5 Ways to Get Scratches Out of Glasses

Scratches on Your Glasses

Getting scratches on your glasses can feel frustrating. Scratches make it difficult to see clearly, which can cause eye strain. Headaches and other symptoms might develop as a result.

Don’t try quick fixes to remove scratches from your glasses. Trying to buff out scratches with just any material can result in more damage. Using DIY cleaning concoctions to clean them also takes a toll on the protective layers of your lenses.

Most eyeglasses today are made of plastic instead of glass. Polycarbonate and Trivex lenses are lighter and more impact resistant than other materials.¹ But they can still be scratched.

Dirt and dust cling to the plastic material of your lenses. Rubbing your eyeglasses can cause scratches if there’s dirt or dust on them. You can also scratch your glasses from everyday wear and tear, like taking them on and off.

5 Ways to Get Scratches Out of Your Glasses at Home

Fortunately, it’s not impossible to remove scratches from your glasses at home. However, try these methods at your own risk. Some of them can make scratches worse or leave residue that can further damage or blur your glasses.

1. Use dish soap

With water, apply a small amount of dish soap to a microfiber cloth to remove scratches from your glasses' lenses. Make sure that the dish soap does not have any moisturizers.

Gently wipe the scratch to buff it out in small circles.³

2. Combine baking soda with water

Baking soda with water is one of the most common ways to fix scratched glasses.

Combine baking soda with water in a mixing bowl, and dip a soft cotton cloth or cotton ball in the thick paste. Move the soft cloth or ball in small circles over the scratch with gentle pressure.⁵

3. Wax your lenses

You can try to use wax to fill in a scratch on your glasses. But beware that, while wax can fill a scratch, it may not remove it. Instead, wax might make it more difficult to see out of your eyewear.⁵

4. Apply sunscreen to the scratch

Sunscreen can get rid of scratches in glasses with a mirror coating. Rub in the sunscreen using circular motions.

Note that sunscreen will also remove the mirror coating, which serves a purpose.⁵

5. Apply toothpaste to your glasses

You must be very careful using toothpaste to wipe away a scratch from your glasses. Because toothpaste can be grainy, the paste can be abrasive on your lenses. Toothpaste ingredients like fluoride and detergents can also affect the coating on your glasses.^{5, 6}

How to Make DIY Eyeglass Cleaner

DIY eyeglass cleaner is the safest option for getting scratches out of glasses. Here’s how you can make some at home.

You’ll need:

Rubbing alcohol
Water
Dish soap
A spritzer bottle

You will need to dilute the rubbing alcohol with water. Combine them so the mixture is three parts rubbing alcohol and one part water. Then add only one to two drops of dish soap.

Mix the ingredients together, and pour the solution into your spritzer bottle. Using a funnel can make this easier to do without spilling.

Spritz the solution onto a cloth to wipe the scratch on glasses in small circles. This solution will also help clean your glasses.

When is a Professional Repair Necessary?

Not all scratches can be removed from glasses at home. In some cases, you will need a professional repair job.

While a small scratch may not seem like a big deal, it can cause eye strain that leads to discomfort and symptoms like headaches. It’s important to have your glasses repaired as soon as possible.

A repairman might be able to remove the scratches from your glasses with professional tools. However, they likely need to replace your lenses altogether. Some deep scratches cannot be buffed out.

Tips for Keeping Your Lenses in Good Shape

Getting scratches on your glasses can be uncomfortable and costly. Here are some tips for keeping your lenses clean and clear.

Always keep your glasses in their case when you’re not wearing them. A hard case is best. It can protect the lenses from being scratched in your bags, drawers, and desktops where you might leave them.
Don’t leave your glasses in the car or in direct sunlight. Heat can damage the protective layer of your lenses, leaving them more susceptible to scratches and cracks.
Only clean your glasses with eye doctor-approved lens sprays or light dish soaps. Other cleaners can strip your lenses of their protective layers.
Do not wipe your glasses clean with your clothes. Instead, use a microfiber cloth. Certain fabrics might seem soft but are still abrasive on lenses.³
Don’t leave your glasses lying around where they can get knocked around. Be careful when putting them on and taking them off, and store them in a safe space.⁴
Wear contact lenses or sport-specific glasses. Consider contacts and sports glasses when you’re doing activities that can cause damage to your everyday prescription glasses.²

Eye protection is essential. You need to protect your eyes, but you also need to protect your glasses.

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