I check a lot of annoying optical boxes to fit prescription lenses for. I am a mild hyperope turning presbyopic. I am also on the computer most of the day, I have terribly dry eyes, I am fashion-conscious, neurodivergent, and an optician who does a lot of research into light; so my expectations are high!
I was cautiously optimistic when I heard about the upcoming release of Zeiss’s new Dura Gold coating. Listen, I really enjoy Zeiss’s lineup, but from someone who has to clean lenses many, many times a day (to a professional level, for other people), when I saw that they were boasting that Dura Gold was supposed to be easier to clean than any of their other coatings, I was jazzed, to say the least.
Now that I actually have them on my face, I don’t know that I have ever been truly happy with a coating before this! Let’s talk about it:
Clarity – Is this the clearest lens I have ever seen? Looking through them, yes! Looking at them, no (but this is intentional). Looking through these lenses is pure and sharp and clear; 10/10. But, for those looking at me or when I take a shameless selfie, they have a gold hue to them.
Smudge Resistance – Absolutely. One of the things I’ve learned about myself living through a worldwide pandemic is that I am a dirty rotten face-toucher, and because of their location, by extension, my glasses! So, fingerprints have always been an area of contention for me. Until now. I have to clean my lenses way less. Significantly so. The fingerprints just hardly stick. It’s magical.
Easy to Clean – This coating ‘shines’; punning aside… As mentioned, this is something that I have to do constantly for others, under scrutiny. This coating isn’t just easy to clean, it’s as effortless as this task could possibly be. ASMR-level satisfying.
Scratch Resistance – I wish I could say I wasn’t the perfect test subject for this category. But here I am, in all my no-case purse-tossing, glovebox-shoving, drybag-cramming, puppy-pawing glory. And no joke- on day 3, I dropped them from the top of my head onto the hot, pebbly asphalt. I picked them up slowly and peered through them from every angle; saved! So yes, even in this short, short time, I have tested this thoroughly, and they are real-life tough. Although I cannot speak to their durability over time because they are still so new, I have no concerns based on everything else I’ve seen.
Anti Reflective Property – This one genuinely surprised me. I’ve been selling glasses longer than I’ve been wearing them, so I’ve never really been without an anti-reflective coating. For the first time ever, I actively noticed a difference. Mid-project, sitting in my dim living room with three backlit computer screens glaring at me, I actually got up and went hunting for my Dura Gold–coated glasses. Same Rx. Same lens material. But the relief when I switched was immediate. The slight mirror finish on Dura Gold cut the glow and softened the strain. I didn’t realize how much reflection I was putting up with; until it was gone. And for the record, I did not get the BlueGuard on this set of lenses.
Water Resistance – Easy, beady, beautifully repellent quality. I paddleboard frequently and walk (rain or shine). Anytime these lenses have been wet, they truly bead so nicely; again making the cleanability simple.
Dust & Static – None. Nothing. These lenses are slipperier than a toddler covered in butter who doesn’t want to go to bed.
The Vanity Metric – Like, it shouldn’t matter, right? But it sooo does. And Zeiss knocked it out of the park on this one. The Dura Gold looks so bougie and luxurious; I just love telling people about it, and showing it, and wearing it. You know when you have a piece of your wardrobe that makes you really feel confident? Although that seems like too much to ask of a lens treatment, this pretty little coating manages to deliver here too!
The Other Stuff – I am the type of person who likes balancing what I feel is an important foundational quality with bells and whistles. Meaning, I will pay for quality where that makes a difference in my life, but I don’t have to have something just because it’s “the best.” As far as the budget goes, this is a premium coating. That being said, it did come in at less of an upcharge than I was expecting- so bonus! Regardless, I would pay full price for this coating every day of the week! Add in a great warranty and, as always, rep support that is second to none, and you can’t go wrong.
After 27 years in the optical industry, not much surprises me, but Dura Gold did. It solves more problems with less effort, and that kind of return on investment is exactly what I want; for myself and for our patients.
