The high cost of quality prescription eyeglasses can really add up, especially if you are without vision care insurance coverage. At our state of the art optical dispensary in the Yorkville neighbourhood of Toronto, we carry premium eyewear and high quality ophthalmic lenses that will optimize your visual performance while looking great and feeling comfortable. Yet even the best lenses and most fashionable frames won’t do the job properly if they are warped, scratched or dirty. Proper maintenance of prescription lenses is absolutely imperative to ensure clear vision and long-term use.

So, what are the dos and don’ts of glasses maintenance? Our opticians have outlined them for you below.

When Cleaning your Eyewear:

• Wash your hands first. There’s no point in washing your lenses if you’re going to transfer dirt, grease or hand lotion from your hands right back onto them.
• Clean lenses and frames daily to keep them looking great and to remove accumulated dirt and oils, especially on the nose pads. Even the best glasses will underperform if they are marred by dirt and smears.
• Wash glasses with warm (not hot) water and a drop of dish detergent – not liquid hand soaps that can contain lotions which prevent your glasses from getting a proper clean.
• Rinse very thoroughly to avoid smearing any lingering soap.
• Dry glasses with a soft cloth or microfiber cloth, not a regular cotton hand towel, napkin, or paper towel, which can leave scratches.
• Launder your cleaning cloth regularly to avoid buildup.
• A specially formulated eyeglass cleaner (or pre-moistened, disposable eyeglass cleaning wipes) can be used as an alternative to soap and water and is available at Toronto Eye Care.

Other eyewear tips…

• Use a well-sized hard-shell case to store your glasses when not in use.
• Use both hands to take your glasses on and off or the frames can easily loosen and become misaligned
• Lay your glasses down with care, with the lenses facing up.

Eyewear care Don’ts

• Don’t pull out your shirt and wipe dry lenses; the number one way to scratch lenses is wiping them when dry – and it doesn’t really work anyway, especially on oily smears! Any debris on the lens surface or on your shirt (or other rough clothing) could cause scratches.
• Don’t be tempted to substitute window cleaner for eyeglass cleaner in your spray bottle. The chemicals are harsher, and can harm the anti-reflective coating and other coatings on lenses.
• Don’t clean glasses with saliva or blow on them to get them wet before a cleaning. Neither is particularly effective. You can, however, blow on glasses to clear dust off before cleaning them.
• Don’t put glasses in a purse, pocket, or bag without a glasses case; the lenses can get scratched or the frames can easily get bent or even crushed.
• Don’t leave your eyeglasses in your car during the summer. Frames and lenses will be irreversibly damaged under the intense heat.
• Don’t leave your glasses lying around on the side of a sink or vanity. Besides the possibility of a fall, splatter, sprays, and perfumes can not only dirty your glasses, but may even damage anti-reflective coatings.
• Don’t slide your glasses (or sunglasses) up onto your head. This causes the frames to warp and loosen.

Even with the very best care to prolong the life of your eyeglasses, eyewear doesn’t last forever! When it’s just time for a new pair of eyeglasses, visit the optical dispensary at Toronto Eye Care for expert advice, the best lenses, and comfortable high-fashion frames.