How to Clean Your Eyeglasses

Selecting the right frame and prescription lenses for your lifestyle and visual needs takes time and is a significant financial investment. Just like it is hard to see out of a dirty windshield, dirty lenses compromise the clarity of your vision. Taking proper care to clean your prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses to avoid scratching and otherwise compromising any coatings on your lenses will keep you seeing your best.

DO use a microfiber cloth to wipe away smudges.

Columbia Eye Clinic will provide a microfiber cleaning cloth and sample bottle of lens cleaner, safe for any lens and coating including anti-reflective, with your new glasses. We are also happy to provide free refills of the sample size lens cleaner to our patients. Microfiber cloths are also available at most drug stores and photography supply shops.

Microfiber cloths are lint-free, trap debris and dust and cut body oils to avoid smearing your lenses. Microfiber cloths should be hand-washed frequently with a lotion-free dish soap (like Dawn original) and allowed to air dry.

DON’T use your shirttail or other clothing to wipe your lenses. Abrasive fabrics can scratch your lenses.

DON’T use household cleaners on your lenses. Many glass and other surface cleaners contain ammonia and can damage your lenses and protective or anti-glare coatings.

DON’T use tissues, napkins, paper towels or toilet paper on your lenses. They can scratch your lenses and leave behind lint.

Rinse, soap, rub…

Your lenses and frames should be washed frequently. It is important to rinse your lenses first in warm water to wash away debris that can cause scratches. Using hot water can damage protective coatings on your lenses.

After the initial rinse, apply a drop or two of lotion-free dish soap directly to your lenses or fingertips and gently rub both sides of your lenses, nose pads and all parts of your frames, paying close attention to where the lens meets the frame and dirt and grime can build up.

Rinse your lenses thoroughly and dry with a clean lint-free towel that has not been laundered with fabric softener or dryer sheets (that can smear your lenses) or a microfiber cloth.