Eyeglasses are an indispensable part of daily life, especially for vision correction. Yet cleaning and maintenance are just as important — they directly affect your visual experience. Below we walk through the correct way to wipe your lenses and protect your eyesight.
1. Rinse first, always
Before touching the lens with any cloth, rinse it under a gentle stream of lukewarm water. This flushes away dust and grit that would otherwise be ground into the coating when you wipe. Skipping this step is the #1 cause of micro-scratches on AR and blue-light lenses.
2. Use a drop of neutral lens soap
Apply a single drop of pH-neutral lens cleaner (or diluted hand soap) to each lens. Gently spread it with your fingertip. Never use dish detergent, window cleaner or alcohol — these strip anti-reflective and mirror coatings over time.
3. Wipe with a clean microfiber cloth
Use a dedicated, clean microfiber cloth (200+ GSM recommended). Glide from the center outward in gentle circles — no pressure. Don't use your shirt, a paper towel or a tissue; their fibers are too coarse and will haze the coating.
4. Dry and inspect
Pat — don't rub — the lens dry with a clean section of the cloth. Hold the glasses up to a light and check for streaks or residue. If you see any, breathe on the lens and wipe once more with the dry side.
- Wiping a dry lens with a dry cloth (grinds dust into the coating)
- Using hot water (warps polycarbonate lenses)
- Using dish soap or glass cleaner (strips AR coating)
- Wiping lenses with a shirt or paper towel
Wash your microfiber cloth weekly in warm water without fabric softener, and replace it every 6–12 months. A good cloth is the cheapest insurance for expensive coated lenses.
