A lens with an anti-reflective or blue light coating has several very thin layers on its surface. They clean up very well — as long as you don't rub them with just anything. Here's the method, and what to stop doing.
The 4-step method
- Rinse with lukewarm water. It removes the dust and grit that scratch the lens when rubbed dry. No hot water: it can damage the coatings.
- A drop of mild soap (washing-up liquid without moisturiser, or hand soap) on your fingertips, and gently rub the lenses, nose pads and hinges.
- Rinse again, then shake gently.
- Dry with a clean microfibre cloth. The one in the case, washed from time to time in the machine without fabric softener.
The 5 mistakes that scratch or dull your lenses
- The T-shirt, the towel, the paper towel. The fibres hold hard particles. A single wipe can leave a micro-scratch.
- Breathing on them and wiping dry. Without water, you're rubbing dust against the lens.
- Household products (glass cleaner, surgical spirit, ammonia): they attack the coating layers. A glasses spray or mild soap, nothing else.
- The car in full sun. The heat behind a windscreen exceeds 60 °C: coatings can crack and the frame can warp.
- Putting your glasses down lenses first. Always with the temples folded and the lenses facing up — or in the case.
The case, really
Every SAY pair comes with its case. It's not just for travel: in a bag, a lens rubs against keys, coins, a zip. Ten seconds to put them away, months of clear lenses.
The frame
A lightweight frame warps if you take it off with one hand by pulling on a temple. Hold both temples and pull straight forward. If a temple loosens, a mini precision screwdriver is enough; if it's bent, an optician will straighten it in a minute, often for free.
Fog, rain, sweat
Three situations where we rub out of reflex — and shouldn't.
- Fog when you come in from the cold: wait ten seconds for it to evaporate on its own. Wiping it dry means rubbing dust on a damp lens.
- Rain: dab with the microfibre cloth, without rubbing, then let it dry. Rainwater leaves marks but doesn't scratch; a dirty cloth does.
- Sweat and sport: rinse with clean water the same evening. The salt in sweat attacks metal hinges and leaves a film on the lenses.
What to do about a scratch?
Nothing, unfortunately — and certainly not what you read online. Toothpaste, baking soda or car polish don't remove a scratch: they wear away the coating around it and turn a thin line into a blurry patch. A coated lens can't be re-polished. A scratch at the edge can be tolerated; in the centre of your field of vision, it's distracting and tiring: time for a new pair.
The pocket kit
Three items that fit in a pouch and prevent 90% of the damage: a clean microfibre cloth (washed every two weeks), a small glasses-cleaning spray for days without a sink, and a precision screwdriver to tighten a temple before it bends. The case provided does the rest.
When to replace them?
A lens scratched in the centre hampers your vision and tires your eyes: it's time. The same goes for a frame that no longer holds. If you're unsure about your next shape, our guide to shapes will help.
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