The functional coatings
Lens coatings serve to protect both the lenses and the person wearing them.
MIRRORED LENSES - For example, lenses with a mirror coating serve two functions. Not only is a mirror effect a virtual requirement in the world of eyewear in response to fashion trends, it also plays a crucial role in terms of protection. In fact, a mirrored coating reflects light off of the lens, so it acts as a physical barrier protecting your eyes. By significantly reducing the amount of light that reaches your eyes, mirrored lenses help to reduce eye strain.
As a result, mirrored lenses are great for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities in bright sunlight, such as on the water, at the beach, or high up in the mountains.
Mirroring is achieved by applying multiple layers of coating and can be done on both neutral and graduated filters.
At Divel Italia, we divide our mirroring into three types:
- CLASSIC MIRRORING: gold, silver and blue
- MULTILAYER MIRRORING: in fashion colors
- FLASH MIRRORING: for a softer, more delicate effect
POLARIZED LENSES - When the sun is high in the sky and its light hits a reflective surface, it causes glare and can blur your vision. Sunglasses with polarized lenses block this reflected light so that you can see with greater clarity and definition.
Polarized lenses have a solar filter that includes a dark, protective film that permanently colors the lens. This special coating is applied to the surface of the lens in order to reduce glare. On its own, this filter doesn’t block any UV rays, so, whenever buying a pair of glasses with polarized lenses, you should always check the level of UV filter the lenses provide.
The sole purpose of this polarization is to give lenses this anti-reflection function. By ensuring greater contrast, you see more clearly with reduced glare, so you can have more confidence in what you see around you. Polarized lenses are great for every sport — especially sailing, cycling, and running — and other outdoor activities that involve constant exposure to sunlight.
They are also ideal for driving because of their ability to reduce glare.
To see if a lens is polarized, hold it at a 90-degree angle and place it near a computer screen. If the reflection from the screen is darkened, the lenses are polarized.
Polarized lenses can also be mirrored.
PHOTOCHROMIC - Photochromic lenses, too, are designed to reduce glare, but they do more than that. They are also able to adapt to changes in ambient light. Under intense sunlight, these lenses darken, and when there is less light, they lighten and become transparent. Photochromic lenses are great for people who are particularly sensitive to light, but also for anyone looking for convenience. Because these lenses adjust automatically, you don’t need to take off your glasses when coming indoors.
Photochromic lenses take advantage of a reversible chemical reaction.
A photochromic lens coating includes photochromic pigments that react to light. Photochromic lenses are perfect for a cloudy day, when you frequently go back and forth between indoors and out, and in any situation in which lighting conditions change frequently. Because of this convenience, photochromic lenses are increasingly being used for prescription eyewear. Corrective lenses with a photochromic coating are also necessary for anyone who suffers from a high degree of light sensitivity (photophobia).
DIVEL ITALIA photochromic lenses are available in transparent (Fotochroma) and colored (Fotocolor) versions, both of which darken based on the ambient lighting conditions.