Through the Looking Glass: 3 Things Your Optometrist Wants You to Know About Glasses Care
Those who wear glasses often feel that their frames are simply another part of their face. They're worn so often, and relied upon so heavily, that it can be easy to forget that they're just another piece of equipment like any other. In other words, they require as much care and attention as you'd give any of your other possessions - if not more. They're vital, after all. Here are a couple of tips for taking the best possible care of your glasses.
Clean Them With the Proper Tools
Every glasses-wearer has done it. You'll be in the middle of something, suddenly spot a smudge on your glasses, and can no longer focus until it's gone - so you use the corner of your shirt to clean them. It seems innocuous enough, but this is a definite 'no'. While your shirt may feel soft to your hand, it's in fact much too coarse to be safe against the delicate lenses of your glasses and may cause tiny scratches and imperfections on the surface. You should make sure to use the microfiber cloth that comes with your glasses. Either that or purchase a replacement. Failing this, a little dish soap and warm water will bring up your glasses nicely - just be careful to let them air dry.
Put Them Away
When they're not in use, you should ensure your glasses are put away in their designated case. For obvious reasons, hard cases are far preferable to soft ones - but even a soft case is better than nothing. Not only will dust land on your lenses and require you to clean them more often, but they can also end up face-down on a table surface or similar, where any grit, dust and debris can go to town on the lenses. Of course, they're also at risk of being crushed, dropped or knocked whenever they're not on your face. At least in their case, they have a little cushioning to help them when they land!
Remove With Both Hands
Did you know that the most common cause of glasses breaking is that they're removed too quickly with one hand, forcing the hinge out of joint? It's true - and thinner frames are especially at risk. In order to prevent this from happening to you, always remove your glasses with two hands, one on either side - not with just one hand.
Glasses are often a significant investment, especially if you require specialist lenses; it'd be a shame to spend all that money and then have them fall apart unnecessarily. Following all of these tips will ensure that your glasses last as long as they possibly can - and in great condition, too.
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