Lens Types?
Anti-reflective coating is commonly offered with many prescription lens categories. Availability can depend on the lens material, design and options selected for your order.
Single Vision Lenses
AR coating can be paired with many single vision lenses used for distance, reading or other single-range prescriptions.
Progressive Lenses
Progressive wearers often choose AR coating because these lenses are typically worn across many daily environments.
High-Index Lenses
Anti-reflective coating is frequently paired with thinner high-index lens materials.
Reading Lenses
Reading lenses may also be ordered with AR treatment when compatible with the lens option selected.
Computer Lenses
AR coating can be useful for lenses worn in environments with screens and multiple indoor light sources.
New Lenses for Existing Frames
If you are keeping your current frames, AR coating can be selected as part of the new lens order when available for that lens type.
What If the Anti-Reflective Coating on My Current Lenses Is Peeling?
Older or damaged lenses can sometimes develop visible coating problems such as peeling, crazing, patchiness or areas that appear cloudy.
If the coating itself is deteriorating, replacing the lenses can provide a fresh optical surface rather than continuing to wear damaged lenses. New replacement lenses can then be ordered with an appropriate new coating option.
Signs Your Existing Lens Coating May Be Failing
You may notice irregular cloudy areas, peeling-looking patches, persistent marks that do not clean away normally or a damaged surface pattern that affects how the lenses look.
These problems should be distinguished from ordinary dirt or smudges. If the lens surface itself has deteriorated, new lenses may be the more practical solution.
How to Replace Your Lenses With Anti-Reflective Coating
If you want to keep your current frames, you can order new prescription lenses and choose an available anti-reflective coating during the lens selection process.
Choose Your Lens Type
Select single vision, progressive or another appropriate lens category.
Select Your Lens Options
Choose the material and available anti-reflective coating options for your lenses.
Send Your Frames
Send your compatible frames securely for inspection and lens installation.
Receive Your Updated Glasses
Your existing frames are returned with your newly made prescription lenses installed.
Learn More About Coatings and Replacement Lenses
Anti-Reflective Coating FAQs
What is anti-reflective coating on glasses?
Anti-reflective coating is an optical treatment applied to eyeglass lenses to reduce reflections from the lens surfaces. It can make lenses appear clearer and reduce distracting reflected light.
Is anti-reflective coating worth getting?
Many people choose AR coating because they wear their prescription glasses throughout the day and prefer lenses with fewer visible reflections. Whether it is worthwhile depends on your lens type, daily activities and personal preferences.
Does anti-reflective coating change my prescription?
No. Your prescription determines the optical power of the lenses. Anti-reflective coating is an additional surface treatment applied to compatible lenses.
Can I get AR coating on progressive lenses?
Anti-reflective treatment is commonly available with many progressive lens options, depending on the lens design and material selected.
Can high-index lenses have anti-reflective coating?
Yes, anti-reflective coating is commonly paired with many high-index lens materials and can help reduce surface reflections.
Does AR coating help with driving at night?
Anti-reflective coating reduces reflections from the surfaces of eyeglass lenses. This can reduce some distracting reflections from headlights and other bright light sources, although it does not eliminate every source of nighttime glare.
What is the difference between standard and premium AR coating?
Both are designed to reduce reflections, but premium coatings may include more advanced surface treatments, durability features or easier-cleaning properties depending on the specific coating selected.
Can peeling anti-reflective coating be repaired?
When an existing lens surface or coating has deteriorated, replacement lenses are often a more practical solution than continuing to use the damaged lenses. New lenses can then be ordered with a new compatible coating.
Can I add AR coating when replacing lenses in my current frames?
Yes, when compatible with the lens option selected, anti-reflective coating can be included as part of your new prescription lens order while keeping suitable existing frames.
Can I add prescription lenses with AR coating to a new frame I bought elsewhere?
Compatible new frames purchased elsewhere may also be fitted with prescription lenses and available coating options. See our Add Prescription Lenses to Frames service for that specific situation.
Choose New Lenses With Anti-Reflective Coating.
Keep compatible frames you already own, update your prescription and select the available lens and coating options that fit your needs.