lens coating

Lens coating is a technique used in optics to reduce light loss and improve image quality in lenses. When light travels between different mediums, such as air and glass, a portion of it is reflected, leading to a loss of light and potential image degradation like ghost images or reduced contrast.1

To combat this, a thin coating of metallic fluorides is applied to lens surfaces. This coating significantly minimizes reflections, with a coated lens reflecting only about 0.5 percent of incident white light, a tenfold improvement over uncoated lenses. This process relies on the principles of thin-film interference, where the thickness and refractive index of the coating are precisely controlled to cause destructive interference of reflected light waves. Multiple coatings can further enhance this effect across a broader range of wavelengths.12