You just paid a small fortune for new eyeglasses. On top of the cost for prescription lenses and fashionable frames, you opted for anti-reflective, anti-scratch and UV-protection coatings. After all, eyesight is a precious thing, and it’s only wise to do all you can to protect it, right? Absolutely! But here’s the deal: You may be destroying your investment one cleaning at a time.
Modern-day lens coatings are revolutionary in the way that they protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and provide comfort. And these coatings are fairly durable. Just know that anti-scratch does not mean 100 percent scratchproof. Rather, it somewhat helps to prevent minor scratches that could easily develop on a regular lens.
What Not to Use
Pay attention to these things you can never, ever use to clean eyeglasses because they can break down the coatings, strip them of their qualities, and leave a mess instead.- Wood pulp in paper towels and facial tissues, and the tiny fibers in shirt fabrics. They can make fine scratches that will eventually create a kind of visual haze that’s impossible to remove. Think of paper and fabric as extremely fine-grit sandpaper.
- Window cleaner, glass cleaner, and mirror cleaner
- Ammonia
- Bleach
- Vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Toothpaste
- Paper towels
- Facial tissues
- Your shirt
What to Use Instead
Now that we have those out of the way, here are the best things you can use to clean and protect your eyeglasses, maintain their beauty, and increase their longevity:- Water
- Dishwashing liquid
- Rubbing alcohol
- Microfiber cloth
- Lens wipes
