When choosing new glasses, the lenses you pick can make just as much difference to your vision as the frames themselves. At Retro Spectacle, we offer a selection of high-quality lens finishes designed to improve clarity, comfort and durability. Whether you're looking for a simple reliable option or the best optical clarity available, understanding the differences between lens coatings can help you make the right choice.
In this guide, we'll break down the three main options available:
Basic lenses with Scratch-Resistant Coating, See Clear Lenses and See Clear & Clean Lenses - our premium anti-reflective solution.
Basic Lenses: Scratch-Resistant Protection as Standard
Every pair of lenses needs to stand up to daily life - from accidental drops to the constant cleaning they endure.
Our standard basic lenses come with a scratch-resistant coating, providing essential durability without additional optical enhancements.
What they offer:
- ✔️ Protection from scratches causes by everyday wear
- ✔️ Clear vision with no additional tint or coatings
- ✔️ A budget friendly option suitable for general use
These lenses are ideal if you want something simple, durable and cost-effective. However they don't reduce reflections or glare - which is where anti-reflective coatings come in.
See Clear Lenses: Standard Anti-Reflective Coating for Everyday Comfort
Reflections on lenses aren't just annoying - they can actually hinder vision, especially when using screens, driving at night, or under bright lighting.
Our See Clear lenses include a good quality anti-reflective (AR) coating, designed to reduce surface reflections and make your lenses clear and transparent.
Key Benefits:
- ✔️ Reduced reflections from screens, headlights and overhead lights
- ✔️ Improved visual clarity, especially in low-light settings
- ✔️ More natural eye contact - your eyes are more visible behind the lens
- ✔️ Slimmer, more premium look to the lenses overall
If you spend a lot of time on digital devices or frequently drive at night, See Clear lenses provide a noticeable improvement in comfort and clarity.
See Clear & Clean: The Premium Anti-Reflective Upgrade
Out top-tier lens option, See Clear & Clean, takes everything from out standard AR coating and adds enhanced protection and easier maintenance.
Alongside an advanced anti-reflective layer, these lenses feature a hydrophobic, oleophobic and smudge-resistant surface treatment. In short: they stay cleaner for longer and are far easier to maintain.
What makes them premium:
- ✔️ Superior anti-reflection performance
- ✔️ Smudge-resistant coating that repels fingerprints and oils
- ✔️ Hydrophobic protection to stop water sports and make cleaning effortless
- ✔️ Enhanced scratch resistance compared to basic AR coatings
- ✔️ Crystal-clear vision with minimal maintenance
If you want the best clarity, easiest cleaning and longest-lasting coatings, See Clear & Clean is the ideal choice.
Digital Blue: Premium Anti-Reflective Lenses with Blue Light Protection
In today's digital world many of us spend hours each day in front of screens, whether at work, studying or relaxing at home. Digital Blue lenses are designed specifically for this modern lifestyle. These lenses incorporate advanced blue-light-filtering technology that helps reduce the glare and high-energy blue wavelengths emitted by phones, tablets and computer screens.
Benefits of Digital Blue Lenses:
- ✔️ Reduces digital eye strain during prolonged screen use
- ✔️ Filters high-energy blue light from phones, laptops, and tablets
- ✔️ Improves visual comfort for work, study and gaming
- ✔️Minimises glare from bright screens and LED lighting
- ✔️Helps maintain natural sleep patterns by reducing exposure to disruptive blue wavelengths
Why Anti-Reflective Coatings Matter
Even the highest-quality lenses can produce reflections without a proper AR coating. These reflections reduce contrast, create glare and make it harder to focus visually.
Anti-reflective coatings work by by allowing more light to pass through the lens instead of bouncing off it. This means:
- Sharper, clearer vision
- Better low-light performance
- Less eye strain
- More aesthetic, transparent lenses
In short, AR coatings don't just make your glasses look better, they help you see better.
FAQ: Anti-Reflective Coatings for Glasses
Do anti-reflective coatings really make a difference?
Yes - most people notice clearer vision, fewer reflections, and improved comfort, especially around screens or at night.
Is it worth upgrading from basic scratch-resistant lenses?
If you use digital devices, drive regularly, or want the clearest possible lenses, an AR coating is a worthwhile investment.
What is the difference between See Clear and See Clear & Clean?
See Clear = high quality anti-reflection coating for clearer vision.
See Clear & Clean = all the benefits of See Clear plus smudge resistance, easier cleaning and a more durable premium finish.
Do AR coatings stop scratches?
Anti-reflective coatings have a scratch resistant layer built in.
Can I clean AR-coated lenses normally?
Yes - use a microfibre cloth and lens cleaner. Avoid using rough tissues or clothing, which can cause scratches over time.
Do anti-reflective coatings wear off?
Over many years, lower quality coatings can deteriorate. Our See Clear & Clean lenses and Digital Blue lenses include a two year warranty.