“You Cleaned Your Glasses With What???”

 The Best (and worst) Ways Your Customers Clean Their Glasses

All Eye Care Professionals have undoubtedly witnessed their fair share of cringe-worthy lens cleaning methods. From shirt sleeves to tooth paste, people who wear eye glasses use a variety of methods to get rid of annoying smears and smudges that are neither effective nor safe for the lenses.

Here’s a list of the best (and worst ways) to clean eyeglass lenses:

Do NOT Do This

1) Sandpaper – What could be worse for a pair of lenses? If glasses are scratched, never try to “buff out” a scratch on your lens. This will only make the situation worse.

2) Household cleaners – Think that window and glass cleaner is a suitable solution for cleaning glasses? Think again. Cleaning agents like window or surface cleaners contain chemicals that can damage eyeglass lenses and coatings.

3) Paper towels, napkins and toilet paper – While undoubtedly better than sandpaper, materials like paper towels, napkins or toilet paper can scratch lenses and only make the lenses look dirtier  by smearing the dirt or oil already on the lens.

4) Your own saliva – Licking the lenses isn’t only ineffective, it’s unhygienic. Need we say more?

5) Your shirt or a piece of clothing – A shirt sleeve or tail may seem like a convenient option, but it’s not recommended – especially when your lenses are dry and susceptible to scratching. Furthermore, since clothing comes into contact with the skin, dead skin cells and oil may be deposited on the glasses when cleaning.

6) Vinegar and Lemon juice – Things like vinegar and lemon juice are often considered great for household cleaning due to their acidic and non-toxic nature. But not for eyeglasses! Like other household cleaning agents, the acid may strip away the coating on the lenses.

7) Toothpaste – Some sources say tooth paste can remove scratches from eyeglass lenses, but it is still not recommended.

For Best Results

1) A Microfiber cleaning cloth – Cleaning lenses should always include a microfiber cleaning cloth. Microfiber cloths are made of nylon and polyester. This means they don’t scratch eyeglass lenses – or leave behind lint. (Just remember to use a liquid lens cleaner. Cleaning eyeglass lenses without liquid is not recommended)

2) Dish soap and water – According to the American Optometric Association, dish soap is a great way to clean eyeglasses. Rub a small amount of dish soap on the lenses using your fingers. But be sure to avoid citrus based dish soaps that contain damaging fruit acids or soaps with softeners that leave behind a residue.

3) Lens Cleaning Wipes– Convenient and easy-to-use, pre-packaged cleaning wipes are a simple and effective way to clean lenses.

4) Eye Glass Lens Cleaner and Microfiber Cleaning Cloth –Eyeglass Lens Cleaners (like the ones sold in optical stores) are specially formulated to safely clean eyeglasses, rinse away debris and ensure smudge-free lenses. Finish by wiping with a microfiber cleaning cloth to avoid scratching.

Share these tips with your patients to keep glasses clean and scratch-free for as long as possible!