Lenses that have water repellent coatings are basically called Hydrophobic Lenses. By treating a lens with a Hydrophobic solution, we are filling the spaces between the crystals of which the coating layer consists. There are hundreds of thousands of these crystals that are deposited on the lens surface during the coating process. There are spaces between these crystals into which dirt and grease penetrates during normal use of the lens. The Hydrophobic coating will fill these gaps and create a smooth surface without changing the properties of the AR coating. Dirt stays on top of the surface and cannot go in between the above mentioned gaps. Therefore, the lens becomes easily cleanable and less smudgy. The picture shows a lens with and without water repellent coating. The coating makes the water form little droplets, which can flow away from the lens easily. |