The short answer: eyewear care comes down to four habits. Clean lenses the safe way — rinse first, then a microfiber cloth, never a dry shirt tail. Store frames in a case so they cannot be scratched or crushed. Fix small fit problems early, before they bend the frame. And know the short list of jobs that belong to an optician, not your kitchen table.
This manual is the map. Each section links to the full how-to.
1. Cleaning: the method that prevents scratches
Most lens scratches are self-inflicted. A dry wipe drags dust across the coating like sandpaper. The fix is a habit, not a product: rinse under lukewarm water, add a single drop of dish soap, dry with a clean microfiber cloth. That is the whole routine. Full step-by-step, plus what to never use: how to clean glasses without scratching.
Already scratched? Read this before you try a toothpaste hack — it explains what actually works and what only makes it worse: can you remove scratches from glasses.
2. Storing and handling
Fold, case, done. A hard case stops the two things that end most frames early: crushing and scratching. If you set glasses down bare, always lenses-up, arms open — never face-down on the lens. For sunglasses that live in a bag or a car, the case matters even more: how to store sunglasses.
Shop hard travel cases for the bag and soft cases for the desk.
3. Fit and comfort
A frame that slips, pinches, or leaves marks is usually a fit problem you can solve at home in minutes.
- Glasses sliding down your nose — tighten the temple bend or the nose pads.
- Marks on the sides of your nose — a weight and pad problem, not a skin problem.
- Acetate frames that pinch or gap — warm, bend gently, hold until cool.
Worn or missing pads are a two-minute swap. See replacement nose pads.
4. What to leave to an optician
Home care covers most of the job. A few things do not belong at your kitchen table:
- A hinge screw that keeps loosening — it may need a thread lock or a new screw.
- Re-fitting after new lenses, or any change to prescription frames.
- A deep scratch across your line of sight — the lens is done; replace it.
- A snapped front or a stripped hinge on a frame worth keeping.
Most opticians adjust and tighten frames for free, even ones you did not buy there. It is the cheapest maintenance in eyewear.
From our test bench. We wear-test every frame before it goes live, and the failures are almost never the lens — they are the hinges and the coatings. Frames that survived a month in a bag without a case came back scratched every time. The ones treated like the manual above still look new. Care is the difference, not price.
FAQ
How often should I clean my glasses?
Once a day for glasses you wear all day. Skin oil and dust build up faster than most people think, and a quick rinse-and-dry each morning keeps the coating clear and stops the temptation to dry-wipe a dirty lens — which is what causes scratches.
Are pre-moistened lens wipes safe to use every day?
Yes, as long as the label says they are safe for coated lenses. They are handy on the go. At home, water and a drop of dish soap is gentler and cheaper. Avoid any wipe with alcohol on frames with special coatings unless the maker approves it.
What is the single biggest mistake in eyewear care?
Cleaning a dry, dusty lens with your shirt. It grinds grit into the coating and leaves fine scratches you cannot polish out. Rinse first, every time. That one habit prevents most of the damage we see.
Free tools: Frame Finder · Shop care accessories · Last updated: July 29, 2026
