What are the cons?
Cleaning *(also see pros)
Coatings that are from a previous generation are often used as a more budget friendly way of having them on your glasses. The older technology sometimes misses out on the oil repellent aspect and the lenses can be quite smeary between cleans. A proper glasses cleaning spray will make this much easier to remove.
Failing/Peeling
The coatings on glasses have become more and more hardy over the years but they still aren’t indestructible. The biggest problems occur when they are older or when they are subjected to extreme temperature change. In my experience lenses over 4 years old are at risk of their coatings peeling. As for temperature change, most often we see problems when glasses have been left in hot cars. A quick google search tells me that if it’s 24 degrees outside, your car could be 50 degrees on the inside when left in the sun! This creates crazing across the coatings, making them blurry and smeary, the exact opposite of why you had them in the first place.
Cost
Just like anything else, the add ons will cost more! Depending on the coating type they can cost anywhere between £20-£80 in addition to the initial lens price.
Summary
Optically, anti-reflection coatings do great things for glasses lenses. If budget allows I would recommend them on every pair. However, if you don’t have particularly demanding visual needs and they don’t get used much then the added cost may not be worth it to you.
At Bainbridge’s, because we believe it creates a significantly better product for you, we include premium anti-reflection coatings on all our lenses unless expressly requested otherwise.
If you’re interested in any information on the different coatings available on glasses then don’t hesitate to contact the team!