2025-12-22 – Weekly Optician News : Anti-glare vs garage LEDs: What's effective?

Last week, our discussions ranged from practical solutions to common optician challenges to exploring new tools and techniques. Members shared their experiences with pupilometer usage, and there was a lively debate on the effectiveness of anti-glare coatings under various lighting conditions. We also examined why near pupillary distance (PD) measurements differ and discussed advancements in tools for pediatric exams.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Pupilometer stage fright at 2:15
An intriguing talk about handling unexpected anxiety when using the pupilometer, with tips from seasoned professionals.
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Anti-glare vs the garage LEDs
Members weigh in on how anti-glare coatings perform under harsh garage lighting, offering practical advice on product selection.
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Why your near PD is smaller
A technical discussion that unpacks the reasons behind variance in near PD measurements and its implications for lens fitting.
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Soft toric rotation quick-check
A quick guide to efficiently checking toric lens rotation, shared by a community member, saving time in daily practice.
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Preventing AR crazing during frame heat
Expert advice on avoiding anti-reflective coating damage when adjusting frames, ensuring longevity and customer satisfaction.
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Kid-friendly PD tool that actually works
A member shares a reliable tool for measuring children’s PD, making pediatric fittings more accurate and stress-free.
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What lens upgrades actually help daily
Practical insights into which lens enhancements provide the most benefit in everyday use, helping opticians guide customer choices.
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Gentle tools for toddler exams
Discussion on the best tools for toddler eye exams that ensure comfort and accuracy, shared by pediatric specialists.
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Centration tools that build trust
Exploring centration tools that not only improve fitting accuracy but also enhance client trust and satisfaction.
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Keeping edgers clean without downtime
Strategies to maintain edger cleanliness without interrupting workflow, shared by experienced lab technicians.
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That’s it for this week. Looking forward to seeing how these discussions evolve and what new topics emerge. Take care, and keep up the great work in your practices!

With clients under 5000 K “garage LEDs,” I’ve had the best results using a premium AR with sub-0.5% backside reflectance and a neutral residual hue, plus a bit more pantoscopic tilt to cut side light. AR helps, but it can’t turn a floodlight into a candle, so if glare persists I suggest adding a brimmed cap or asking for fixture diffusers. Anyone tried the 30° LED flashlight demo to show which coatings bloom less?

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