Buzz
Anyone who wears glasses will notice scratches gradually appearing on the lenses, which can impair vision. With a bit of effort, you can effectively repair these scratches. Depending on the severity of the scratches, you might even avoid the expense of buying new lenses.
Steps
Fixing Very Minor Scratches
Apply liquid to the lenses. You can submerge the lenses in water for about a minute or use a specialized eyeglass cleaning solution. Regular glass cleaner can also be quite effective.
- Avoid using corrosive or highly acidic chemicals at this stage (this method will be introduced later). Most lenses have a protective coating. Cleaning the lenses essentially involves cleaning this outer layer. When fixing scratches, you’ll remove a small portion of this coating, so it’s best to minimize removal during the initial steps.
Find a soft, smooth cloth specifically designed for cleaning glasses. Use this cloth to clean the lenses. Avoid using rough materials to prevent damaging the protective coating at this stage.
- Using a fine cloth is essential because its ultra-fine fibers, even if they create new scratches, will be too small to be visible to the naked eye.
Wipe the lenses from one side to the other using the cloth. Avoid circular or swirling motions, as this can spread dirt and leave residue on the lenses.
Fixing Deeper Scratches with Toothpaste
Apply toothpaste to the scratched lenses. Toothpaste contains micro-abrasive particles that can polish and wear down the protective layer.
Use a soft cloth to evenly spread the toothpaste over the lenses. Again, avoid rough fabrics, as they can cause additional scratches.
Rub the toothpaste across the lenses from one side to the other. Avoid circular motions to prevent leaving swirl marks on the lenses.
- The abrasive particles in toothpaste will wear down the lenses more aggressively than using a soft cloth. Over-rubbing in one spot can puncture the protective coating and damage the underlying lens.
Rinse off the toothpaste. You can use warm water, eyeglass cleaner, or a combination of both.
Wipe the lenses again with a soft cloth. This step ensures the removal of any remaining fingerprints or toothpaste residue.
Fixing Extremely Severe Scratches with Glass Etching Cream
Gather the necessary materials. Typically, glass etching involves using a relatively strong acid to engrave or burn designs onto glass. For scratch repair, this acid will be used to burn away the outer protective layer of the lenses. You will need the following items:
- Glass etching cream. Armor Etch is a well-known brand, but you can choose products from other manufacturers as well.
- High-quality rubber gloves to protect your hands.
- Cotton swabs or other tools to apply the etching cream.
Use a cotton swab to apply the glass etching cream to the lenses. Avoid rubbing; instead, gently spread the cream over the surface. Since the acid in the etching cream is strong, work quickly and use just enough to cover the lenses.
Leave the etching cream on the lenses for no more than 5 minutes. The cream contains strong acid, and prolonged exposure can damage the lenses.
Thoroughly rinse off the etching cream. Use water unless the instructions specify another cleaning agent. Rinse carefully to ensure no residue remains.
Dry the lenses with a soft cloth. Use gentle horizontal motions to wipe and dry the lenses.
Warnings
- The methods mentioned above are only applicable to plastic lenses with an outer protective coating. While most modern glasses have this coating, older models may not be repairable using these techniques.
- Regardless of the method you choose, proceed with caution. Glasses are a significant investment, so make sure your decision is well-informed!
- Keep in mind that any scratch repair method will slightly wear away the protective coating on the lenses.
