The Proper Way to Wash Eye Glasses
The only thing harder than finding your eyeglasses is getting the lenses clean without scratching them. Different types of lenses require different handling because what works on plastic or trivex might not work on polycarbonate or glass. There are also different types of tints and coatings, so--except for the hot breath and tail-of-the-shirt method we all fall back on--there is no one proper way to clean all eyeglass lenses. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
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Kleenex and Glass Cleaner
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According to the Kleenex website: "While we know that many consumers use Kleenex tissue to wipe or clean their lenses, we have not tested Kleenex tissue for this purpose; therefore, we cannot recommend it. We suggest that consumers check with their lens care providers for the best method of cleaning their lenses." Glass cleaners like Windex would work fine if all eyeglass lenses were made of glass, but they are not. Most glass cleaners contain ammonia and this can damage non-glare coatings.
Glass Lenses
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Glass lenses are thick and heavy in certain prescriptions. They are very dangerous if broken, especially in a child's eyeglasses. Also, glass lenses will not work with certain styles of eyeglass frames.
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Other Lens Materials
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There are many different types of lenses, but the most popular are plastic, hi-index plastic, polycarbonate, trivex and glass. The best way to tell which kind you have is to ask your optician.
Lens Cleaner
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The little spray bottles of lens cleaner usually contain water, mild soap and small amount of alcohol. It's fine for cleaning all types of lenses, but it can be expensive and not everyone remembers to carry it with them.
Proper Method
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There are several effective ways to clean eyeglass lenses. A micro-fiber wipe available at your optician's office or drugstore is a good way to clean glass lenses and those with non-scratch coatings. As for other types of lenses, the cloth itself is guaranteed not to scratch, but if tiny debris is trapped in the weave you could end up with scratched lenses. The best way to clean most eyeglass lenses is simple soap and water. Run your eyeglasses under warm or cool water because hot water can cause some coatings to crack. Rub a little dish soap on both sides of the lenses with clean fingertips. Rinse thoroughly. Some lenses are water resistant, so you can gently shake them dry. If your lenses are not water-resistant, wipe any spots with a clean micro-fiber cloth to dry them.
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References
- Photo Credit Origami_commissar and stanleyhp - Photobucket
