Caring for Your New Glasses

You’ve recently purchased the perfect pair of glasses to fit your face and vision needs. Our knowledgeable optometrists, Mital Patel, OD, Mark Machen, OD, and Ashley Swalla, OD, at Classic Vision Care in Kennesaw and Marietta, Georgia, offer some tips to keep them, and subsequently your vision, in the best shape possible.

Cleaning is believing

The most important thing you can do to extend the life of your glasses is clean them properly. We recommend cleaning them at least once a day, so your eyes don’t have to strain looking through dust and stains. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Run your glasses under lukewarm, not hot, water.
2. Gently rub a drop of liquid soap or lotion-free eyeglass cleaner on both sides.
3. Rinse and dry them with a smooth cotton or microfiber cloth.

Voilà! The cleaner your glasses, the better you’ll see.

What to avoid when cleaning your glasses

Dr. Patel and our team recommend avoiding certain materials, such as tissues, shirts or other pieces of clothing, that may scratch your lens surface.

You should also avoid:

• Acetone, which can destroy your lenses
• Saliva, which spreads germs
• Paper towels, which can leave scratches

If you like, we can professionally clean your glasses at our office.

Store your glasses properly

How you store your glasses is just as important as the way you clean them. Our first choice is a hard, hinged eyeglass case. You can also use a soft case. We suggest placing your glasses lens side up in a safe case whenever you’re not wearing them. Always keep a spare case, as well. And keep them away from direct heat, such as a window or on the dashboard of your car where the sun can damage them.

The ABCs of lens care

Plastic lenses continue to grow in popularity. While they are, in many ways, sturdier than glass, they are also more vulnerable to scratches. Follow our tips to keep your glasses looking lovely longer.

• Add scratch-resistant coating to new lenses. These will only work before they get scratched.

• Beware of cleaning your glasses with bleach, vinegar, window cleaner, or ammonia, which can harm lenses and their anti-reflective coatings.

• Cosmetics, perfume, or other chemicals can damage their coating, so keep your glasses away from sinks and bathroom vanities.

• Don’t put them atop your head when not in use, as this may stretch out the frames.

• Ease them on and off with both hands to avoid damaging the frame. 

• Forget about using baking soda or toothpaste to remove scratches, which could make things worse.

Should scratches and other marks begin to affect your vision or cause headaches, give us a call. It may be time for a new pair. If you’re looking to get fitted for new glasses, schedule a checkup or purchase contacts, simply call or book an appointment online with Classic Vision Care today.