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
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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.