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Since I just got back from Lenscrafters, and the optometrist was saying that I should really get anti-reflective lenses (anti-glare) to replace my current lenses, I figured it was worth doing a bit of research. While I was at the store, I decided not to get them because the lenses suggested were around $275 and my insurance benefit won't pay for new lenses for another year. Also, my prescription hardly changed from last year so I didn't think it made sense to pay that much money just to get anti-reflective lenses.

So - what did I find out about these lenses? A lot of different opinions out there - most of them not very helpful.

First I came across an article reporting that anti-reflective lenses had typically only been available on glass lenses. However, Lenscrafters came out with a plastic anti-reflective lense which they would be promoting to try to improve their market share. It was one of the first plastic lenses that would have anti-reflective coatings and be anti-glare that could be made in an hour, so it was perfect for lenscrafters. My first reaction was thinking that was the reason the optometrist recommended it - just pushing one of their own products. Then as I looked more carefully at the news article, I realized it was from 1998. Clearly it isn't the newest thing for Lenscrafters to be pushing. At that time they were called "Invsibles" claiming 90% less light reflections and glare than standard lenses. In that article, the prices were quoted as between $130 and $250.

Next I thought maybe I should just look at the Lenscrafter's website. I found a nice comparison page there. I first realized that I misspelled "featherwates" in my other article here - as I spelled them featherweights. It appears that Lenscrafters sells two different versions of their anti-reflective lenses. They have the Superview 1.67 (AR) and the Featerwates Complete. Based on their chart, they claim that both anti-reflective lenses are better at being easy to clean, reducing reflections, reducing reflected light during night driving, and reducing eye strain when using the computer. I'm guessing this is why the optometrist had asked me if I saw glares or halos around lights when driving - both of which I said "no". I've never noticed problems from reflected light or glare with my glasses. The chart also indicates that the difference between the Superview and the Featherwates Complete is that the Featherwates are better for being durable, scratch resistant, and offering protection while playing sports.

This information opens up an entirely new topic for discussion - maybe an article for another day - that is high-index lenses, which is what the Superview 1.67 appears to be.

So, back to the purpose of this article - what are the advantages of anti-reflective coatings and are they really worth it. There wasn't much information that I could find on Lenscrafters site, so I kept looking for an answer.

I found several articles about anti-reflective lenses, and I don't think they were all just propoganda for the product. Several comments on websites were by eye care specialists, such as optometrists. The few comments that seemed pretty consistent is that anti-reflective coatings do work. They significantly reduce the amount of light that gets reflected off of the lense. By reducing the amount of reflected light, you get much less glare as well as more light passing through the lens.

Unfortunately, after much searching, I couldn't find anything that I would consider to be really good research on the benefits of anti-reflective lenses. The closest I could find was this article. The article compares four different kinds of lenses to see which people liked the best. They had plain plastic lenses, plastic lenses with anti-reflective coating, transition lenses (I believe these are lenses that get dark when exposed to bright light), and finally transition lenses with anti-reflective coating. I wasn't able to tell from the article whether it was actually published anywhere other than on the website. Most valid scientific research would get published in a peer-reviewed journal. This article is only published on a website which is created to promote one of the products in the study. Not surprisingly, the study found the transition lenses with anti-reflective coating was the most preferred lense. I think the potential for bias is way too high in this study to put much weight into it. However, there was a group where they compared plastic lenses to plastic lenses with anti-reflective coating. I am guessing the Transitions people aren't also promoting an anti-reflective coating, which means the data from that group may be more believable. In that study group, 72% of people preferred having an anti-glare coating and 28% of people preferred not to have the coating. That's a pretty big difference, but obviously some people still like the traditional lenses without an anti-reflection coating.

Reading people's comments on different websites, it seems that the majority of people who have anti-reflective lenses really like them. They report much less bothersome reflections and glares in dim and dark situations, with night driving being a particular situation commented upon. It is also felt that frequent computer users will have less eye strain with a non-reflective lense.

The other big issue, which I probably over-discount, is that people say that anti-reflective lenses look better. There is much less reflection seen on the lenses themselves, so people can see your eyes and face more clearly. Some people commented that it looks like they aren't even wearing a lense in their frames. They say that for people on TV it may make the biggest difference. Something to think about if you have nice looking eyes that you don't want to hide in any way.

As for the cost and where it is best to get anti-reflective lenses, I can't really say. Where I could find information, people seemed to suggest that the anti-reflective coating will add around $45-60 for the lenses.

As I do a lot of computer work and I wear my glasses all of the time, it may be worth that cost for anti-reflective lenses (not the $275 I would have had to pay today though).

If anyone has additional information on this topic, I'd love to read what you have to say.

Here is my original article about my experience at Lenscrafters and information on the cost of the exam.

I just got my super-inexpensive glasses from Zenni Optical today. It was only $4.95 to upgrade their polycarbonate composite lenses to have an anti-glare coating. So far, I'm very happy with the result. As I mentioned in the above linked thread, aside from the decreased overall glare / reflection, I did notice some green reflections from very bright lights. I did a bit of reading around on-line and found that this green color is a side-effect of the anti-reflective coatings. Some companies make coatings that cause a blue color instead. In a normally lit room, I don't notice any of the green, but it was very obvious when the sun was setting and shining directly from behind me. I can also see it when I intentionally hold the glasses up in front of me and try to see the reflection of my ceiling lights. Wearing the glasses - I really don't notice it.

So - as to the original question as to whether anti-reflective coatings are worth the cost - I do have to say they are definitely worth the cost when paying $4.95 from Zenni. My old plastic CR-39 lenses didn't have an anti-reflective coating and they really aren't too bad as for glare and reflections (although easily not as good as the Zenni glasses with the coating.

From what I've been reading, higher index lenses will have more reflection and glare, so it is probably more important to get an anti-glare coating when using polycarbonate lenses, especially if you are going with a high index lense (thinner lenses for stronger prescriptions).

While I was researching the costs of glasses at different stores, I was able to find out this information regarding the cost of anti-reflective coatings:

Lenscrafters:
Standard polycarbonate lenses are $190 and if you add an anti-reflective coating (which may also have a stronger anti-scratch) it comes to $325 for a whopping premium of $135 to get an anti-reflective coating at Lenscrafters.

Costco Optical:
Polycarbonate lenses with anti-reflective (and anti-scratch) coatings are $74. I'm not sure how much less without the anti-reflective, but I'd say this seems like the best deal that isn't online (and what I will probably do next year when insurance will pay for a new pair of glasses).

Wal-mart Vision Center:
Plastic lenses $30. Add another $35 for anti-reflective coating.
Polycarbonate lenses with anti-reflective (and anti-scratch) coatings are $118. Still far better than the $325 from Lenscrafters, but I'm not sure how much extra they charge for the anti-reflective coating. My guess is that with polycarbonate they strongly push the anti-reflective coating as the index of polycarbonate is higher than plastic, thus you get more reflections.

Overall, it seems that a good anti-reflective coating is a good option, but it can be pricey. Some of the newer anti-glare coatings also have treatments to repel dust and water, making them easier to clean as well.

Someone else started a discussion here comparing the different Scotchgard lens treatments and after some research, I also put together a thread comparing the quality of various anti-reflective treatments.

Hopefully you'll find the information helpful.

Thank you soooooo much for describing your research. I am new to the glasses world and am trying to figure out the best option for purchasing my lenses. You helped out a lot.