How do I remove scratches from my glasses?

How do you remove scratches from glasses? There is no magic formula to remove scratches from glasses or lenses, but there are tricks that help minimise their appearance without much effort. Scratches can be stressful, frustrating and even uncomfortable, as they can even prevent you from seeing clearly or cause discomfort such as headaches. It is a problem that affects many people: it is estimated that up to 30% of people who wear glasses have to deal with annoying scuffs or scratches.

However careful you are, lenses can end up scratched for many reasons, such as a moment of oversight or coming into contact with certain surfaces. We should also consider that certain aspects such as the characteristics of the glass used in the glasses (their coating, thickness and quality), what is used to clean them, and what the glass itself might attract depending on where we leave them (dust, lint, smoke...) can also have an influence.

So without further delay, let's see how to remove scratches from glasses.

How do you remove scratches from glasses?

Before going into detail, we must bear in mind that glasses should never be left unprotected on a desk or any other surface and, above all, that we must never put them lense-side down. Whenever they are not in use, they must be stored in a special padded case to protect them from bumps and falls. On the other hand, it is not ever advisable clean them while dry using paper handkerchiefs.

Let's see how scratches can be removed from prescription lenses:

• Soap and water. This is the best option, as soap and water can remove dirt marks that affect the quality of a lens quite effectively.
• Microfibre cloth. Another of the best ways to remove scratches from glasses. This is the most appropriate material for cleaning the surface of the lenses without compromising their integrity. Not all scratches are particularly deep (it may be that a dust particle has simply left a light scuff), so this type of cloth is a great option for removing dirt without damaging the lens.
• Baking soda. It removes stuck dirt and not only that: if you are wondering how to polish scratched glasses, using this alternative you will have your lenses shiny in no time. To do this, put some baking soda in a container and then moisten it with water. Then, gently rub the paste over the glasses using circular motions, rinse with cold water and polish with a microfibre cloth.
• Toothpaste. Most importantly, it should be non-abrasive and free of harsh bleaching chemicals. This will ensure it helps correct small scratches and difficult dust marks. We just have to put some toothpaste on both sides of the lenses and spread it well. After distributing it well, polish the lenses with a microfibre cloth for 2 to 3 minutes. Then rinse them with cold water to remove what is left of the paste and dry them thoroughly.
• Special wood detergent. After dusting the glasses with the cloth, we apply a little of this detergent and you're done!
• Vaseline. This can be applied on scratches to remove them or at least mitigate them. Afterwards, wipe the glass with a cloth.

How do you remove scratches from polarised sunglasses?

If you are wondering how to remove scratches from polarised sunglasses, which are a little more hard-wearing, you can follow practically the same advice: washing the lenses with warm water and with a little neutral soap is the best option and one of the most effective. Window cleaner can also be used to clean these lenses.