SPECTACLE LENS OPTIONS
ARC- Anti-Reflective Coating
An antiflective coating is a very thin coating on the surface of the lens designed to reduce the light rays that reflect off the surface of the lens. The ARC reduces glare, improves the clarity of vision and makes the lenses appear almost non existant. The coating will help with night time driving and reduce the annoying reflections caused by car headlights. The ARC is an exacting application of . If ARC is not done to exact speficications it can scratch or peel which reduces it's effectiveness. It is important to keep the lenses clean and free of scratches and oils because the lenses are so clear even a fingerprint will be quite visible on the lens surface. The goal in production of ARC lenses is that of a clean, clear and scratch resistant lens. At this time there are four major categories of ARC lenses. Each category as you progress adds increased effectiveness of the lens, its inherent properties and reduced scratching.- A Category- Category A is typically called the "Standard Anti-Reflective Coating". This lens has simply a front surface anti-reflective coating only. In our office they come with a one year warranty against the anti-reflective coating scratching or peeling. The warranty does not cover if the scratch is deeper than the anti-reflective coating and or if the lens itself is scratched. If the coating peels or scratches the lab will strip the existing ARC off and reapply the coating. The standard ARC lens (Category A) is rarely used as almost any scratch that would peel away the ARC would also scratch the lens and void the factory warranty.
- B Category- The Category B ARC lens has a better quality front surface anti-reflective coating and in addition a scratch hard coating on the lens itself. They come with a two year warranty against scratching and if the ARC or the Lens scratches the lab will replace the lens with a new lens and coatings one time at no charge.
- C Category- The Category C ARC lens has excellent anti-reflective coating that is on both the front & back surfaces, plus a scratch coating. In addition the lens has both a hydrophopic and oleophobic coating. The extra coatings result in repelling both water and oils (like fingerprints) which tend to stick to the the ARC and reduce the clarity of the lens. This lens comes with a two year warranty against scratching and if the ARC or the Lens scratches the lab will replace the lens with a new lens and coatings one time at no charge.
- D Category- The Category D ARC lens has an excellent front & back surface anti-reflective coating, plusall the other coatings in category D and in addition an anti-static treatment that repels dust particles which cling to the lens and thus reduces scratches caused by cleaning the lens with the particles on it. This lens comes with a two year warranty against scratching and if the ARC or the Lens scratches the lab will replace the lens with a new lens and coatings one time at no charge.
Mirror Coatings
Mirror Coatings are surface coatings that are highly reflective (opposite to anti-reflective). They can be different colors and include mirror like surfaces. They are used in sunglasses and give a colored front surface but the wearer does not notice the color while looking through the lens. Only those looking at the person wearing the glasses can see the color of the mirror coating and the wearers eyes are not visible either. Mirror coatings are purely cosmetic and are available in an assortment of colors.
Scratch Resistance Coating
Scratch Resistance Coatings are exactly as the name implies. They are treatments that are applied to spectacle lenses to reduce them from getting scratched. If a lens scratches it reflects light and interfers with vision thus reducing the effectiveness of the lenses. No lens is scratch proof as even a scratch resistance coating lens can scratch but the coatings do work very well. There are two basic categories of as described below.- A Category- Sometimes referred to as a Factory Coating, it is a hard coating put on the front surface of the lens as this is the most common surface to scratch. Since the hard coating is applied at the manufacturer of the lens blanks, only the front surface is done. The reason for this is they ship the unfinished prescripton blanks to the optical laboratories that actually grind the back surface of the lens based on your frame dimensions and the prescription thus it has a coating on one side only. The Factory Scratch Resistance coating comes with a one year warranty against scratches and the lab will replace the lens with a new lens one time at no charge.
- B Category- Category B Scratch Resistance Coating is applied at the optical laboratory after the total power has been ground into the lens. It is put applied to both the front & back surface of the lens. This hard coating will protect the lens better as many scratches occur from cleaning the lens (using a cloth that has dust on it) and it is typically the back surface that scratches in this case. The Scratch Resistance coating comes with a one year warranty against scratches and the lab will replace the lens with a new lens one time at no charge.
Sunglasses & Photochromatics
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Photogrey lenses are lenses that change color when exposed to ultraviolet light. They get darker when you are outside and lighter inside. As the lens darkens it also absorbs incoming ultraviolet (UV) so it protects the eye from overexposure to UV. Photogrey are available in glass only which is much heavier than the new plastic transitions (see below). -
Polarized lenses are sunglass lenses that have a filter placed inside the lens that polarizes light in such a way that it removes the majority of relfected light and the result is a sunglass that is very comfortable. Polarized lenses also absorb incoming ultraviolet light to protect the eye and without a doubt are the best overall sunglasses for comfort, vision and eye protection available. 
Transitions lenses are lenses that change color when exposed to ultraviolet light. Like the photogrey lenses they get darked in the sun and lighter inside. As the transitions lens darkens it also absorbs incoming ultraviolet (UV) so it protects the eye from overexposure to UV. They are available in plastic lenses and hi index lenses so they are much lighter than the photogrey lenses. - Tinted Lenses are plastic lenses (CR 39 or Hi Index) that are treated with a dye to darken them for sunglasses or cosemetic tints. They can be made various colors, intensities and can be solid or gradient. Unfortunately, tinting alone doesn't make the lenses absorb ultraviolet, thus a sunglass that is tinted with a dye must also be treated for UV Absorbtion.
- (UV) Ultraviolet absortion lenses are those that are treated to reduce the incoming ultraviolet light that passes through the lens. Ultraviolet light has been linked as a factor in the development of some types of cataracts, macular degeneration and pterygiums (growth on the white part of the eye). The UV lenses reduce the incoming UV to help protect the eye. Most Hi Index lenses, polarized and transitions lenses automatically come with a UV protection.
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Dr. Daniel L. Mason, Optometrist
(619)656-1081