How Do You Remove Super Glue From Eyeglass Lenses?

You can remove Super Glue from your eyeglasses without damaging the lenses.

Super Glue is a cyanoacrylate adhesive that dries fast and forms a bond without a catalyst. The glue is inexpensive and hard to remove from your hands, cloth and other materials. Removing Super Glue from eyeglass lenses and related hardware is a challenging task, especially if your lenses are made of plastic or contain a chemical coating. You don't want to use acetone to remove the glue because it may create a chemical reaction on the lenses.

Things You'll Need

• 2 soft, nonabrasive cloths or rags
• Latex gloves
• Nitromethane (de-bonders)
• Warm water

Instructions

1. Wipe your eyeglasses with a soft, nonabrasive cloth or rag to remove any loose dust and dirt. Wear latex gloves to keep fingerprints off of your eyeglasses.

2. Apply 1 tsp. of nitromethane (found in de-bonder products at hobby supply stores and chemical supply stores as well as online) to the soft cloth or rag.

3. Blot the Super Glue spot with the nitromethane-soaked cloth or rag.

4. Re-apply nitromethane, if needed, and continue blotting the spot until your eyeglass lenses are adhesive free.

5. Rinse the cloth or rag with warm water from a sink. Wring out excess water. Wipe your eyeglasses with the damp cloth to remove any nitromethane residue.

6. Dry your eyeglasses with a clean, nonabrasive cloth or rag.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also use nitromethane to remove Super Glue from your hands.

References

• Bob Vila: Frequently Asked Questions
• Instant Krazy Glue: FAQ

Resources

• All About Vision: Eyeglasses: Frequently Asked Questions