CityPages Kuwait June 2016 Issue June 2016 | Page 68

CLEANING YOUR SPECTACLES Natalie Rose Choonoo Natalie is an optometrist and contact lens specialist at International Optique. She has a Bachelor of Optometry from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal South Africa. For more information contact International Optique. Tel: 25714007 – 97234753, www. intoptic.com – [email protected], Instagram: @intoptique It sounds simple enough, but every day we unconsciously make the same mistakes when cleaning our spectacles. Admittedly, I am guilty of this myself. Here are some ‘cleaning’ tips, which I can learn from too: •Always make sure your hands are clean. Unclean hands will transfer dirt and grime onto your lenses, which defeats the purpose of cleaning them! As well, hand cream or lotion applied to hands will make the lens surface too oily to work with. •Rinse your spectacles in lukewarm water or under a stream of fresh water. Avoid hot water as this can potentially damage the lenses and the lens coatings. •Apply a drop of dishwashing liquid (Fairy and similar liquids do an adequate job). Dishwashing liquids, containing ‘cleaning pearls’ should be avoided as this is abrasive to the lenses. Ensure that the dishwashing liquid is not ‘lotion’ based as this will ma ke the lenses oily. •Rub each side of the lenses carefully. Remember the nose pads, ear tips and the lens holders as well. Dust and debris settle in between the lenses. This ages the frame and ruins the look of the frame. •Rinse the frame and lenses thoroughly to avoid leftover debris. Shake off excess water. •Dry off the lenses with your spectacle cleaning cloth, as provided by your optometrist. However, there are a few things NOT to do when cleaning your spectacles: •Cleaning your lenses with items of clothing, tissues or any other fabric is a BIG NO! When the lenses are 68 JUNE, 2016 dry, this enhances the vulnerability of your lenses to scratches. •Do not use household cleaners or window cleaners to clean your lenses. These products contain chemicals that could react to the coatings on your lenses. Only use spectacle cleaners which are specifically made for spectacles. •Do not try to buff away scratches; this will increase the severity of the scratches. Unfortunately, there is no ‘magic’ that can eliminate scratches. All lens materials are prone to scratches, be it plastic, glass or trivex materials. Exposure to different environmental factors will also make your lenses susceptible to scratches. Ask for a hard coating on your lenses. This will minimize the possibility of scratches. However, it will not make it scratch proof! The trick is to take care of your lenses as outlined above. Also, make use of your spectacle case whenever your spectacles are not being used. Remember that resting your spectacles on the lenses themselves, will cause them to scratch. If you do find your lenses are scratched, visit your nearest optometrist to assess the extent of the scratches. Sometimes your spectacles just need to be professionally cleaned and adjusted. The ultimate solution is to replace the lenses with a new pair. We need to remember that spectacles are not manufactured to last ‘forever’. Our spectacles are a functional, yet fashionable resource which need to be updated accordingly. International Optique is always ready to assist you in the cleaning and maintenance of your spectacles, so do pass by for some friendly advice.