For anyone with less-than-perfect eyesight, making your glasses last longer really matters. We all want our glasses to stay with us for as long as possible, so we can wear them with pride and get the most out of them. The truth is that they are a fragile accessory: from a simple scratch to a snapped frame, there is a long list of things that can go wrong. We always try to be careful, but accidents happen, and sometimes we make mistakes in the way we handle our glasses. In this post we share a few tricks to extend the life of your glasses.
1. Good cleaning is the key
When we put our glasses on, take them off or push them back up our nose, we often make the mistake of touching the lenses with dirty fingers. We do it without thinking, but the lenses end up smudged. There is also the risk of something splashing them, such as water, soup or cooking oil. These things happen every day, which is why it is always a good idea to carry a microfibre cloth with you to clean your glasses.
Another important point is to clean them with the right tools. In other words, avoid:
- Rubbing the lenses with your clothes. Clothing is full of particles such as dust or grit that can scratch the lens. Even when we think our clothes are clean, the fabric itself can damage the lens surface.
- Using cotton handkerchiefs or tissues. Just as with clothes, you run the risk of damaging the lens.
On the other hand, you should:
- Clean the lenses with suitable products. Avoid corrosive substances and strong chemicals that could strip the lens coatings. The best option is water with a mild hand soap, or a spray made specifically for glasses.
- Use soft microfibre cloths to clean your lenses.
- Avoid touching the lenses with your fingers.
2. Keep your glasses somewhere safe
Glasses should never just be “dropped into your bag” or slipped into your trouser pocket, because they could bend, break or get their lenses scratched. That is why you should always keep them in a proper case, ideally a sturdy, rigid one, so your glasses survive knocks and last longer. Cases for glasses (especially prescription glasses) are usually large and tough precisely to absorb impacts as much as possible.
If your case gets damaged, we recommend replacing it straight away to avoid harming your glasses.
3. Replace the lenses to extend the life of your glasses
There comes a point when the best way to make your glasses last longer is to replace the lenses, especially if the frame is still in good condition and comfortable to wear. Every time your prescription changes you need new lenses, but not necessarily a new frame. Of course, the frame must be in good shape; if it is, all you need to change are the lenses.
At Lens4Glasses this process is very simple. We offer a wide range of prescription and non-prescription lenses for different uses:
- Progressive lenses (varifocals)
- Occupational lenses
- Blue light and UV filter (ideal for screen use)
- Single vision lenses
To extend the life of your glasses, all we need is your prescription and the type of lens you want, and we will get to work. We also fit the lenses for you: just send us your favourite frame and you will get it back feeling like a brand-new pair of glasses. We work with the leading prescription lens manufacturers on the market, such as ZEISS, Essilor and Prats.
We make sure your glasses travel safely, so they reach us and come back to you in perfect condition. Return shipping is free on orders over €50. Collection is free in mainland Spain and Portugal; elsewhere its cost is shown in the basket before you pay.
In short, to extend the life of your glasses it is important to look after them and handle them with care. But we all have the odd slip, so at Lens4Glasses we will replace your lenses so that your glasses always feel like new.