Prescription Lens Coatings Guide — Anti-Glare, Scratch, UV & Blue Light Explained
Lens coatings can add $30 to $120 to your order — but not all of them are worth the money. We tested four common coatings across three retailers to figure out which ones improve your glasses and which ones just improve the retailer's margin.
The 4 Lens Coatings — What They Actually Do
1. Anti-Glare (AR) Coating
Reduces reflections on the front and back of the lens. Less glare from computer screens, oncoming headlights, and overhead office lights. Also makes your eyes visible to others instead of reflecting light back at them. Verdict: Essential. This is the one coating everybody should get. Fytoo includes it for free — some retailers charge $25–$45 for it.
2. Scratch-Resistant Hard Coat
A thin ceramic layer baked onto the lens surface. Modern polycarbonate and high-index lenses almost always include this by default — you rarely need to pay extra for it. Verdict: Usually included. If a retailer tries to sell it as a $15 add-on, check if it's already baked into the lens material. Polycarbonate and Trivex are naturally impact-resistant and almost always come with a hard coat.
3. UV Protection (UV400)
Blocks 100% of UVA and UVB rays up to 400 nanometers. Most polycarbonate lenses block UV naturally — it's a property of the material, not a coating. Verdict: Should be standard. Fytoo and Zenni include UV400 at no extra charge. If a retailer charges for "UV coating" on polycarbonate lenses, they're charging for something the lens already does.
4. Blue Light Filtering
Filters 15–30% of HEV blue light (400–455nm) from screens and LED lighting. The science is mixed: blue light does affect sleep cycles, but the amount from screens is small compared to sunlight. Verdict: Optional. Worth $10–$20 if you stare at screens 8+ hours a day. The slight yellow tint is barely noticeable on modern coatings. Skip if you mostly read paper or work outdoors.
Coating Markup — What Each Retailer Charges Extra
| Retailer | AR Coating | Scratch Coat | UV400 | Blue Light | Total Add-Ons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fytoo | Free | Free | Free | $5 | $5 |
| Zenni | Free | Free | Free | $17 | $17 |
| EyeBuyDirect | Free | Free | Free | $19 | $19 |
| Warby Parker | Included | Included | Included | $50 | $50 |
Our Recommendation: The Best Coating Combo
Get the AR + UV + scratch bundle that Fytoo and Zenni include for free. Add blue light filtering only if you spend 6+ hours daily on screens — and buy it from the retailer that charges the least for it. Fytoo's $5 blue light add-on is the cheapest we've found. Skip any "premium AR" or "super hydro-phobic" upsells — the standard AR coating works fine for 95% of people. Total for a fully coated pair at Fytoo: $15 all-in.
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