Spectacle Care

Spectacle Care: How to Clean and Look After Your Glasses

So you have found your dream vintage frames, we've fitted them with fabulous prescription lenses, and they look amazing. With a little daily care, you can protect your eyewear, preserve the shape, and enjoy crystal- clear vision for years. What you need to do now is look after them, treat them with care and maximise their life expectancy.

Handle With Care

One of the most common habits that leads to frame damage is taking spectacles off with one hand. It might seem harmless, but it can cause undue stress to the frames, distorting the shape, and potentially damaging the frame. It's also advisable to discourage wear on top of your head, which particularly done with reading glasses and sunglasses. This too can alter the shape of the spectacles, often loosening them, causing them to slip down your nose.

  • Instead use both hands when removing or putting on your glasses. 
  • Avoid wearing them on top of your head 

A little mindfulness goes a long way in keeping your glasses perfectly aligned and conformable. 

When They're Not on Your Face, Keep Them in Their Case

It is strongly recommended that when not wearing your spectacles to store them safely in their case. Not only does this protect them from accidental knocks and scratches, but it also makes them easier to find (no more sitting on them on the sofa or fishing them out from the bottom of your bag). 

If you do need to sit them down briefly, place them lens-side up to avoid scratches.

And remember: spectacles don't like heat. Avoid leaving them on car dashboards, near radiators ore anywhere else that gets too warm. Heat can distort the acetate and damage any lens coatings. 

Keep Them Sparkling Clean

How to clean your glasses and sunglasses

 

Cleaning your spectacles should be part of a regular routine. Here's how to do it right:

  1. Rinse them with luke warm water to remove dust and debris.
  2. Add a small drop of mild hand soap, avoiding products which contain solvents or alcohol.
  3. Gently rub both sides of the frame with your fingers. 
  4. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean soft cloth - your Retro Spectacle microfibre cloth is perfect.

You may also wish to use a specialist lens cleaner designed for optical lenses.

💡 Top Tip: Use a soft toothbrush to help clean those hard-to-reach areas, especially around the nose pads where makeup and oils can build up. 

Please take care when cleaning frames with intricate detailing such as diamanté, hand painted frames or those made of special materials such as wood, leather or fabric.

And from years of experience in optical practice, we must say it:

🚫 Please don't clean your glasses with Windolene or put them in the dishwasher

Yes, it's been tried - and no, it doesn't end well!!