The trade group Vision Council said that almost 50% of Americans wear corrective glasses. Most of these people clean their eyeglasses by exhaling onto the lenses and then wiping the fog clean with the sleeve of their shirt. However, experts said that it is not the right way to clean eyeglasses because it can cause scratches on the lenses.
People should know the proper ways of cleaning and care for their eyeglasses to not damage it. Optometrist Dr Jonathan Wolfe said that a quick eyeglass cleaning should be part of the eye care routine of people who wear them.
Dirt and grease could make them foggy so it would be hard to see and can give headaches. Besides, unclean eyeglasses breed bacteria that could cause eye infections. So, here are some ways to clean it and the things you should do and should not do to care for them.
Eight steps to clean eyeglasses
Eyeglasses are usually cleaned using microfiber that comes free when you purchase the eyeglasses and a cleaning solution which is a spray that cleans the lenses; just make sure that it is not harmful to the coating.
But an alternative to using the cleaning solution is by washing them with lukewarm water. Here are eight tips to properly clean eyeglasses not to cause any damage to the lens and to maintain them, according to All About Vision.
First, make sure that your hands are clean by washing them thoroughly. This will make sure that your hands are free from dirt, grime, lotion, and other foreign elements that could be transferred to the lenses.
Second, use lukewarm water in rinsing your eyeglasses to remove dust and other debris and to avoid scratches. Makes sure it is not hot, or it will damage the coating of the lenses.
Third, apply a drop of each side on the lenses of lotion-free dishwashing soap on the lenses to wash away the dirt and grime.
Fourth, gently rub both sides of the lenses and all parts of the frame. Make sure to include the area where the edges meet the frame as dust and grime frequently accumulate there.
Fifth, rinse your eyeglasses thoroughly, remove all traces of soap as it can smear the glasses when you dry them. Then the sixth step is to gently shake the glasses to remove the water and inspect each lens that they are thoroughly cleaned.
Seventh, Carefully dry the lenses and use a microfiber cloth to wipe them. Make sure it is clean, or the debris and dirt could get on the lenses and scratch it. Lastly, inspect the lenses again for any streaks or smudges by removing them using a microfiber.
Read Also: 5 Ways You Might Be Ruining Your Vision
Don'ts in cleaning eyeglasses
According to Healthline, using paper towels, tissues, and shirt fabric in cleaning your eyeglasses can scratch the lens and may leave dirt. Those materials are too coarse that cause minor scratches that in due time blurs the clarity of the lenses.
Moreover, do not use a nail polish remover to clean the lenses and frames as acetone is found to be destructive to both lenses and frames.
Also, saliva does not clean the eyeglasses, so do not use it to lubricate the lens; it might even worsen the smudge. It is also not a good idea to cover your lenses with the germs coming from your mouth.
Check out for more news and information on Vision on Science Times.
