We’ve all been there. From one glasses wearer to another, I know your trouble. There are fewer things in life more annoying than the pesky distraction of a scratched lens.  It may only be small, it may only be minor but one little scratch can cause big problems.

Especially when it’s right in your eye line or when it detracts you from concentrating on the task at hand. Even worse, is when it obstructs your vision at a crucial moment in time, like when you’re trying to parallel park under pressure or when you’re trying to make out whether it’s your ex who has just walked into the pub so you can dash off out the back door.

Whatever it is that makes life hard with a scratched lens, we have the solutions. That’s right ladies and gents, here are 5 must-know life hacks to help you fix those scratches in a jiffy! So you can park your car and avoid your ex much more efficiently…

Hack #1 – Toothpaste 

emove scratch from glasses

This is a great hack because everyone has toothpaste, so you can eliminate the problem of scratches conveniently whenever you need. Simply apply a small amount of non-abrasive toothpaste to some cotton wool and slowly buff away the scratch. Toothpaste is a quick and easy hack for minor scratches so if you have a deeper scratch, you may need to repeat this process quite a few times.

Abrasiveness is measured by RDA (Radioactive Dentin Abrasiveness) and anything below 70-80 is considered to be low. The best way to find a low abrasive toothpaste is to avoid any advanced products such as whitening or plaque removal. Some suitable toothpaste products to try include Arm & Hammer Dental Care Sensitive (48 RDA), Weleda Children’s Tooth Gel (45 RDA), Rembrandt Mint (63 RDA), Colgate 2-in-1 Fresh Mint (70 RDA), Colgate Sensitive Max Strength(83 RDA), Colgate Total (70 RDA), Colgate Regular (68 RDA), and Sensodyne (79 RDA).

Hack #2 – Baking Soda

how to remove scratches from lenses

If you’re not sure whether your toothpaste is non-abrasive, it’s best to avoid using it altogether – you don’t want to damage your glasses! The good news is that baking soda does the same trick and it’s another handy household item that you’ll easily find around the house.

If you’re not a keen baker, you don’t even have to head out to the supermarket as it can be picked up from most corner shops. And with an abrasion rating of just 7 RDA, it’s a very safe product to test on your lenses. To use baking soda on your specs, simply add water to create a paste and use a scratch-free cloth to rub into your lenses. Wash off and repeat if necessary.

Hack #3 – Metal Polish 

This handy video shows us how to polish your glasses lenses using two cheap and convenient household products, metal polish and rubbing alcohol.

Choose a low abrasive metal polish and use it to buff away at each scratch. Remember that it will take a while to polish out the product, so keep persevering! Use a cotton bud to apply rubbing alcohol after you’ve finished to give it a thorough clean.

Hack #4 – Car Cleaning Wax

remove scratch from glasses

Car wax is another product to try if you have scratches on your lenses and need a quick fix! The wax should be worked into your lenses and it will help to “fill out” and smooth over any marks.

Hack #5– Glass Etching Cream 

remove scratch from glasses

If none of the above household items work then try using a glass etching product. This is only effective on plastic lenses, which is most common these days with prescription glasses and reading glasses. Glass etching creams contain an active ingredient, Hydrofluoric Acid which helps to remove the outer coating on the plastic and will buff away at the scratch. Do not use this on glass lenses.

Please Note: Whilst these hacks are life saving tips for a super quick fix, we do advise that you use these products at your own risk. If in doubt, ask your optician / glasses manufacturer for advice. 

By james

One thought on “5 Life Hacks You Have to Know for Fixing Scratched Lenses!”
  1. I tried #3 metal polish (Brasso) on some old glasses (circa 1985), and they looked like they’d been scuffed with sandpaper, totally ruined. I next tried #2 baking soda and #4 car wax to no visible effect. #1 toothpaste (the white kind) softened the edges of the scratches for a slight improvement.

    Then I went to Zenni Optical and ordered new glasses. Seven dollars a pair plus five for the optional AR coating. Got two pairs — my prescription for driving and +1.0 diopter (with a different frame color) for reading. Sweet!

    My prescription is 3.5 years old, but it’s still good because I can see stars as sharp points of light on a black background. There is no more severe test of eyesight than that. If stars appear stretched or fuzzy, you need a new prescription.

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