It’s a nightmare that every glasses wearer faces. Succumbing to a scratched lens just seems to be a natural part of life. Over time, all these marks and scratches add up and can leave your vision impaired, especially on high power lenses.

Can Scratches be Removed from Glasses?

Sadly, the answer is no, however, it is possible to improve them temporarily. The good news is that we’ve done all of the online research (meaning you don’t have to) and come up with the very best ways to improve those irritating scratches on your glasses. So, don’t worry, you won’t have to throw those Harry Potter glasses or that Oakley frame away just yet!

Top Tips for Removing Scratches from Glasses

There is still hope for that old pair of scratched glasses you’re still hanging on to. There are some very handy and helpful remedies you can use to easily remove scratches from glasses, just follow these quick fix hacks:

Toothpaste

Yes, toothpaste (I know, right)!

All you need is a non-abrasive and non-gel based toothpaste to utilise this method. This kind of toothpaste can be found in every household and is easy to get your hands on.  Add to this a cotton ball or soft cotton cloth free of lint.

Take a generous dollop of toothpaste and apply it to the scratched area of the glasses and begin rubbing it in, using gentle circular motions with the cotton ball or cloth. Keep going for a few seconds and you will start to notice a difference.

To finish, simply rinse your eyeglasses in cold water and pat dry with a clean cloth or non-abrasive towel. This remains the most economical and time-efficient method of removing unwanted scratches from glasses without any special tools or solutions.

Baking Soda

Looking for another cheap solution to rub off scratches? Baking soda is an excellent remedy.

Found in most kitchens, you can take around one spoonful of baking soda and mix it with half a spoon of water to form a thick paste. Simply apply this paste onto the glasses surface with scratches and with a cotton ball or soft cotton cloth, rub the area in a smooth circular motion for 30 seconds. Remember to rinse the glasses under cold water and wipe down with a soft cloth or non-abrasive teatowel. Feel free to repeat this process if the scratches persist.

Vehicle Cleaner Wax

Another good option to mend scratches on glass and plastic lenses is vehicle cleaning wax which is normally used to polish vehicles. Apply the vehicle wax to the scratched area of the glass and use cotton wool or soft cotton cloth to rub it in. Continue rubbing until the scratch on the glasses is repaired. The vehicle cleaning wax fills in the scratches and removes them easily.

Brass, Silver Or Metal Polish

A variety of polishes can be used to remove scratches from plastic lenses effectively, including brass, silver or metal polish. Apply a small amount of polished to the scratched area using cotton wool or a soft cotton cloth. Rub it in for a good few minutes, after which you just need to remove the excess polish using a clean cloth. Remember, do not use polish on glass lenses and it can damage any coatings on them.

Glass Etching Cream

If you have tried all other methods, glass etching cream is your next step and is by far the most effective method to fix scratches on plastic lens glasses. It is readily available and most glass etching creams contain Hydrofluoric Acid, the key ingredient to do the job on plastic eyeglasses. Apply a thick coating of glass etching cream on the surfaces of the lenses and the cream settle for around 5 minutes – don’t rub it in. Rinse the cream off with cold water and wipe dry with a clean cotton cloth or towel. Glass etching cream can be harmful to glass lenses and should be avoided if your lenses are made of glass. Please bear in mind that this method is a little more costly than the others and carries an element of risk – if the cream is left on the lenses for more than 5 minutes it can permanently damage them.

What’s the Best Solution?

Our glasses are absolutely indispensable, especially if you have a high prescription and caring for them is a vitally important thing to do. If none of the scratch-removing hacks work when treating scratches on your glasses then you can always consult a professional…

Reglaze Glasses

If all else fails and the lenses are scratched beyond repair or the scratches are too deep, then you need an expert service to help. At Online Opticians UK, we reglaze glasses online. You send your existing frames with their old, damaged lenses and we insert a fresh new pair! We all had our favourite glasses frame and this service allows you to extend the life of your precious glasses without the expense of buying a new frame. Visit www.onlineopticiansuk.com for more details.