Self-scheduling is currently available for select locations!
In our last post we discussed the benefits of scratch-resistant and anti-reflective coatings. We also touched on the importance of proper storage for your glasses and talking to your optician about available options. In this post, as promised, we will cover the ins and outs of anti-fog and UV coating. Anti-fog coating is heaven sent for anyone living in a cold climate who has been frustrated repeatedly by eyeglasses fogging up when they come in from wintery weather. Not only can the fogging up of eyeglasses be frustrating, it can also pose a more serious threat, especially for police officers and other emergency responders.
Opticote is one eyeglass coating company that has innovated a permanent coating designed to address the problem of fogging. The coating, aptly named Fog Free, gets rid of the condensation of moisture on lenses that causes fogging. This can be useful when shifting from shoveling snow in the driveway to a warm and cozy kitchen, as well as when you’re trying out Rugby, and heat and perspiration are triggering lens fogging. This coating can be used with plastic, polycarbonate, and other eyeglass lenses, such as high-index lenses and Transitions photochromatic lenses, and added to the lenses before they are cut to fit into your frame.
In addition to Opticote, a company called Essilor has also pioneered a line of eyeglass lenses named Optifog. The anti-fogging capacity of the lenses is catalyzed by a drop of Optifog Activator to the front and back of the lens. The drop is then evenly spread over the lenses’ surface with the help of a microfiber cloth. According to Essilor, this simple process keeps the lenses free of fog for up to one week. The science behind it is that Optifog disperses the tiny water droplets that form by condensation on the lenses surface until they become undetectable.
Moving forward, we can take a closer look at UV coating. We can think of UV coating on glasses as similar to the sunscreen we layer on to our skin for a day at the beach or a hike. Like sunscreen, UV coating acts as a protective shield that prevents the harmful effects of the sun’s ultra violet rays. Excessive contact with UV rays can contribute to cataracts, retinal damage, and other eye issues. The good news is that regular plastic eyeglass lenses bar the majority of UV light. Adding a UV-blocking dye fortifies your lenses further to a 100 percent defense, but if the lenses are made of polycarbonate or high-index plastics, this extra application is unnecessary.
We hope these descriptions have made shopping for glasses a little clearer, whether it is because you learned that lens coatings can be solutions to common complaints, or because you now know which ones are right for your own circumstances. A glasses “upgrade” can also make a thoughtful present for someone special in your life. Have a story to share, or a question? Leave us a note in the comments section.
