How to Heal Scratched Lenses
The world of fashion has made wearing glasses the cool, must-have accessory. However, for most who wear glasses, their specs aren’t just a trendy statement. They are a way of life, and more often than not, a necessity for navigating the world. So, when a scratch appears, it is often a question of “How bad is it?” Do you cough up money to purchase a new pair, take the time to visit your eye doctor in hopes they can fix the lens, or just shrug your shoulders and see how long you can deal with it? Spending time and money is less than optimal, which is why we have put together a few easy and cost-effective solutions for remedying scratches.
Toothpaste
Yes, you read that right. Our first recommendation is to use toothpaste. First, verify that your toothpaste is non-gel, non-abrasive, and non-whitening. Otherwise, you run the risk of actually creating more scratches rather than less. You will need to apply the toothpaste to the dry lens and massage in a circular motion. After a few minutes, simply rinse gently with cold water and use the appropriate lens cleaning cloth to dry. For deeper or harder to remedy scratches, repeat process another time or two.
Baking Soda
Don’t have the right type of toothpaste on hand? No problem. Open your kitchen cabinet and you likely will find baking soda. You can combine 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda and a small amount of water to create a thick homemade paste that is known to work just as well. As with toothpaste, use a microfiber or cleaning cloth to apply paste to dry lens in a circular motion. Rinse and dry with a clean microfiber towel. Again, this process may need to be repeated if the scratch is stubborn.
Note: Both toothpaste and baking soda are glass and plastic lense-friendly. However, the next two methods are incredibly acidic and are not recommended for glass lenses, as they will likely damage them further.
Brass Cleaner
A harsher method for deeper scratches on plastic is brass cleaner. To use, you will want to apply the polish with a microfiber or cleaning cloth and buff for a few minutes. Then, you’ll use a clean cloth to remove excess visible polish. Be sure to clean your glasses afterwards with soap and water to ensure chemicals are no longer a threat to your eyes.
Glass Etching Cream
If none of the other methods work, glass etching cream is your last ditch effort. Extremely acidic in nature, it is highly advised that you not use this on any pair of glasses with any sort of protective coating, such as anti-glare, on the lenses unless you are prepared with burning through that coating. You will need to use a cotton Q-tip to apply cream to lens and unlike previous methods, you want to be careful to simply spread it and leave it to sit. Do not attempt to rub it in. Let it sit on lenses for no longer than 5 minutes and then wash off with soap and water. Lastly, wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.
No matter which method you choose, proper protection is always important. Whenever dealing with any sort of chemical, you’ll want to make sure that you are wearing rubber gloves and protective goggles. In addition, be certain that you not only wash your glasses, but also your hands after handling any of the above.
Outside of getting rid of scratches, here are some preventative tips:
On the face or in the case: Always store your glasses in eyewear cases when you aren’t wearing them
Clean glasses with either eyewear cleaning cloths or microfiber towels whenever you want to clean them to avoid scratches resulting from harsh fabrics or paper-based products such as toilet paper and facial tissues.
We hope that this guide helps you extend the life of your eyewear. But, if you’re prone to scratching or breaking your glasses, we can also help you save time and money through our convenient (and surprisingly affordable) subscription service that you can check out here.
-The Fitz Team