It’s happened to all of us.
You’re outside enjoying whatever adventure you might be on in your favourite pair of sunglasses when you drop your shades and they land on the ground lens-first.
You pick them up and are devastated to see a scratch on the lens right in your line of sight. It seems to be hovering in your line of vision when you wear the glasses. You’re beat up over the fact that scratched-up glasses don't hold quite the same appeal as scuffed-up sneakers or ripped jeans. So, is there anything you can actually do to salvage your favourite pair of shades once they get to that point?
The answer is yes!
The good news is that there are tips and tricks you can use to minimize the look of shallow scratches. The following methods can help reduce the look of surface scratches.
While we can’t guarantee 100% success with these methods, it’s worth a shot, right?
You try them on a small scratch on a pair of shades that aren’t your most prized possession.
Dab a tiny bit of brass or silver polish on the lenses with a cotton ball or cotton swab and gently rub it over the scratch.
If there is any excess polish, remove it with a clean, lint-free cloth.
With a cotton ball, rub the paste into the scratch in a circular motion. Give your lenses a nice massage for about 10 seconds. (Use non- abrasive, non-minty, non-gel and non-whitening toothpaste.
Rinse the toothpaste off with cool water.
Mix one (1) part water and two (2) parts baking soda in a small bowl until you have a thick paste.
Rub the baking soda paste into the scratch for 10 seconds, using a cotton ball and a circular motion.Rinse the paste off with cool water.
Apply the way you’d apply wax to your car: with a soft cloth and circular motions.
Wipe away any excess with another lint-free cloth. You may need to use multiple cloths, as wax adheres to fabric easily.
Spray your lenses lightly. Don’t get crazy!
Break out that lint-free cloth and rub the furniture spray around in a circular motion until the scratch and spray disappear.
These steps explain how you can get rid of scratches, which generally employ one of two methods. The first involves buffing away the scratches, using something like a non-abrasive toothpaste or baking soda mixture to essentially sand down any marks until they disappear.
The second method does essentially the opposite, involving the need to fill in scratches with something like furniture spray, car wax or silver polish to make the surface of the glasses even again.
Unfortunately, any strategy that involves buffing or removing scratches by essentially sanding down the surface won't work if the glasses in question have special coatings on them, as it may be the coating itself that is scratched. Rubbing at the area will just remove more coating. This can actually make the scratch appear larger.
With polycarbonate lenses, it's possible to completely remove the coating and its scratched appearance using something like nail polish remover, but that's not advisable in both cases of eyeglasses and sunglasses since their coatings — think anti-reflection and often the UV protection itself — are kind of the point of wearing sunglasses in the first place.
If it's already too late for that and your shades are badly scratched, it might be best to consider getting the lenses replaced. If you are buying quality glasses from a reputable brand, then you should call them to get your lenses replaced.
Do well to remember that nothing beats just taking good care of those lenses in the first place. Here are a few steps you can follow to prevent scratches on your eyeglasses and sunglasses.
We recommend cleaning your glasses on a regular basis but you should always ensure that you use the right materials to prevent scratching:-
Cleaning solution. We recommend using an optical lens cleaning solution or lens wipes. Never use highly concentrated household cleaners as these can damage the coatings on the lenses.
Cleaning Cloth. Always use the cleaning cloth supplied with your glasses. Never use a paper towel, tissue or corner of your shirt as these materials can lightly scratch the lenses.
Take care when removing your glasses from their case or your face as dropping your glasses on hard surfaces can often lead to scratched lenses.
Wherever it’s possible, we recommend handling your glasses using both hands and with a firm grip.
When your glasses are not in use, always use a case. More often than not, people can accidentally sit on them or knock them to the floor - where it most definitely gets damaged. A hard protective case that closes completely will help to ensure your glasses are kept free from scratches.
Check out Lenzbuy Accessories for Lens cleaning solutions, Lens cleaning wipe, Antifog spray and cloth to keep your glasses clean and prevent scratches. This is one method you can use to preserve your favourite pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses to make it last longer.
Note: Lenzbuy or its affiliate does not endorse or recommend the above tips.
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