There's nothing more annoying than wearing glasses and realizing that you still can't see clearly because the lenses are covered in scratches. If you have glasses with plastic lenses, you may still be able to repair minor scratches quickly and cheaply using common household products. Use one of the following methods to try repairing your own plastic lenses.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Removing Light Scratches from Glasses
Step 1. Clean the surface of the lens to determine the exact location of the scratches
Be sure to use a special eyeglass cleaner and a microfiber cloth. You can get this equipment at any optician or optician. In fact, this equipment may be given away for free if you ever buy glasses there.
Step 2. Apply streak cleaner to the lens surface
There are various types of products that can be used to remove scratches on eyeglass lenses. Start by applying nonabrasive toothpaste to the surface of the lens. Rub the toothpaste onto the lens surface in a circular motion and rinse with cold water. If the scratch is deep enough, you may need to repeat this step a few times.
If you don't have a non-abrasive toothpaste on hand, you can make a paste out of baking soda and water. Put the baking soda in a bowl and mix in a little water until it forms a thick paste. Rub the paste in the same way as toothpaste, and rinse when you feel that the streaks have disappeared
Step 3. Wipe off the remaining scratch cleaner
If you can't remove everything with a washcloth or cotton ball, rinse the lens in cold water and wipe dry with a soft cloth.
Step 4. Try a different cleaning agent if toothpaste or baking soda doesn't work
Try dabbing a brass or silver polish with a soft cloth. Rub this polish around the glasses and wipe off any residue with a soft, clean cloth. Repeat until the scratch is gone.
Be careful not to touch the frame of the glasses when using a cleaning agent like this. Try not to touch it to the frame of the glasses because the effect that will occur if the cleaning agent touches the frame is unknown
Step 5. Apply lens filler if the scratches don't go away
If there are still scratches on the surface of the plastic lenses, you can apply a product that will temporarily fill these scratches with wax. Simply rub this product onto the lens surface using a microfiber cloth. Scrub in a circular motion, and then wipe off the residue with the clean side of the cloth. This will allow you to see clearly through your glasses, but should be repeated every week.
The two types of products that are best suited for this step are products made to polish your car, such as Turtle Wax, and furniture polishes that contain wax, such as Lemon Pledge
Step 6. Put your glasses back on
You should be able to see much better now through the recently repaired lens.
Method 2 of 2: Removing the Scratched Lens Coat
Step 1. Make sure that your lens is made of plastic, not glass
This method can ONLY be used on plastic lenses as it can cause permanent damage to the glass lenses. This method is also the last resort you can do to repair plastic lenses because it will remove all of your plastic lens coating. Once the entire lens coating is gone, your lenses will no longer have any protection and become more susceptible to major scratches later on.
Only do this if you are okay with removing the anti-reflective or scratch-resistant coating from your glasses. Often, what's causing you to have trouble seeing through your eyeglass lenses is a scratch on this coating, so lifting it will allow you to see clearly through your glasses once again. You should only do this as a last resort before you give up and buy new glasses
Step 2. Clean the surface of your plastic lens as usual
Use a cleaning agent made for cleaning glasses and a microfiber cloth. Cleaning the surface of your lens allows you to clearly see how big the scratch is on your lens.
Step 3. Purchase an etching polish made for crafts from glass
You can buy it at a craft or hobby store.
- Glass etching compounds contain hydrofluoric acid, an acid that will destroy almost anything but plastic. When you apply it to your lenses, this acid will destroy the entire coating, but will keep the plastic lenses intact.
- You will also need rubber gloves when using this material. So, buy these gloves if you don't have them yet.
Step 4. Put on gloves before applying the etching polish to the plastic lenses, and remove the lenses from the glasses
You will also need to provide a small plastic case to hold the lens in while it is coated with the etching rub. Make sure that the containers you use will not be reused for food afterward.
Step 5. Apply the etching polish to the lens with a cloth or cotton ball
Then put the lens in a plastic case and let it sit for a few minutes.
Step 6. Wipe off the etching scouring residue with a soft cloth or cotton ball
Rinse the lens with cold water. Throw all materials that come into contact with the etching polisher (except your lenses of course) in the trash.
Step 7. Reattach the lenses to the eyeglass frames, and put on your glasses
Even if your glasses no longer have a reflective or scratch-resistant coating, you should be able to see more clearly through them.
Warning
Be careful! If your lens has a non-reflective coating, all of these methods may permanently damage the lens
Tips
- You can also purchase plastic polish, but be aware that this product is not made to clean your plastic lenses. This product may also peel off the coating from your lenses but doesn't guarantee it won't scratch the plastic either.
- If your plastic glasses are constantly scratching, consider adding a protective clear layer when buying glasses. However, this layer can also be scratched. The best defense against scratches is to gently hold your glasses and place them in the case when not in use.
- Before trying any of the methods above, make sure that your glasses are not dirty. Rinse the plastic lenses of the glasses with warm soapy water to get rid of all the dirt stuck to the scratches.
- Take your glasses to a professional eyeglass repairer if the scratches don't go away. Optometrists and opticians should have equipment that can be used to resurface your lenses.
- If you take your glasses back to where they were originally purchased, they may refinish your glasses for free.
- If the anti-reflective coating on your sunglasses starts to peel, try applying 45 SF sunscreen to the surface with a clean cloth. This should completely remove the anti-reflective coating so you can see clearly through the glasses again.
