Lens technologies

uvex’s pioneering lens coatings deliver the very best in German engineering. Developed in our own manufacturing facilities in Fürth, Germany, our lens coatings are permanent even after repeated cleaning. This offers great value for money and means you can get on with the job at hand without any distractions from your eyewear.

Easy to clean - nanotechnology

The addition of nano particles in the chemistry of uvex's scratch-resistant lens coating helps to create what is known as the "Lotus Effect" on the surface of the lens.

This hydrophobic effect means liquid rests on 'top' of the surface so is able to move more freely. Lenses can be wiped clean much more easily as the smoother surface means less adherence so dirt particles simply glide off.

Nano particles create the "lotus effect" on uvex lenses

Which uvex lens coating do I need?

uvex has developed 3 core lens coatings and several special coatings each with their own formula. The flow process used to apply the coating allows different coating combinations to be applied, making them application-specific for maximum effectiveness.

Different workplaces require different lens coatings for safety eyewear due to variations in working conditions.

uvex has created a simple-to-use guide to help you select the right lens coating for your workplace. Use the diagram shown in this video to help you choose the correct lens coating for your safety eyewear according to levels of temperature, humidity and dirt.

uvex lens coating diagram
Find your coating graphic

Find your coating:

• Select the temperature which best represents your working environment on the horizontal temperature axis
• Define the air humidity of the surroundings in percentage terms and find the figure on the diagonal axis
• Determine the degree of dirt on the vertical axis
• Join these three points to form a triangle

The part of the triangle with the largest area will show you the appropriate coating for your defined area of use.


Types of coatings

Lens coatings can be either:
hydrophobic (moisture repelling) detergent-based coatings (which can be washed off) or
hydrophilic (moisture absorbing).

A hydrophobic coating is soap-based and works by repelling moisture, spreading the droplets across the lens. This ultimately leads to a build up of fog on the lens, which requires cleaning to remove it. Eventually, depending on the quality of the coating, the detergent properties will be washed from the lens, rendering it ineffective.

Unlike hydrophobic coatings, hydrophilic coatings act like a sponge and absorb the moisture into the lens. The coating can hold a high amount of moisture and releases it at the edge of the lens. Hydrophilic coatings are not soap-based making them permanent (they can't be washed off).


Core coatings

With the uvex flow coating process, lenses are coated one side at a time. This allows uvex to control the consistency and thickness of the coating and deliver unique and separate protection on either side of the lens. This means we can offer a variety of protection options in different combinations for the front and the back of the lens, not just a single coating. This ensures the optimal coating performance, based on the workplace environment.

Lenses coated with uvex supravision sapphire are extremely scratch-resistant on both sides and offer excellent resistance to chemicals. The coating system has been refined by nanotechnology and offers significantly increased non-stick properties and is therefore easier to clean. Watery and greasy dirt can be removed easily.

  • Extremely scratch-resistant and chemical-resistant on both sides
  • Non-stick technology making eyewear easier to clean
  • For challenging, dirty and/or dusty workplaces

Lenses coated with uvex supravision excellence are anti-fog (at least 16 seconds, norm requires 8 seconds) on the inside, while the outside offers extreme scratch and chemical resistance. The anti-fog coating is permanent and won't wash off, even after repeated cleaning. The lenses are also easy to clean and less susceptible to dirt due to the non-stick nanotechnology.

  • Extremely scratch-resistant and chemical-resistant on the outside of the lens with nonstick, easy to clean technology
  • Long lasting anti-fog performance on the inside
  • Anti-fog performance will not diminish even after repeated cleaning
  • Suitable for a wide range of workplaces

Lenses coated with uvex supravision plus have long lasting anti-fog properties on both sides (at least 30 seconds, norm requires 8 seconds), scratch-resistant and anti-static. The anti-fog coating is permanent, even after being cleaned several times. This lens coating is particularly suitable for areas with high humidity.

  • Long lasting anti-fog performance and scratch-resistance on both sides
  • Anti-fog performance will not diminish even after repeated cleaning
  • Suitable for environments where there is high humidity and/or frequent temperature fluctuations

Special coatings

uvex supravision extreme

Lenses coated with uvex supravision extreme have a scratch-resistant exterior and permanent anti-fog interior. Fogging is not possible as the coating does not become saturated. It is most suitable for working areas with long-term exposure to humidity and a high level of dirt.

View products with uvex supravision extreme lens coating

  • Interior: durable, permanent anti-fog performance, coating forms a thin veil of water without impairing vision
  • Exterior: extremely scratch-resistant, chemical-resistant and easy to clean
  • Areas of application: prolonged exposure to high risk of fogging and dirt

uvex supravision variomatic

Lenses coated with uvex supravision variomatic are self-tinting filters, which automatically become darker when exposed to UV (within 10 seconds) and become lighter when exposure is reduced (after 30 seconds). Particularly suitable for workplaces where you frequently move between indoor and outdoor environments, from light to dark.

View products with uvex supravision variomatic lenses

  • Self-tinting coating: automatically darkens within 10 sec. and lightens within 30 sec.
  • Areas of application: frequent moves between indoor and outdoor environments or light and dark workspaces

uvex supravision clean

Lenses coated with uvex supravision clean are autoclavable and resistant to chemicals. Anti-fog on the inside, extremely scratch-resistant on the outside. The anti-fog coating is retained for at least 10 autoclave cycles. The coating ensures absolute freedom from fogging as well as maximum vision.

View products with uvex supravision clean lens coating

  • Interior: lasting anti-fog performance, anti-fog performance lasts a minimum of 20 autoclave cycles
  • Exterior: extremely scratch-resistant, chemical-resistant and easy to clean
  • Areas of application: dry, clean environments

uvex infradur and uvex infradur plus

Lenses coated with uvex infradur are scratch-resistant on both sides and minimise the damage from welding sparks. Lenses coated with uvex infradur plus are anti-fog on the inside and extremely scratch-resistant on the outside, and also minimise the damage from welding sparks.

View products with uvex infradur and uvex infradur plus lens coating

  • Interior: lasting anti-fog performance
  • Exterior: extremely scratch-resistant
  • Areas of application: suitable for dirty, welding environments with a high possibility of fogging
uvex safety glasses: damage-resistant coatings

Scratch-resistant lenses

Scratches on your lenses can directly impact on your safety, making you more vulnerable to injuries.

If your vision is obscured, your perception of hazards is compromised and you may also experience headaches and fatigue.uvex scratch-resistant coatings significantly extend the life of the lens, keeping you protected for longer and providing excellent value for money.

uvex CR - autoclavable safety eyewear

uvex's clean room range with anti-fog lens coating is designed for repeated autoclave sterilisation delivering continuous coating performance (20 cycles for 20 minutes each at maximum 121°C. The scratch-resistant coating on the outside of the lens helps prolong the life of the product. uvex CR is available on safety spectacles, goggles and overspecs, ideal for specialist environments; in laboratories, clinics, clean rooms and food manufacturing.

View the range

Lens tinting solutions

It is important to choose the most appropriate lens tint for your environment to ensure you are not putting additional strain on your eyes. Lens tinting can provide better visibility, increased contrast and reduced glare. uvex offer lens tinting solutions for a wide range of light environments and with 10 lens tints available, it is easy to choose the best solution for your particular application. Our digital lens tinting advisor helps you find the pefect tinting for your application.

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Optical class 1 quality

Perfect vision for maximum safety

Flawless lens optical quality reduces eye strain, fatigue and headaches (optical class 1). Lenses with excellent optical quality are free of aberrations and imperfections - allowing the wearer to see using as close to natural vision as possible. Low-quality safety eyewear can result in poor optical clarity, one of the biggest contributing factors in eye fatigue, due to tiny distortions in the lens. Even the slightest inconsistency on the periphery can result in eyes working harder to correct or overcome these imperfections in the form of hundreds, if not thousands, of micromovements uvex prides itself on its edge-to-edge optical clarity. All lenses are manufactured in-house with 100% visual inspection throughout the production process to ensure that any deviation in optical quality can be immediately corrected.


Which uvex lens coating do I need?

Discover our safety eyewear range

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