Mathilde Lacombe

Prescription eyeglasses can be expensive, and most have plastic lenses, which scratch more easily than glass. Clearly, you need to shield and look after your investment. People are often confused and wonder if they should clean lenses with tissues or some kind of eyeglass cleaning cloth? Should you clean it when they’re wet or dry? Eye industry experts give us an insight about the proper way to take care of your eyeglasses.

Rinse

You need to make sure you always rinse your glasses off with water before wiping them. The main reason is that even tiny particles of dust can settle on your lens. If you wipe the lens with the dust particles you will spread them around on the dry lens and you will damage the lens.

Spray Liquid Carefully

If you’re going to use a special cleaning agent to clean your lens, be sure to use sprays that are specifically made to clean your brand of eyeglass lenses. Never use household or glass cleaners, because these contain ammonia, which will tear off the fine coating that is on the lens. (Most lenses are now coated, usually with an anti-reflective layer.)

Air Dry

If you can, allow your glasses to air dry. This is another excellent way to keep any materials from getting on to your lens. If you can’t set them down to air dry, wipe them down with a soft, clean, lint-free eyeglass cleaning cloth.

Use the Right Cloth

NEVER use paper towels, tissue, or napkins to dry your lenses. All of these materials, regardless of how soft they are to the touch, have a textured surface and can easily scratch your lenses. Using a particular cleaning cloth that comes specifically for this purpose is the surest way to keep that lens scratch-free. 

Also, refrain from using the tail of your shirt. If it is not 100% cotton, the fibres will scratch the lens of your eyeglasses over time. The clothing can also have dirt on it, which means the deposit ends up being transferred to your lenses.

Gripping it Right

Hold your frames by gripping the piece that crosses the bridge of the nose. This will keep you from accidentally bending or touching the frame while you clean. Bent glasses can negatively affect your eyesight, and if your frames are bent, they’re more likely to feel uncomfortable.

Store Properly

Store your glasses when you’re not wearing them. This isn’t just a great way to keep dust and dirt away from your eyeglasses, but it also protects your eyewear from getting scratched, bent or broken.

If you don’t want a big, bulky case, sleeker ones are available. A microfiber sunglass pouch is also an absolute necessity to keep at your office desk or on your nightstand for those glasses you don’t necessarily wear all the time, like reading glasses or sunglasses.

Place Carefully

Don’t lay your glasses lens down. This is just asking for scratched lenses. Either place the face upwards or directly inside a microfiber sunglass pouch.

Wash Often

Washing your glasses at least once a day will keep your lenses in their optimal state. Use an eyeglass cleaning cloth to gently wipe the surfaces. The cleaner your glasses, the less your eyes have to strain to see through smudges, dirt and dust.

Dos and don’ts to take care of eyeglasses

Apart from the above tips, here are a few more dos and don’ts you could use to care better for your eyewear.

• Don’t spit on your lens. While spit is a handy cleaning solution, “saliva may contain oil or something else that’s damaging. Exhaling on lenses before cleaning doesn’t get them very wet, 
• Don’t put unprotected glasses in a purse, pocket, or bag.
• Don’t regularly place glasses on a sink or vanity top. Spatter, sprays, and other cosmetics can soil the lens, and hair spray or perfume can destroy the anti-reflective coating.
• Be sure to place the eyeglasses in a specially designed microfiber sunglass pouch is a safer and convenient option.
• Do use a hard-shell case that is the right size for your glasses.
• Always keep an eyeglass cleaning cloth with you for practical purposes when you use your eyewear.
• Do use both hands to put glasses on and take them off and keep glasses on your nose, not on your head. Otherwise, frames can become misaligned. 

Following the above tips is the best way to keep your glasses clean and scratch-free for as long as possible.