How to Clean High-quality Sunglassesand Other Ways to Make Them Last
Sunglasses are not only stylish—they protect your eyes from the elements. If you wear glasses, perhaps you’ve wondered whether high-quality sunglasses are worth the investment. Keep reading to understand why you should invest in a pair and how to clean and care for sunglasses so they last as long as possible.
Do You Need High-quality Sunglasses?
High-quality sunglasses are a worthy investment in eye health. High-quality sunglasses make it easier to see on sunny days and protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) light. In addition, if you opt for polarized lenses, you gain increased visual clarity and greatly reduced glare.
If you buy cheap sunglasses that do not have adequate UV protection, they could be as bad for your eyes as not wearing sunglasses at all, because wearing them in bright sunlight causes your eyes’ pupils to enlarge to help see better, exposing them to more UV light while they’re essentially unprotected.
Because UV light can injure your eyes, it’s important to wear high-quality sunglasses whenever you go out, rain or shine—in all seasons.
Ultraviolet (UV) Light Can Lead to Various Eye Issues
Your cornea, eyelid, lens and retina are very sensitive to UV light, so it’s important to protect your eyes from sun exposure and reflected light, especially around bodies of water and snow.
There are many eye conditions associated with overexposure to UV light, including:
- Photokeratitis (sunburned eyes): Symptoms include red eyes, pain and blurry vision.
- Cataracts: Symptoms include light sensitivity, poor night vision, double vision and blurry vision.
- Macular degeneration: Symptoms include the appearance of blind spots, blurry vision, difficulty reading and struggling to see in low lighting.
- Cancer (on the eyelid): Symptoms include changes in the appearance of the eyelid, like discoloration and swelling, chronic eyelid infections and wounds that don’t heal.
Sunglasses vs. Light-reactive Lenses
You may have heard of light-reactive lenses, which darken when exposed to sunlight. While both light-reactive lenses and sunglasses purchased a Visionworks block 100% of UV rays, sunglasses offer additional benefits, including superior color and contrast in polarized sunglasses. Light-reactive lenses—like SunSync®, available at Visionworks—are great for kids who wear glasses, so they don't need to take their glasses off at recess or for adults who often switch between indoor and outdoor environments for work.
How to Care for High-quality Sunglasses
If you’ve invested in high-quality sunglasses, you’ll want to ensure they last a long time. Here’s how to clean sunglasses and care for them when not in use.
Cleaning Sunglasses
Cleaning your (sun)glasses is crucial for maximizing their lifespan. Cleaning your eyewear makes it easier to see through the lenses. It’s also good to clean the frames because as you go about your day they get covered in germs, oil, dead skin and other debris. You don’t want all that pressed against your face, do you?
How to Clean Sunglass Frames
- First, wash your hands with soap and water to prevent contaminating your supplies and sunglasses.
- Rinse your sunglasses in warm water to eliminate dust and dirt. Use a cotton swab to clean debris embedded around the lenses and the frames or near the hinges.
- Next, focus on the bridge of your sunglasses, the area that spends the most time next to your skin. Use a moist towelette to eliminate excess oils and germs, carefully avoiding touching the lenses themselves.
How to Clean Sunglass Lenses
You must be very careful with sunglass lenses because one wrong move can ruin the coating or scratch them.
Have lens cleaner and a microfiber cloth ready to use. If you don’t have any lens cleaner, a little non-lotion, non-citrus dish soap will work.
As with the frames, you should wash your hands first and rinse the lenses in warm water. Dry the sunglasses with the cloth to eliminate the first layer of dirt.
Next, use lens cleaner to eliminate smudges, fingerprints and smears. Using the microfiber cloth, rub the lenses for a few seconds. When you’re happy with the results, rinse your sunglasses once more.
You can air dry the lenses or shake away the water.
Storing Sunglasses
What’s the best way to store sunglasses when not wearing them? A hard case protects them best and ensures your sunglasses are safe while traveling.
Where to Place Sunglasses when not Wearing Them
What about when you don’t have your case and must put your sunglasses down for a few minutes? If you’re putting them down temporarily, like on a table, make sure they’re sitting lenses up. If lenses are facing down, you’re risking scratches.
Avoid Heat
Finally, never leave sunglasses in a hot area, like your car’s dashboard. The intense heat buildup inside your car and the sun shining through the windshield can damage the frame, causing problems with fit.
Wearing Sunglasses
We’ve stressed the importance of wearing sunglasses throughout the day. To ensure the longevity of high-quality sunglasses, avoid the following mistakes.
Wearing Sunglasses on Top of Your Head
We know wearing sunglasses on top of your head is a chic fashion statement, but it can ruin your sunglasses quickly. Just because your sunglasses fit around your face doesn’t mean they’ll fit around the top of your head. Wearing them this way is bound to warp your sunglasses. Worst case, you could even break them. Hair products, ornaments and your hair’s natural oil may also rub against the lenses and potentially scratch them.
Hanging Them on Your Shirt
Another common practice is problematic, because it's not a secure way to hang them. Sunglasses can easily slip loose while walking or as you get up from sitting. If you wear a shirt with buttons, you can loop the glasses arm through a buttonhole for added security, but it’s still not ideal.
How to Wear Sunglasses Safely
If you’re not wearing your sunglasses and can’t put them in a case, it’s best to wear a lanyard, neck strap or head strap.
Getting Rid of Scratches on Sunglasses
Scratches on sunglasses are annoying. They also compromise UV eye protection.
How Scratches on Sunglasses Can Harm Your Eyes
Scratches make it harder to see; they also allow UV ray exposure. When a scratch occurs, it destroys the coating of the glasses in that spot. With every scratch, more UV light can enter your eyes.
How to Get Scratches out of Sunglasses
We’ll be honest—there isn’t much you can do about scratches on your sunglasses. Instead, you should leave it to the professionals. Come visit us at Visionworks and we’ll advise you on the best course of action. Remember, when you purchase any glasses from us, we provide free cleaning and adjustment for the life of the product.
Find Your Pair of High-quality Sunglasses at Visionworks
Before investing in a pair of high-quality sunglasses, get your eyes checked at Visionworks! A current prescription you get as part of a thorough eye exam ensures you can use your glasses for as long as possible.
After your exam, look through our sunglasses selection and find your ideal pair. In fact, you can request us to make almost any pair of frames with sunglasses—with a choice of lens colors! If you’re not sure you love them—for any reason—take advantage of our 100-day return guarantee. You’ll have no issues switching that pair for a new one.
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Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Claims regarding blue light efficiency are supported by manufacturer-provided test results.
