How to Fix Scratches on Eyeglasses
Scratches on eyeglasses can interfere with clear vision
It’s inevitable—daily wear and tear, a little carelessness here or there can cause eyeglasses to grow scratches. A pair of eyeglasses with more than its fair share of scratches can be a pain—images can get blurry and visibility can be reduced. While it is tempting to just trade in your scratched eyeglasses for a spanking pair of brand new lenses, sometimes, your budget may not allow this luxury. After all, a new pair of lenses may set you back as much as 400 dollars. Of course, the people at the optometrist’s office will tell you this is the only logical route (for obvious reason) to go but what if you can’t afford to spend that hefty sum? Well, necessity is the mother of ingenuity, so let’s look to the wisdom of quick fixes and home remedies to get the scratches out.
These quick fixes will only work if your eyeglasses are not heavily scratched out. If your eyeglasses have ravines and gouges running on them, it’s time to seriously consider getting a new pair of replacing the lenses. Now, that we’ve have that established, let’s explore some options.
Eyeglasses Scratch Kit
A basic eyeglasses scratch kit is easy to find—go to any drug stores, your local optical shops or find them online—the kits are rather inexpensive and they claim to work. There are of course different brands but a basic eyeglass kit comes with a polish and a soft cloth. Follow instructions closely for best results. First clean off eyeglasses and apply polish. Allow to set for stipulated time. Then, use cloth to gently buff away scratches. Some people recommend patience as you may have to apply caution and care when polishing, so as not to over-buff it. Polish until polish is gone. It may not work on anti-scratch lenses or sunglasses as polishing may remove shade. Not a good idea.
Liquid Filler
Another type of eyeglass scratch kit works on the principle that scratches can be filled and then smoothed out to achieve a smooth clear surface (like they were just brought). Usually, a liquid lense polymer is used to fill and seal scratches. To use it, apply liquid lense polymer and then work the filler in with soft circular motion using a soft cloth. This will help to work filler into scratches and allow it to seal as well, making the lenses clear again. A popular liquid filler that is often advertised in Lens DRx but reviews have been mixed.
Home Remedies
Over the years, ingenious ways have been invented to fix the
scratches at home. Why spend money on fixing lenses that have up-to-date
prescription? There are many options and different people swear by different methods but if you’re not sure, it is best to try it out on a practice piece
of glass or plastic. Here are some choices and you can easily find them in your
kitchen cabinet or get them from the store:
- Amor Etch: You can buy this at Michaels or any hardware store. It is essentially a glass-etching chemical and should not be used on glass lenses. However, it can be used on plastic lenses and results are often satisfactory.
- Waxy products such as Lemon Pledge and Carnauba: Works by filling up scratches and reducing appearances of scratches
- Comet Cleanser, Baking Soda and Toothpaste: Use carefully especially it can be abrasive if too much is used or you’re too eager with the buffing.
- Rubbing alcohol and diluted ammonia: These inexpensive cleaning solutions/disinfectants can be used to clean scratched eyeglasses too.
- Baby Oil: Gentle on babies and gentle on eyeglasses when used to buff out scratches.
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Prevention
Don’t want to bother with polishing out those scratches? The best way is to prevent the scratches from happening in the first place. With a little effort, eyeglasses can be kept in good condition for a long time. Always store eyeglasses in the case it came in. Make sure the case is sturdy and well-cushioned on the inside. And never, if possible, put eyeglasses in pockets or handbags without the case. Cleaning eyeglasses with tissue paper, paper towel and rough cleaning cloths can create scratches too. Optometrists agree that a mild detergent is best for cleaning eyeglasses and dry it with a soft cloth thereafter.
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Considerations
When buying a pair of eyeglasses, consider the type of lenses used. Plastic lenses tend to scratch more than glass ones. Some polishes will not work on eyeglasses made with a protective coating or an anti-reflective coating.
Copyright @ Angeline Oppenheimer
No part of this article should be reproduced without prior consent of author.
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