Eyeglass Care

Your eyeglasses are precision-ground lenses that need to be cared for so that your vision stays clear and comfortable. Lenses that are scratched can cause blurry vision, glare, or annoying reflections. Eyeglass frames that are bent or broken may not sit properly on your face and may make your vision blurry, too.

How do I care for my eyeglass lenses?

The best way to clean your lenses is by using liquid hand soap or dishwashing detergent. Rinse the lenses under warm tap water. Then use a soft lint-free cloth to dry them off. Do not use paper towels or facial tissues because they can scratch the lenses! Most lenses do have a scratch-resistant coating on them to help reduce the scratches, but it does not make them scratch proof. Make sure you rinse the lenses with water. Do not just wipe them with your shirt tail. Lens cleaner sprays available where you purchased your glasses or at most drug stores that work well, too.

Another way to prevent scratched lenses is to be careful where you put your glasses. Never set your glasses face-down on a hard surface. Set your glasses upside-down on the table so that the top of the rims and ear pieces are touching the table. If you have rimless glasses, take extra care to avoid chipping the lens when you put them down. Of course, the best place to put glasses when they are not being worn is in their case.

Is it safe to wear a chipped lens?

No, it is not safe to wear a chipped lens. A lens that has a chipped edge or even a deep scratch in it looses some of its impact resistance. This means that it can shatter more easily and possibly damage your eye. Any chipped or deeply scratched lens needs to be replaced to be safe.

What if my glasses get sprayed with something?

Most household cleaners and chemicals will not damage your eyeglass lenses, so just rinse the cleaner or chemical from your glasses with soap and water. Hairspray can damage your lenses. It can leave permanent spots on the lenses. So before you spray your hair, either remove your glasses or shield them by placing your hand on your forehead like a visor.

Many people get speckles of paint on their glasses. Paint speckles are actually very easy to remove. Simply scrape them off with your fingernail. Do not use any paint thinner or other solvent, these could permanently damage the lenses.

How do I take care of my eyeglass frames?

Your eyeglasses need to sit straight and snug on your face to make sure that you are seeing the best that you can through your lenses. To keep them aligned, use both hands to put them on and to take them off. Keep the screws tight by using a small screwdriver, or ask your eye care professional to tighten them. If the frames stretch out of shape or get bent, your eye care provider can straighten them for you.

Many people like to keep their driving glasses in their car. The heat that builds up in a car on a hot summer day can take its toll on eyeglasses. Plastic frames can soften up and lose their shape very easily if kept in the car. The heat can even cause the lenses to warp, distorting your vision. Take your glasses inside with you and do not leave them in the car.

Reviewed for medical accuracy by faculty at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins. Web site: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/wilmer/

Written by George Mamalis, OD.
Published by RelayHealth.
© 2009 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.