Looking through scratched lenses is never fun! If your glasses are scratched, it will naturally be harder to see through them. Plus, they can really mess up your outfit.
Removing scratches from lenses can be tricky, especially if you’re trying to do it yourself. Here’s how to remove scratches from glasses, and also some tips to prevent your glasses from getting scratched in the first place.
Can You Remove Scratches From Lenses at Home?
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. Most of the time, you’ll have to go to a professional to fix your scratched glasses. This is particularly true if your lenses are badly scratched. Often, the only solution is replacing your lenses.
However, there is one at-home remedy you can try for minor scratches: a baking soda paste. Note that this is risky, though, because if you make a mistake, it could damage the lens coating. This could cause even more issues.
How to Remove Scratches From Glasses With Baking Soda
If you want to attempt to remove the scratches from your glasses at home, try this baking soda paste. Make sure to test it out on a small area of the lens first to see how it reacts.
You’ll need:
- One tablespoon of baking soda
- Warm water
- A small mixing bowl
- A Q-tip
- Two microfiber cleaning cloths
Here’s how to do this:
- First, wash your hands to ensure you won’t leave any residue on your glasses. Then, clean your glasses’ lenses thoroughly with one of the microfiber cloths.
- Combine the tablespoon of baking soda with half a tablespoon of warm water. Stir together to create a thick paste.
- Apply a bit of paste to a small part of your scratched lenses. Then, use the Q-tip to rub the paste over the scratches. Rub in small, circular motions. Be very gentle and use light pressure.
- Rinse the paste off and dry with the second, clean microfiber cloth.
- Inspect your glasses. Do the scratches seem less pronounced? If so, repeat these steps until you’ve minimized the scratches to your satisfaction.
What NOT to Do to Remove Scratches
When you look for ways to remove scratches online, you’ll come across quite a few myths and hacks that don’t really work. In fact, some of these might make your scratches worse. Let’s go through what these hacks are and why you should avoid them.
Don’t Use Toothpaste
A viral hack claims that if you rub toothpaste into your lenses, it will deep-clean them and remove all those tiny scratches. The idea is that the abrasive particles within the toothpaste will wear down the lens coating, hiding the scratches.
However, the toothpaste method is risky. Toothpastes’ textures and ingredients vary widely. For instance, gel toothpastes and toothpastes with whitener will be harsh on your glasses. They could damage the lenses and the lenses’ coating. Overall, the toothpaste ‘hack’ isn’t worth the risk.
Don’t Use Wax
Another hack you may come across is using car wax or furniture wax to fill in your scratches. Wax doesn’t work well on glasses, though. Wax is more opaque than your lens material, which means it could make the scratches more visible. The wax could also potentially damage the protective coating on your lenses.
Don’t Use Sandpaper to Polish Glasses
You also don’t want to use sandpaper to ‘buff out’ the scratches on your glasses. Sandpaper and other polishing tools could make your scratches worse. They could also destroy your lens coating.
How to Prevent Scratches on Glasses
As you can see, once your glasses are scratched, it can be very difficult to get those scratches out. If you don’t want to have to buy new lenses, it’s best to try to prevent your glasses from getting scratched in the first place. Here are some ways to protect your glasses.
Get Scratch-Resistant Coating
Invest in a scratch-resistant coating for your glasses. EZContacts offers a couple of different options for anti-reflective coatings that also have anti-scratch protection. This includes Crizal Easy Pro, which reduces glare and offers scratch, oil, and water-resistant layers. It’s smudge-resistant as well.
If you want more protection, try the Crizal Sapphire HR. This coating offers the highest level of glare reduction. It also has the latest anti-scratch technology.
Clean Your Glasses Regularly
Cleaning your glasses frequently can also help prevent scratches. When you clean your lenses, you’ll remove the abrasive dust and dirt that often scratches them up.
Use a high-quality microfiber cloth or lens wipes to clean your glasses. However, don’t use a paper towel or your shirt. Their rough textures can grind particles into the lenses, causing permanent micro-scratches on your glasses.
You can also try using the Peeps Cleaner. This eyeglass cleaner uses a two-step dry cleaning process to remove dirt and debris from your glasses. It doesn’t use any liquid or chemicals, preventing streaks or damage to lens coating.
Store Glasses Properly
When you’re not using your glasses, make sure to store them properly. Always put them in a glasses case. Glasses left loose in your bag or pocket are at risk of getting scratched.
Also, treat your glasses gently. At the end of the day, don’t throw them onto your nightstand. Or, don’t throw them on the bathroom counter when you’re getting into the shower. Place them in their case when they’re not in use.
Make Sure Glasses Fit Well
When you’re buying your glasses, make sure they fit snugly on your face. Loose glasses are at risk of slipping off, which could then cause them to fall and become scratched.
If your glasses are feeling loose, try tightening them. You can do this at home, or you can bring them to a professional.
Consider Wearing Contacts While Playing Sports
When you’re playing sports, your glasses could be at risk. This is particularly true if you play a contact sport, like football or rugby. Consider wearing contacts while engaging in these activities to keep your glasses safe. Or, if contacts aren’t your thing, invest in glasses straps to ensure your glasses stay in place.
Use Safety Glasses
Do you work in construction or often do home improvement projects? If so, consider swapping out your regular glasses for safety glasses while you’re doing these projects. Safety glasses will protect your eyes from debris, and you’ll be able to keep your regular glasses safe from scratches.
When to See an Optician About Your Scratched Glasses
Scratched glasses can sometimes lead to headaches and eye strain. If the scratches in your glasses are affecting your vision, it’s most likely time to take them to an optician.
As previously mentioned, in most cases, your optician will have to completely replace your lenses if they’re scratched. You can also use this as an opportunity to buy new glasses.
Scratched glasses can be a nuisance, but there are many ways to protect your glasses and keep them safe. By following these tips, you can keep your glasses clean and scratch-free.
TL;DR
- Scratched glasses can make it difficult to see. Removing scratches from glasses can also be very tricky.
- One at-home method you can try is using a baking soda paste. Make sure to test this on a small part of the lens first to see how it reacts.
- There are many scratch-removing hacks online that don’t actually work. This includes using toothpaste, wax, and sandpaper.
- Often, once your lenses are scratched, the only thing you can do is replace them. To make your glasses last longer, follow some best practices to keep them safe. Always store glasses in their case when not in use. Make sure to clean them properly using a microfiber cloth or lens wipes.
- You can also consider investing in an anti-scratch coating. EZContacts offers two anti-reflective coatings with scratch protection: Crizal Easy Pro and Crizal Sapphire.
- If you’re experiencing headaches or eye strain due to your scratched glasses, it’s probably time to get the lenses replaced by an optician. Or, you can consider using this as an opportunity to get new glasses.
