Eye glasses care

Take a few minutes each day to follow these simple care tips - they'll prolong the life of your eyeglasses.

Inspect

Check your eyeglasses frequently for signs of wear. If a hinge screw is loose, visit your optician to have it tightened. Or purchase a small, precision screwdriver and do it yourself.

Carefully check the alignment of your eyeglasses while standing in front of a mirror. If they seem misaligned, return to your optician for a frame adjustment. Inspect the lenses frequently for scratches. Some eyeglasses include a 1-year warranty against lens scratches. Ask your optician for details. If scratches are a constant problem, consider purchasing eyewear with glass lenses - glass is the most scratch-resistant lens material available.

Clean

Clean your eyeglasses frequently as follows: begin by rinsing them under lukewarm tap water. This will flush away any dust or grit that could cause scratches.

Rub a few drops of lotion-free dishwashing liquid (e.g. Dawn (r)) between your thumb and forefinger; then gently rub both sides of the lenses and all parts of the frame. Clean the entire frame thoroughly to remove skin oils that can damage its finish. Rinse with lukewarm water and dry with a clean, lint-free cotton towel. For touch-up lens cleaning when soap and water is not available, use a micro fiber lens cleaning cloth (available at most optical shops).

Protect

Keep your eyeglasses in a protective case when you're not wearing them. If you've lost your case, purchase a replacement at an optical store. Always use both hands to remove your eyeglasses. If your case isn't around, leave the temples open and place your eyeglasses upside down (resting on the top of the eye wire and temples) on a flat surface in a safe place.

Other care tips

Rinse and clean perspiration from your eyeglasses as soon as possible. Sweat and skin oils can damage frame finishes and lens coatings.

If you use hair spray, apply it before putting on your eyeglasses. If this isn't possible, shield the lenses with your hand to avoid spraying them. Hair spray can damage expensive lens coatings.

Avoid using fabric softener on the towels you use for cleaning your eyeglasses. Fabric softener leaves a residue that will smear your lenses. Following these care tips will keep your eyewear in great shape for years. But don't rely on just one pair of eyeglasses.

Different activities call for different styles of eyewear. And having more than one pair of eyeglasses will guarantee that you have a back-up in case your favorite glasses get damaged.