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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Comments
Very helpful tips! I have an older prescription that is my "backup" pair of glasses— I'll try your methods to remove the scratches. Thanks! Another helpful and practical article! Keep up the good work!
Some useful good suggestions here and will be a real help for regular glass users. Sharing with friends using glasses. Rated your hub as useful.
Nothing irritates more than a tiny scratch that blurs your vision. Your advice was most welcome.
Great suggestions - have 3 kids and have started wearing sunglasses already and have scratches all over...will some of the above ideas.
Hello, Thanks for this we sell eyeglasses (http://www.myeyeglasses.co.uk) and we often get people who contact us for a replacement lense after scratching one, I will point them in this direction.
Damien
cannot fix scratches on eye glasses especially if they are the new plastics or light weight glass... there are some liquids that can be used... but once the liquid dries up... the scratches reappear...
Great tips especially video is very useful.
Thanks for this info on repairing eyeglass scratches. I need it today! :)
This article comes at a good time when people are watching their money and buying a new pair of glasses isn't as easy financially as it once was. Thanks for this article.
I like your article. Well written. Will try it on my glasses. Thanks.
Extremely useful advice. Saves one having to get a new pair. I always have baby oil at home, so that's handy.
Thanks :)
I'm the kind who likes to travel light and even a pair of eyeglasses is extra baggage I don't need. So I tried to do without them and found that I could function normally. So, no eyeglasses for me. More than 30 years later, I'm still all right, but reading smaller print in less well lit areas is starting to give me problems. :(
Wow, useful! =)
Oh thank you so much I have a pretty pair of eyeglasses that I love and yet I got a terrible scratch on the middle of the lens, right where it can't be avoided. Thanks for the tips on getting rid of and how to fix scratches on eyeglasses. :) katie
We all had our eyes checked when we were at primary six and I was told that I needed glasses. My mother made me a pair and I'm proud to say that I never used it.
But, sad to say, things are starting to get just a little bit more blurry than usual and your hub might come in useful for me in the coming years. :(
Great Hub!
Thanks for the information! I never knew that you could repair scratched lenses. My son is always scratching his glasses and I will have to try one of these fixes! Thank you for the useful Hub!
JSMatthew
Nice tips from you. I am wearing eyeglasses right now. I have my own cleaner to wash my eyeglasses. But you give alternative and it's very useful for us. Thanks for writing this. I also enjoy the video above. Rated up as usual. Have a great day!
Prasetio,
Thanks for the great tips. I am going to bookmark this for sure. Rated up and useful.
I'm going to have to try a few of your great suggestions. My glasses always seem to attract those annoying little scratches.
Great idea. It is definitely a better idea to use this eyeglasses scratch kit to remove the scratches than to replace the lens. The lens would easily cost 10 times more. My son scratches his glasses so easily, being a boy, which is a normal thing. You have just given me an excellent idea to overcome this problem without having have to pay much for it. Thank you !
I'm forwarding this article to my bf. His clumsiness has caused him to be extremely (yet unintentionally) abusive to his glasses. Thanks for the nifty tips. :)
I like your at the test that's good suggestions for repairing those little scratches we inevitably get in her glasses. Thanks for all the tips.
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