Primer: How To Remove Scratches From Glasses

With all the coverage sleek new eyewear brands are garnering these days — often coinciding with the in-vogue, non-prescription style lenses and frames they’re pivoting towards — it’s becoming harder to harder to decipher the difference between those who truly require eyeglasses and those who are simply looking to upgrade their appearance. Trust us, the former are still out there — in spades — and odds are those who truly require eyeglasses on a day-to-day basis have experienced the omnipresent annoyance that comes with a scratched lens.

Be it by accident, natural causes, or even sheer negligence, scratched eyeglasses are a fact of life. Here, prescription eyewear faces unforgiving Murphy’s Law — where continued daily use and exposure opens them up to unlimited possibilities and environmental stimuli that could, inevitably, cause damage to their fragile composition. Luckily, when this happens, a new pair isn’t always the answer. In fact, there is a solution for repairing mild to moderate eyewear scratches right from your own home. Here’s how it’s done.

Just like any other home remedy, a certain aura of urban myths and wive’s tales surround the topic. Some, naturally, more reasonable than others. But, we do need to stress that there is no one-solution-fits-all remedy here due to the constantly evolving prescription lens market. So, before diving into our preferred solution — involving a little baking soda and water — let it be known these serve more as guidelines than actual imperatives.

1. Remove The Dirt: Prior to buffing out the scratches, ensure there are no particulates, dust, or dirt on the lens by either hitting them with a cleaning solution or taking a dry microfiber cloth to each lens. Not doing so might scratch the lenses further during the cleaning process.

2. Make The Cleaning Solution: Now that your lenses are primed, take 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda and slowly stir in some clean water until it forms a thick paste. This will act as your cleaning/buffing solution for each lens.

3. Time To Buff: Once the paste has formed, go ahead and spread some evenly over each lens and, using a microfiber cloth, apply minimal pressure as you rub the paste into each lens in a circular manner. Fragility is key here, but do keep in mind you’re buffing these scratches away.

4. Rinse And Dry: After buffing, give the pair a good, yet gentle, rinse under some water. Be sure to remove any remaining residue. Afterward, one final rinse and a diligent dry with a clean microfiber cloth should do the trick.

Respect your gear and it’ll return the favor. Words to live by no doubt. Does that mean your eyewear is impervious to damages? Of course not. But, if properly cared for they can last much longer than they would otherwise. So, how can you increase the longevity of your eyewear? Always keep them protected when not in use by keeping a carrying case with you at all times. Also, clean them up on a daily basis with a microfiber cloth from time to time. Additionally, and most importantly, understand there is a time and place for glasses as well as a time and place for contact lenses. Meaning, rowdy nights out on the town, extended backcountry excursions, afternoons on the slopes, or even a loud and rambunctious show might not be the best environment to sport your favorite pair of frames. Contacts exist for a reason – might as well use them when applicable. Needless to say, with some habitual mitigation and proper care, that pricy pair of glasses could very well last for many years to come.