If a patient scratches their new lenses and adds AR coating, what will happen to the scratches?

When a patient scratches their new lenses and then adds anti-reflective (AR) coating, the scratches on the lenses will become more visible. This occurs because an AR coating is designed to enhance light transmission and reduce glare, but it does not alter or repair the physical imperfections, such as scratches, already present on the lens surface.

AR coatings increase the clarity and transparency of the lens, but they can also enhance the visibility of any scratches by making them more pronounced against the clear surface of the lens. Consequently, when light interacts with the scratched areas, it can create reflections that highlight the scratches, thereby making them stand out more than they would without the coating. This outcome helps to understand the importance of handling lenses carefully to avoid damages that can be exacerbated after applying treatments like AR coating.