Do I Need an Anti-Reflective Coating on Sunglasses?

08 Nov.,2022

 

Korean Sunglasses Brand

When ordering your next pair of prescription sunglasses, you may see the option to include an anti-reflective (AR) coating. Should you get it? And do you really need it? Keep reading to find out when and where an AR coating makes the most sense.

Table of Contents

1. When do I Need an AR Coating on Sunglasses?
2. Do I Need an Anti-Reflective Coating on Polarized Sunglasses?
3. Prescription Sunglasses at SportRx

In the video below, a clean-shaven Eyeglass Tyler explains when you need an AR coating, as well as whether you need it on polarized sunglasses specifically.

When Do I Need an AR Coating on Sunglasses?

To recap what an AR coating is, it's a special coating available on both eyeglasses and sunglasses that minimizes glare and reflections off the surface of a lens to get more light through the lens.

AR is good on eyeglasses to increase optical clarity and make the lenses appear almost invisible, but it wouldn't make sense on sunglasses because you're trying to get less light through the lens, right? Actually, it's good to get a backside AR coating on sunglasses to prevent light from bouncing off the backside of the lens. If you've ever been able to see your own eye reflected in the lenses of your sunglasses, they probably don't have that backside AR.

Backside AR on sunglasses makes a difference, which is why just about every premium brand includes it in their lenses. Speaking of making a difference, we also recommend it especially for flatter frames. With a flatter frame (and lens), there's more opportunity for light to bounce off the back of the lens and into your eye.

Good news! If you order a mirror coating on any frame from SportRx, a backside AR coating is automatically included as well. Having a mirror makes it all the more important to eliminate that glare.

Do I Need an Anti-Reflective Coating on Polarized Sunglasses?

Some people wonder if AR affects polarized sunglasses differently. Put simply, it doesn't, and we highly recommend AR for both non-polarized and polarized sunglass lenses to minimize light transmission and glare from behind.

Prescription Sunglasses at SportRx

Hopefully this blog helped you decide whether you need an AR coating on your sunglasses. Ready to shop prescription sunglasses on sportrx.com? When you shop with us, you’ll find video guides and tooltips throughout the build process as you customize the perfect pair. An answer to all your questions is at your fingertips, and if you want to chat with an expert, Contact Us. We’ll put you in touch with one of our friendly in-house opticians who can help you build your prescription sunglasses.

Ditch risky online shopping with the See Better Guarantee. Try your sunglasses for 45 days. If you’re not satisfied, send them back. Get a full refund, exchange, or credit towards a better pair. And return shipping? Covered. Get your pair of prescription sunglasses at SportRx today!