How to Repair Minor Surface Scratches on Eyeglasses

It is common for minor scratches to appear on your eyeglasses, particularly if you wear them all the time. Instead of paying for a new set of lenses, you can repair small surface scratches yourself. This is a fairly easy procedure that helps to prolong the life of your eyeglasses. Note that the repair method is different for glass or plastic lenses. Remove dirt particles by rinsing the glasses with water before you start.

Things You'll Need

• White toothpaste
• Cotton swab
• Lens cloth
• Gloves
• Glass etching cream

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Instructions

Glass Lenses

• 1

  Use a regular toothpaste.

  Squeeze a blob of toothpaste onto a cotton swab. Use a simple white toothpaste without an added flavour or a chemical whitening agent, and no gel.

• 2

  Apply the toothpaste to the scratches and leave it for a few minutes.

• 3

  Rinse off the toothpaste and polish your lens with a lens cloth.

Plastic Lenses

• 4

  Gloves will protect your hands from the chemicals in the cream.

  Put on household rubber gloves to protect your hands.

• 5

  Put a small amount of glass etching cream onto a cotton swab.

• 6

  Apply the cream to the front and back of the plastic lenses and leave it for five minutes. This removes the anti-glare coating from the plastic, which is normally the area that is scratched.

• 7

  Hold your eyeglasses under running water to rinse off the cream. Dry with a lens cloth.