Options for your new specs

Great, I have a huge scratch on my glasses! 

By Amy Contizano, ABOC

“My lenses are all scratched up.  I wonder if the scratches can be buffed out.”

A very common question that patients have posed to me over the years.  No, scratches can’t be buffed out of lenses; doing so would actually change the prescription.  So what happens when your lenses are all scratched up?  The only solution here is to replace the lenses.  If you elected to coat your lenses with a non-glare coating, then chances are that you have at least a one year warranty allowing you to replace scratched lenses at no charge.  Aside from having an extended scratch warranty, a non-glare coating can eliminate glare while driving at night or while working on the computer or even from the overhead fluorescent lighting that is present in most offices.  What I do encounter as the most common complaint about the non-glare coating is how to keep lenses clean.

The best way to care for your lenses is by using a cleaning spray and a microfiber cleaning cloth.  If a cleaning spray isn't available, then at least rinse the lenses off with water.  The reason for this is that if there are any minute dust particles on the lenses and you just start wiping them, then it will rub the dust into the coating, scratching your lenses.  So you always want to rinse the lenses first to get everything off of them before wiping.  Another thing that people don’t realize is that fabric softeners and laundry detergents are harsh and can scratch lenses and coatings.  What does that mean?  Stop using your shirt to clean your glasses, haha!  Wood products will also scratch lenses so refrain from using tissue or paper towels to clean lenses.  Using harsh chemicals like Windex can not only scratch lenses but also strip coatings off.

Cleaning cloths are also reusable so when it starts to seem as though it’s no longer helping to clean your lenses, just hand wash it with a mild hand soap and let it air dry.  That way, you aren’t exposing it to laundry detergents and you don’t run the risk of shrinking the microfiber material in the dryer.  It shrinks up to the size of a postage stamp, definitely not useful any more!  Here at Global Laser Vision, we carry a specially formulated eyeglass cleaner available to you with a cleaning cloth for $6.95.  Use it all up?  No problem!  Bring us the empty bottle and we’d be more than happy to refill it for you.  Refills are only $5.    

For more information visit San Diego Lasik Center Global Laser Vision or call us at 

619-243-2444