How to Maintain Eyeglasses

Co-authored by David Felsted, DO

Last Updated: October 4, 2024 Approved

Eyeglasses can be a pain to care for, what with smears, smudges, fingerprints, fogging... Ever wonder how to keep them in good repair so they'll last until your next eye exam? Want to be able to see through them without the smudges? Read on.

1

Take your glasses off with two hands.

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This keeps the earpieces straight and in the right alignment. Taking them off one-handed stretches them out and makes them loose.^{[1]
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2

Don’t put your glasses on the top of your head.

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Putting them on the top of your head can distort the shape, and there's a greater chance of them falling off and getting damaged that way.^{[2]
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3

Don’t push wire-framed glasses up by the nosepiece.

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Pushing wire-framed glasses up by the nosepiece causes stress on the nose pads and can wear the finish off of the center part of the frame. Instead, grasp the lenses by putting your thumb at the bottom and fingers at the top, and then move them to where you want them to sit on your face.^{[3]
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4

Clean them with a microfiber cloth.

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Gently rub the lenses until there are no smudges. Purchase a microfiber optical cleaning cloth, which are generally available at optometrists, chemists, and supermarkets for a few dollars. Hold your glasses firmly in one hand.^{[4]
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Expert Source

David Felsted, DO
Comprehensive Ophthalmologist

Expert Interview. 12 August 2021.} Rinse the glasses with clean water to remove any dust or dirt particles. Take the cloth in your preferred hand and gently rub both sides of each lens until you can see no smudges. Breathe on them gently so that you can see any spots you missed in the fog, and wipe them quickly, before it evaporates. Never use the following:^{[5]
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- Clothing—dirt trapped in the fibers can scratch the lenses
- Paper towels or tissues—these fibers scratch lenses
- A dirty microfiber cloth—when you're not using the microfiber cloth, put it in the eyeglass case; if it collects dust, it'll scratch the lenses, rather than clean them

5

Dissolve spots with a prepared solution.

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Still not happy? Buy some glasses lens cleaning spray, available from the same places as microfiber cleaning cloths. Spray a small amount on both sides of each lens, and repeat the steps above.^{[6]
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Expert Source

David Felsted, DO
Comprehensive Ophthalmologist

Expert Interview. 12 August 2021.}^{[7]
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Research source}

6

Buy an eyeglass repair kit.

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These are available at the counter of some markets, major drugstores, eyeglass vendors, and optometrists' offices. Sometimes, the screws that hold the arms on can come loose, which prevents the arm from 'gripping' the sides of your head as well. Either get a tiny screwdriver and tighten them yourself, or visit your optometrist and have them do it for you.

7

Have your glasses adjusted once or twice per year.

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If you go back to where you got them every six months to one year, they will most likely adjust your glasses free of charge. The optical technician will examine them for wear and tear, tighten any loose screws, check the fit again, and make them just like new. Any replacement parts needed are usually supplied for free, too, or for a nominal charge. Often, any optical dispensing place will do this for free whether you bought them there or not.

8

Store your glasses in a case.

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Get a free case from your optician, or buy one yourself. When you take your glasses off, put them in the case to keep them from getting scratched.^{[8]
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Expert Source

David Felsted, DO
Comprehensive Ophthalmologist

Expert Interview. 12 August 2021.} The best cases are the ones that open and close, rather than the ones you slide the glasses into. Even the act of slipping them in can rub against the lenses and cause minute scratches, which your eyes perceive as haze. Any particles, scratches, or tiny hairline fissures will make it harder for you to see perfectly through your glasses, especially at night or in darkened rooms (light will travel along those scratches, creating halos and prisms). If you aren't putting them in a case, at least make sure the lenses are up, away from any surfaces.

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Question

What should you not do with glasses?

David Felsted, DO
Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
Dr. David Felsted is a Comprehensive Ophthalmologist based in Flagstaff, Arizona. He specializes in cataract and refractive surgery, micro-invasive glaucoma surgery, ophthalmic lasers, dry eye disease, diabetic retinopathy, and ocular trauma. Dr. Felsted holds a BS in Accounting from Brigham Young University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Midwestern University. He completed his Ophthalmic residency at The Medical College of Georgia.

David Felsted, DO

Comprehensive Ophthalmologist

Expert Answer

Don't wipe off your glasses with any fabric except a microfiber-approved cleaning. Most high-end optics have a special coating on the lens, and other fabrics can scratch this surface.

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Question

What is the best way to clean eyeglasses?

David Felsted, DO
Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
Dr. David Felsted is a Comprehensive Ophthalmologist based in Flagstaff, Arizona. He specializes in cataract and refractive surgery, micro-invasive glaucoma surgery, ophthalmic lasers, dry eye disease, diabetic retinopathy, and ocular trauma. Dr. Felsted holds a BS in Accounting from Brigham Young University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Midwestern University. He completed his Ophthalmic residency at The Medical College of Georgia.

David Felsted, DO

Comprehensive Ophthalmologist

Expert Answer

Clean your glasses off with an approved lens spray and a microfiber cleaning cloth.

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Question

Where do you put glasses when not wearing them?

David Felsted, DO
Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
Dr. David Felsted is a Comprehensive Ophthalmologist based in Flagstaff, Arizona. He specializes in cataract and refractive surgery, micro-invasive glaucoma surgery, ophthalmic lasers, dry eye disease, diabetic retinopathy, and ocular trauma. Dr. Felsted holds a BS in Accounting from Brigham Young University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Midwestern University. He completed his Ophthalmic residency at The Medical College of Georgia.

David Felsted, DO

Comprehensive Ophthalmologist

Expert Answer

Always keep your glasses in a padded case when you're not wearing them. For convenience, wrap your microfiber cleaning cloth around your glasses before sliding them into your case.

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Tips

Take off your glasses before you spritz hairspray, perfume, or cologne. Not only can it damage the lenses, but it can also dirty the lenses and nose pads.

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Don't leave your glasses anywhere that you could step on them.

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Don't sleep with them!

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Warnings

Never leave your glasses on the dashboard of your car, or anywhere else that will subject them to heat, which can damage coatings, or if your glasses frames are plastic, actually melt and disfigure the frame.

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Avoid using lanyards to hold your glasses when you don't want to wear them. Hanging around your neck is not a very safe place for them, and they are subject to a lot of contact with stuff there (they are easily scratched).

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Take care not to over-tighten the arm screws. On some full frame glasses, over-tightening can strain the frame and cause the lenses to pop out.

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Things You'll Need

Eyeglass cloth (microfiber)
Eyeglass solution (look for one without any ammonia, so it won't damage any coatings on your lenses, such as anti-glare, Scotch-guard, or anti-reflection)
Eyeglass case
Eyeglass repair kit
An Optician you can trust