Dirty Eyeglasses are More Than a Nuisance
Many eyeglass wearers have done it: taken our glasses off and wondered how we can even see through them. They're dirty, smudged, and foggy. Sometimes it seems like no matter how much you clean eyeglasses, they’re still full of fingerprints and smudges. Dirty eyeglasses are more than just annoying, though. Trying to focus through unclean lenses can create headaches and eye strain. The problem is that most of us aren’t cleaning our glasses the right way. So let's look at what "the right way" means.
Why It’s Important to Clean Your Glasse
No one can see through their glasses lenses when they’re full of fingerprints, oil, smudges and other crud that makes it difficult to see. In addition to being an annoyance, looking through dirty glasses can also cause headaches and eye strain. This is why it’s important to make eyeglass cleaning a part of a daily routine.
The Wrong Ways to Clean Glasses
There are a few wrong but common ways to clean eyeglasses. So here's what not to do: Don't use a t-shirt, tissues or paper towels, these just aren’t effective. They will only smear any oils, debris or dust around on the lenses. This can do more harm than good, too since it can lead to lens scratches. Some may be tempted to try out household cleaners, but abrasive chemicals can remove lens coatings, such as anti-glare, making these things also a no-go.
How to Properly Clean Eyeglasses
There are a couple of ways to effectively clean lenses and leave them streak and smudge-free. One method is to use a lens-cleaning wipe or microfiber cloth and lens cleaner. These are available at most optometrists’ offices but can also be ordered online or picked up at some pharmacies. These gentle fabrics won’t scratch lenses. This is also a great solution for those who are always on the go. You can leave them in your car or at your work desk.
The second way to clean eyeglasses is a little more labor-intensive. To use this method, keep the following steps in mind:
- Wash your hands. This is to prevent the spread of germs to your eyeglasses but also to minimize grit and therefore scratches.
- Rinse lenses and frames with lukewarm water. If you have hard water, use distilled water instead.
- Apply a drop of liquid soap to the lenses and gently lather up. Avoid any soaps that contain moisturizers and/or little scrubby beads. Consider using Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap because it helps break down oils that may be present. (Another option is to use your lens cleaning solution in place of liquid soap).
- Rinse well. Soap residue left on the glasses could cause streaks when the glasses are dried.
- Use a microfiber cloth or lens cleaning cloth to dry the eyeglasses. These gentle materials will soak up the water without causing lens scratching.
Tip: Clean the nose pieces and arms of eyeglasses as well, since these parts do come into contact with skin and can carry bacteria and trap dirt against the skin.
Dirty eyeglasses can be a real pain — especially if you don't realize it until you sit down to watch a movie. Taking a few minutes out of the day to implement these easy cleaning methods can help prevent headaches and eye strain and reduce the risk of scratched lenses, but they also make movie watching more pleasurable. And really, in our world, that's pretty important.
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