Are non reflective lenses in glasses worth the extra money?

[Quiet Man]

I am about to order new glasses but vision express suggests non reflective lenses. Should I but from these guys? Are the non reflective lenses worth the extra money?

[gary baldy]

Ive never not had them so i dont know any different but i suspect if you work in a brightly lit office (or in my case school) or drive alot they will be useful. I got my glasses from vision express and dont remember them being that much more expensive.

[Buenchico]

Under certain types of lighting, internal reflections within the lenses can lead to a sort of 'lightheaded/dizzy' feeling in some people. Your eyes (or, more accurately, your brain) can learn to adjust to this effect but it can take time. (I had a pair of glasses which suffered from internal reflections. The only place I had problems with the lighting was in our local Asda; I couldn't spend more than a few minutes at a time in there, without feeling dizzy, for several months after getting those glasses).

Chris

[smudge]

Since I started wearing spec's for computer work, reading & night driving, etc., some 10 years ago now, I have always paid extra for reflective & tinted lenses. I wouldn't be without either of these as it stops the glare -'specially against the white background on AB!

[smudge]

I go to Spec Savers - although their frames leave a lot to be desired - quite weak in fact! I might try Boots next time, unless someone could recommend anyone better.

[DiscoStu]

I'm an Optical Technician and I recommend the extra for AR (Anti Reflection) coated lenses. Glare and reflections, as already mentioned, are significantly reduced with the additional coating. Another benefit is that they actually make you look better! Hear me out: If you have uncoated lenses in your spectacles, when people are looking at you they will notice white reflections on your lenses, as light sources (especially strip lighting and sunlight through windows) bounce off your glasses and into their line of sight. This also temporarily hides your eyes from whoever is looking/talking to you at the time. This actually draws attention to the fact that you're wearing glasses. AR coated lenses, by design, are anti-reflective and are therefore far more aesthetic. Compare a coated lens with an uncoated lens under a light source, and see for yourself how little reflection you get from the coated lens.

If you intend getting a coating for driving purposes, it is also worth considering polarized sunglasses. Polarized lenses cut glare substantially- how many times have you squinted when the sun bounces off a puddle whilst you're driving along a busy road?

[Whickerman]

Until December last year i actually made these lenses, and agree fully with Disco Stu. In addition, AR lenses are more scratch resistant and have a hydrophobic layer which prevents steaming up. There's a Teflon coated version too, which is even tougher, and as well as all of the above, must pass anti-static testing, which means dust doesn't cling to them, so less cleaning.

[qapmoc]

Sorry to disagree with you whickerman, but from a users point of view I have to say that the AR coated lens seem to get scratches to the AR coating much too easily and then they are annoying to look through, We have three people in my family (inc me) who have had this problem with them and will not use the AR coated lens now.

Hi DiscoStu, another point is that we always have tinted (photochromic) lens to reduce the amount of light reaching our eyes, then in that case surely the AR coating is trying to defeat this by making more light pass through the lens due to lower reflection.

[Whickerman]

qapmoc - if you've paid for AR lenses and are getting scratches, I strongly urge you to bring them back to the optician for return to the manufacturers. I know from experience that returns trigger a huge investigation - these items are treated as medical devices.