How to Choose the Right Coating for Your Lenses
Coatings play a major role in how comfortable, clear, and durable your glasses feel day to day. The right combination can cut glare, protect your eyes, stay cleaner longer, and make your lenses easier to live with.
As an independent lab, rxotulsa offers a wide range of coating options from several manufacturers, and many of them are processed in house to improve quality control and reduce turnaround time. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you choose the coatings that make the most sense for your needs.
The Most Important Lens Coatings
Anti-Reflective (AR) Coating
- Reduces glare and reflections from headlights, screens, and bright lights
- Makes lenses look clearer so people see your eyes, not reflections
- Strongly recommended for polycarbonate, high index, and aspheric lenses
- Great for night driving, computer use, and anyone who wants lenses that look and feel clearer
Scratch-Resistant Coating
- Hardens the surface of the lens to help minimize everyday scratches
- Most modern materials include a hard coat, but quality varies by lab
- Great for kids, active adults, and anyone who wants longer-lasting lenses
UV Protection
- Blocks harmful UVA and UVB rays that contribute to cataracts and long-term eye damage
- Polycarbonate, high index, and photochromic lenses already include full UV protection
- Great for everyone
Blue Light Filtering
- Reduces a portion of blue light from screens and LED lighting
- Helps with comfort during long hours on digital devices
- Great for heavy screen users, gamers, and evening computer work
Hydrophobic and Oleophobic Coatings
- Repel water, oils, and fingerprints
- Keep lenses clearer and easier to clean
- Great for anyone who wants low-maintenance lenses or struggles with smudging
Anti-Fog Solutions
- Designed to keep lenses from fogging when moving between temperature changes
- Helpful when wearing safety gear or working in humid environments
- Great for industrial environments, athletes, first responders, and mask wearers
Mirror and Polarized Options (Sunwear)
- Mirror coatings: Reduce brightness and add cosmetic style
- Polarized lenses: Cut harsh glare from water, snow, roads, and reflective surfaces
- Great for driving, fishing, outdoor work, and bright-sun environments
Choosing the Right Combination
Here’s a simple way to think about what you need without long lists:
- Almost everyone benefits from: Anti-reflective, scratch resistance, UV protection
- If you’re on screens all day: Blue light filtering, AR with hydrophobic and oleophobic top coat
- If you drive a lot or work outdoors: Polarized sunwear, AR for night driving
- If you move between hot and cold or wear safety gear: Anti-fog treatment
- If you want convenience indoors and outdoors: Photochromic lenses (Transitions-type)
Why Independent Labs Matter
Because rxotulsa is independent, we are not tied to one manufacturer’s coating system. That gives you:
- The ability to mix and match coatings based on performance, not brand
- Consistent quality control since many coatings are applied in house
- Shorter wait times compared to large national labs
- A wider range of options to match lifestyle, material, and prescription needs
Better coatings mean better daily comfort, better clarity, and better long-term durability.
