What Are Eyeglass Lens Coatings?
When choosing a new pair of glasses, most people focus on the frame and prescription. But the surface of your lenses also plays an important role in your everyday experience.
Eyeglass lens coatings are thin treatments applied to a lens surface to provide additional benefits, such as reducing reflections, improving durability, and making lenses easier to clean.
At SizeGlasses, we believe essential lens protection should be simple and accessible. That's why five essential lens coatings are included free with glasses that include lenses.
5 Free Lens Coatings Included at SizeGlasses
When you purchase glasses with lenses from SizeGlasses, you receive these five coatings at no additional cost:
- ✓ Anti-Reflective
- ✓ UV Protection
- ✓ Water & Oil Resistant
- ✓ Scratch-Resistant
- ✓ Dust & Fingerprint Resistant
Each coating addresses a different everyday problem, and together they provide a practical foundation for your lenses.
Please note: Frame Only purchases do not include lenses or lens coatings.
1. Anti-Reflective Coating
An anti-reflective coating for glasses helps reduce reflections from the front and back surfaces of your lenses.
Reflections can become particularly noticeable under bright lights, when using digital screens, or while driving at night.
Key benefits:
- Reduces distracting reflections
- Helps lenses look clearer
- Makes your eyes easier to see through the lenses
- Reduces visible glare in photos
- Improves the overall appearance of your glasses
For everyday prescription eyewear, anti-reflective treatment is one of the most useful lens features.
2. UV Protection
UV protection helps block ultraviolet radiation from reaching your eyes.
UV exposure can occur during everyday outdoor activities, including driving, walking, commuting, traveling, and outdoor sports.
UV protection is useful for:
- Everyday outdoor wear
- Driving
- Travel
- Walking and commuting
- Outdoor activities
Remember that a darker lens does not automatically mean better UV protection. What matters is whether the lens provides appropriate UV protection.
SizeGlasses includes UV Protection free with lenses.
3. Water & Oil Resistant Coating
Your lenses encounter more than just dust. Water droplets, skin oils, makeup, and fingerprints can quickly leave visible marks.
A water and oil resistant coating helps liquids and oily residue resist sticking to the lens surface.
Everyday benefits include:
- Easier cleaning
- Fewer water spots
- Less oily residue
- Cleaner-looking lenses
- Less time spent wiping your glasses
This coating can be particularly convenient for people who wear their glasses throughout the day.
4. Scratch-Resistant Coating
Glasses are handled many times every day. Placing them in a bag, taking them on and off, or cleaning them incorrectly can expose lenses to everyday scratches.
A scratch-resistant lens coating adds a protective layer designed to help reduce surface scratches.
It can be especially useful for:
- Everyday prescription glasses
- Frequent travelers
- Active lifestyles
- People who frequently handle their glasses
- Anyone looking for added lens durability
Scratch-resistant does not mean completely scratch-proof, so proper lens care is still important.
Use a clean microfiber cloth and appropriate lens-cleaning solution whenever possible.
5. Dust & Fingerprint Resistant Coating
Dust and fingerprints are among the most common reasons lenses become visibly dirty.
A dust and fingerprint resistant coating helps reduce the tendency of everyday particles and fingerprints to remain on the lens surface.
Benefits include:
- Fewer visible fingerprints
- Less dust buildup
- Easier cleaning
- Cleaner-looking lenses
- Less frequent wiping
It's a small feature that can make a noticeable difference when you wear glasses all day.
Other Lens Features You Can Consider
Not every lens feature is technically a coating. Some are special lens treatments, materials, or designs intended for specific situations.
Depending on your needs, you may also consider:
Blue Light Filtering
Designed to filter a portion of blue-violet light and commonly chosen by people who spend significant time using computers, phones, and other digital screens.
Polarized Lenses
Designed to reduce certain types of reflected glare from surfaces such as roads and water. They are particularly popular for driving and outdoor activities.
Photochromic Lenses
Also known as light-adaptive lenses, these lenses become darker when exposed to appropriate outdoor UV light and lighter again in indoor conditions.
Tinted Lenses
Tinted lenses add color to the lens and can help reduce brightness while also creating a specific visual style.
Mirror Coating
A mirror coating creates a reflective appearance on the outside surface of the lens and is commonly used for sunglasses and outdoor eyewear.
Which Lens Features Are Right for You?
The best lens setup depends on your lifestyle.
| Your Needs | Feature to Consider |
|---|---|
| Reduce reflections | Anti-Reflective |
| Everyday UV protection | UV Protection |
| Easier cleaning | Water & Oil Resistant |
| Added lens durability | Scratch-Resistant |
| Fewer fingerprints and dust marks | Dust & Fingerprint Resistant |
| Frequent screen use | Blue Light Filtering |
| Outdoor glare reduction | Polarized |
| Changing indoor/outdoor light | Photochromic |
| Brightness reduction and style | Tinted |
| Fashion or sunglasses style | Gradient / Mirror |
For most everyday prescription glasses, the five free SizeGlasses coatings provide an excellent starting point.
Better Protection, Included Free
The right lenses should do more than match your prescription. They should also be easy to maintain and comfortable for everyday life.
At SizeGlasses, Anti-Reflective, UV Protection, Water & Oil Resistant, Scratch-Resistant, and Dust & Fingerprint Resistant coatings are included free with glasses that include lenses.
You can focus on finding the right fit, frame, and prescription—while your essential lens protection is already included.
Find your perfect fit at SizeGlasses and choose the lens features that fit your lifestyle.
