Buying new glasses - help with lens coatings

[emptycoffers]

I need to buy some new glasses - my prescription hasn't changed but the coatings I got on the lens at Specsavers about three years ago have now deteriorated to such an extent that I can see the 'wear & tear' when watching TV etc

When I bought these specs, I got them in a 2 for 1 Specsavers promotion with anti-reflective and anti-scratch coatings, and wore one pair until the coatings started to 'decay' and then started wearing the second pair where the coatings seem to have begun to 'fail' even sooner.

I don't think I treat my glasses harshly - clean with microfibre cloth - sometimes wash with warm gentle soap - but this issue with short lifespan coatings really bugs me.

I've had it with all glasses I've bought since the whole 'coatings' and plastic lenses and 2 for 1 glasses market changed years ago - remember the old days of independent opticians only? Cost a packet then!!!

I do think glasses should last longer than 18 months though - have you found a way to stop your glasses going to the dogs? Am I doing something wrong?

When I had 'real' glass lenses they seemed to last longer - has anyone tried this?

Do you refuse to buy the coatings - how does this affect the glasses lifespan?

Help!!! Before I blow another £300/£400.....

I know they're essential and over the course of a couple of years that might be reasonable value but I tend to soldier on and ignore the first 'scratches' before I give in and get new specs.

Realistically, I think most of my lens coatings have failed well inside a year - which feels like a ruddy great con!!!

Some soaps can cause the coating to decay faster than they should, especially the anti-bacterial ones.

High index lenses (the thinned down lenses) also scratch more easily, so its not usually possibly to get those uncoated. High index lenses also have more reflections. You can get uncoated lenses that are not high index though.
Plastic does also scratch more easily than glass, but it's lighter and there are no safety issues.

The scratch resistant coating is also only on the front of the lens and not the back, so you can get back surface scratching which can disturb your vision. So its very important to always keep your glasses in their case when not wearing them and maybe keep an old pair for the beach.

If a coating does start coming off within a couple of months, it could be due to the fact that the lens wasn't cleaned thoroughly enough before they applied the coating.

Don't buy any coatings

Buy them at asda! Seriously much cheaper so if they do get scratched over time you haven't spent as much. 2 pairs for £99 is their usual offer, and that includes thinning if it's necessary.

Thanks Karoleann - I didn't know that soaps could affect the coatings. I know opticians cite the 'safety' issue with real glass but I wore real glass for maybe 15 years and never broke them - it's quite hard to smash the bottom of a beer bottle! Can they still be bought? I've never been offered that option at the opticians.
Also, I wear my glasses constantly, they are only off for sleep, showers, sex and cleaning (of the glasses!)

As helensburgh says, I could just not get the coatings but... how long will the lenses last then? This is the thing... the opticians have worked their magic and made me believe I'd be throwing away my money by buying lenses and not buying protective coatings - like going out in my new white trainers on a rainy day - bound to get messed up!!!

I wouldn't mind if the coatings just failed anonymously after 6 months but they don't, they decay and ruin the vision through the lens so I have to get whole new lenses. And they decay so slowly and painfully, punishing me gradually for the foolishness of paying to have these opaque spots applied to my glasses.

I didn't realise Asda were that cheap but I couldn't bring myself to go through the whole palaver so often...

moan, moan, moan - anyone still wear 'glass' glasses?

I buy my glasses online. They are very inexpensive. You could try to enter your prescription in with lens & frame choice before you order to see if this option would work for you. I have used several companies before. I have not been disappointed. Buying glasses now is the same cost as buying a top! They do appear to still do glass lenses.

www.goggles4u.co.uk/order_guide

I also get mine at Asda and haven't bothered with coatings for years - not noticed any difference!

Oh and I buy non coated lenses and they last years...

I've been wearing Specsaver glasses for a while now, as have my 4 sons. 10 years anyway. All of us wear all the time. None of us has had this problem. Yes, I've had the odd hinge break, lens fall out, but the coatings do last IME. Although I've had new glasses every two years (my reading vision has changed a lot), two of the boys have had same glasses for 3-4 years. Our cleaning routine is very similar to yours.

Not sure what to suggest. In the same situation I'd be tempted to discuss at Specsaver and to go to several other companies for same convo. Then see how the answers tally. Or not.

I've been wearing Specsavers glasses for years and I've never had this problem. I only clean mine with a cloth or Specsavers lens cleaner though so I don't know if that makes a difference.

I find the coatings make a big difference for night driving and screen work so I wouldn't want plain glasses now.

Crikey - perhaps it's me. Don't know what I can be doing differently!!!

It's always the section of lens next to my nose (on both sides) - not touching my nose though - so no adverse skin chemicals - that part of the lens where it sits in the frame at the bottom and nose quarter.

That's probably where I apply most pressure with thumb and forefinger when cleaning - but could I really be wiping off the coating?

Glad to hear people have good experience of 'no coatings' - tempted to give that a go and at least save some money before having to get new lenses.

Apart from when I had 'Glass' glasses, I've always had the extra coatings, non-reflective, non-scratch .... has anyone who hasn't had the coatings found night driving hard?

Cause I find it tricky eve with the coatings! But I didn't with real glas glasses and no coatings! Could be partially age-related though!