One of the most asked questions by patients to opticians is, “Can scratches be removed from my lenses?”

A majority of eyeglass lenses are made of plastic. It is possible to polish plastic, so it seems likely that scratches could be polished away.  Unfortunately, attempting to polish away scratches will introduce changes to the subtle curves that make up your prescription, and can ruin their ability to correct your eyesight.

The best advice is to make sure your lenses have a high quality scratch-resistant coating.  Scratch-resistant coatings protect against many things that cause scratching.  However, even the highest quality coatings are not “scratch proof”, so you still must take proper care of your lenses.

We suggest that you never attempt to clean your lenses while they are dry.  Always clean lenses under warm running water as this washes away the dust and debris that can easily cause scratches.  Never use cleaners that contain chemicals such as ammonia.  If you must use a detergent, use a mild dish washing soap.  When you are certain that your lenses are dust and debris free, wipe dry with a clean micro-fiber cloth.

High quality lenses, properly cared for, will remain relatively free of scratches for the life of your prescription.

Visit www.sharpglasses.com for a wide selection of quality frames and lenses.