The terms anti-glare lenses and anti-reflective lenses have been used interchangeably since their inception. The average person has a general understanding that both anti-glare and anti-reflective lenses help to reduce the light entering the eyes and provide a clearer vision for the wearer. While this is a fine general understanding, there are some small differences between anti-glare and anti-reflective lenses: here’s what you should know.
Anti-Glare
Anti-glare lens coatings work to reduce the amount of light entering the eyes to prevent damage and help improve eyesight and surroundings. They do so by equipping the lenses with a diffusive property. This means that instead of a light ray bouncing off your lenses, it is instead broken down into smaller, weaker, and mostly unnoticeable rays that are not harsh on the eyes.
Anti-Reflective
While anti-reflective lenses work similarly to other lenses, diffusing rays that enter the lenses, they actually are slightly more effective as they protect against both external and internal light, while anti-glare glasses only protect against external light. Internal light refers to when light rays are in a transitional state between your lens and the air, and can cause damage to your eyes over a long period of time.
The Difference Between the Two Lenses
While anti-glare and reflective lenses are often marketed as the same or indistinguishable products, there is at least one key difference: anti-glare lenses protect against just external light sources, while anti-reflective lenses protect against both external and internal light sources, protecting the wearer more thoroughly from harmful light rays.
Which Lens Choice is Right for You
Once we understand the key difference between anti-glare and anti-reflective lenses, it’s easy to determine which one is more effective, safer, and more worth the purchase. The answer, of course, is anti-reflective lenses over anti-glare.
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