What are the best ways to remove scratches on reading glasses and sunglasses? Our guide gives you several clever home remedies to fix the scratches on your lenses.
How to remove scratches on a watch glass
Scratches on the glasses can impair vision. With some home remedies, you can treat the scratches so that you have a clear view again.
If the view is clouded because there are scratches on the lens, it may be necessary to replace the lenses. With the following tips, small scratches cannot be removed, but can be “padded” quite effectively.
Modern glasses have different finishes. The glass is anti-reflective, has UV protection or a lotus effect. Aggressive cleaning methods should be avoided. Even with the greatest effort, scratches will not simply be polished away. Exaggerated arrangement can do more harm than good here.
Scratched glasses damage the eyes
Scratched glasses impair vision and damage the eyes permanently. This begins with damage that you cannot see with the naked eye, the so-called micro scratches.
This fine damage arises when fine dust particles are rubbed onto the lenses by cleaning the glasses with kitchen towels or woolen rags. The fine scratches create reflection edges in the glass and impair the view.
Tip: Headaches and signs of fatigue in the eyes can often be attributed to scratched glasses.
The light scatter caused by microscratches is particularly noticeable at night. This can even be dangerous when driving. Scratches on the glasses are particularly noticeable in the dark. If you look into a light source, you will perceive a radiant light ring.
General instructions to remove scratches on reading glasses and sunglasses
Before we go into the individual home remedies , some general information should serve to recognize the possibilities and limits of this method. The first thing to do is to differentiate between real glasses and plastic glasses. While scratches can be laminated quite well on plastic glasses, even experts have problems in dealing with scratches on real glass.
Tip: Ask the optician whether they offer polishing of the lenses. This service is often free of charge for regular customers.
The following methods can be tried out for plastic glasses. The glasses must be cleaned thoroughly beforehand. Only then will it become clear how deep the scratches are.
Attention: In the event of serious damage to the lens, professional repairs should not be delayed. Protecting eyes and eyesight is a priority.
Lenses made of glass vs plastic
When removing scratches, differences in the material of the glasses must be made.
| Glass | Plastic |
|---|---|
| Scratches cannot be treated with simple home remedies. Special funds should be obtained from the optician. | Home remedies can be tried. Proceed carefully. The agents should be applied with a soft cloth and without exertion. Pay attention to special coatings. |
Remove scratches on reading glasses and sunglasses with household remedies
Toothpaste
Small scratches can be concealed by applying toothpaste. Use a mild toothpaste without aggressive cleaning agents. This could further damage the lenses.
The toothpaste is carefully applied with a soft microfiber cloth. Do not polish too often. The outer protective layers such as the lotus layer or anti-reflective coating are removed.
Tip: The protective layers on the glasses are wafer-thin and only make up five percent of the thickness of human hair.
Anyone who tries too often to use toothpaste to combat scratches on glasses must expect the glasses to take on a milky structure over time.
Baby oil
Baby oil can also be recommended to make the scratches less visible. The mild oil can also be applied more frequently. It settles in the small depressions and the scratch is no longer visible. Here too, a soft and clean cloth should be used.
Tip: Even with furniture polish, scratches on glasses can disappear.
Silver polish
Sunglasses are often scratched. They are often discarded and come into contact with sand and dirt. Silver polish can be used for scratches on mirrored sunglasses. The scratches are no longer visible after a single application.
Baking powder
Those who have not had any success with the above-mentioned home remedies can try this trick. Baking soda is mixed with water until a solid mass is formed. The mixture is carefully applied with your fingers in a circular motion. Too much pressure should not be applied. Excess baking powder is removed with a soft microfiber cloth.
Caring for your glasses correctly – preventing scratches
Cleaning glasses with the shirt sleeve, a paper handkerchief – whether used or unused – or any other tangible object should not be done. The sensitive glasses are preferably cleaned with a soft microfiber cloth. It is advisable to rinse off coarse dirt before cleaning. Heavily soiled glasses can also be cleaned with water to which a few splashes of detergent have been added.
Glasses must be kept in an appropriate case. Glasses are never placed on the glasses or stored together with other objects. This can quickly lead to scratches.
I recently got an ultrasound bath to clean my glasses . The dirt particles are gently loosened by the vibrations of the ultrasound device. Then I just have to gently pat the glasses dry with a microfiber cloth.
Tip: Appropriate devices can be obtained very cheaply and are also suitable for cleaning watches, chains, CDs or dentures.
