High (positive) Prescription Glasses - coating breaking down

[99OrangeBalloons]

I have a high strength prescription (around +8) and pay to have the lenses in my glasses thinned and the recommended coating - I think it's anti-glare?

The last three or four pairs I've had this coating has started "breaking down" long before I'd really be happy forking out for new glasses. This current pair are only 18 months old and I can see the patches of flaking in certain light. Considering I'm only expected to get my eyes tested every 2 years it seems ridiculous my glasses aren't lasting that long!

Last time I spoke to the optician about it I just got a "yeah that happens with high prescriptions" fob off.

Just wondered if anyone has any better knowledge or insight to help me plan for my (imminent) next pair?
Should I change optician?
Not get the recommended coatings?
Be doing something to take better care of them?
Just suck it up as a fact of life?

Change optician. I would personally recommend Asda opticians where you can pick up a pair with high index lenses and everything else you need for £80 ish. It's been a revelation for me after £500 glasses (due to the lenses etc) I couldn't really afford but of course had to find the money for

I've always gone with boots - but yes maybe I need to shop around a bit!

That's rubbish it's nothing to do with the strength of the prescription, it's happened to me before (local opticians) and the6 replaced the lenses.

I order my glasses (-5s) now without coatings. I have had coatings break down before. Didn't used to be able to even get coatings years ago and I find it's fine not to have them coated. My SiL said her optician doesn't recommend the coatings so it's not that an unorthodox opinion...

I had my eyes tested earlier in the year, had to have new glasses for driving. The optician told me not to bother with the anti glare coating as it's has little effect when it comes to cars with the very bright LED lights. So I didn't bother.

@DrewPeadrawers, admittedly I don't order high index, although some would recommend it. I just go for a plastic frame which will hold the lens of that thickness. I often order online and on many sites coatings are an optional extra.

Tbh if an online site will do your prescription (try entering it) it's usually not much of an outlay. You can fill an order out to see the prices for yourself before you actually buy. Some sites even let you try the glasses out for a trial period.

I try not to have the coatings as it always breaks down in my experience. I have several unusable pairs of glasses this has happened to.

@99OrangeBalloons if it's the boots protect plus coating it is covered under warranty for 2 years- take them back into the store where you got them and they will send them off to have the lenses done.

Is that just with using lens spray and a cloth? I just spent £260 on Boots lenses for a minus 10 prescription 😬

Ooh it might well be - I'll pop in sooner rather than later then!

That's a very good point re: the LEDs! They're a nightmare and yes the glasses don't seem to do anything for it

What are you cleaning your lenses with? Also, i get my glasses from Zenni. Have fine for the last 15 years, pay about 80 quid, vari focals, high prescription.

I had a really strong waterproof mascara once that scratched the coating off

Me too!

Just clean them with the lens cloth - nothing fancy! And only wear mascara about once a month so surely can't be that

My last pair have started to break down, both the coating and the frames peeling after only a year, never happened before. Optician offered £50 off a new pair, said that whilst they didn't know why, I wasn't the only person. I'm not sure if there's a few suppliers who make up glasses for high street opticians and that's where the problem is.