Scratches on sunglasses are annoying and happen quickly. We are often asked why sunglasses scratch so quickly. And the answer lies in the material selection of the lenses and the lack of coating.
Polycarbonate, i.e. plastic, is often used for the lenses. It is light and very break-resistant. Unfortunately, the surface of this lens mat<erial is very susceptible to scratches. The scratches come namely even when cleaning in the lenses if you treat carefully with a microfiber cloth.
If the sunglasses are treated carefully, the lenses are often after frequent wear. One to two years scratched. However, if the sunglasses are more often placed on the lenses or the T-shirt or sweater is taken to clean the lenses, the wear can be visible sooner.
Scratches are less quickly distinguished with plastic lenses where the material CR39 and additional hardenings are used. However, if you want maximum protection from scratches, we recommend real glass lenses from Maui Jim or Ray Ban. These are many times more durable from the surface than conventional sunglasses.
How Do I Keep My Sunglasses From Scratching?
The best is of course when scratches do not even get on the sunglasses. For this, it is good to note some things. We have summarized these in a list for you. So you can avoid scratches as much as possible.
- Avoid harsh chemicals to clean your sunglasses
- Rinse the sunglasses before cleaning with water
- Do not bring your sunglasses in contact with sand
- Always put your sunglasses in the case when you do not need them
- Choose sunglasses with lenses out of glass when you buy them
- Use only the microfiber cloth to clean the glasses
- Look for a hardening coating if they are plastic lenses
- Do not leave your sunglasses in the car
Harsh chemicals used to clean the lenses can damage hard coatings and make the lenses more susceptible to scratches. In addition, plastic lenses of sunglasses can break when they come into contact with alcohol, which is too aggressive for sunglasses.
Furthermore, make sure that there is nothing on the surface before wiping the sunglasses with your microfiber cloth. You can only ensure this if you have rinsed the sunglasses beforehand, preferably under running water. Small particles such as dust quickly adhere to the surface. If you rub them directly there will be scratches, so remember to rinse the sunglasses to avoid scratches.
In everyday life, sunglasses are quickly bumped or fall. If you then stored in a case was the sunglasses usually nothing happens. So get used to always store the sunglasses properly. Likewise, you should not get into the habit of putting sunglasses on a seat.
The material of the lenses of your sunglasses is crucial for how quickly scratches will be seen. Higher-quality sunglasses like Maui Sims often have real glass lenses built-in. As a rule, glass lenses look even after years from the surface unobstructed while you will find scratches on virtually any sunglasses with plastic lenses.
To avoid scratches you should only use a microfiber cloth to wipe the lenses of your sunglasses. Most other textiles are already too rough. A sweater or a shirt will usually produce small micro-scratches on the surface very quickly and ruin your coatings. Sometimes the lenses become dull and less transparent due to the increased friction.
Coatings on your sunglasses can ensure that the lenses are better protected against scratches. For example, there are clean coats that make it harder for particles to stick to the surface of your sunglasses. Other coatings make the sunglasses more durable. High-quality sunglasses like those from Porsche Design have such coatings.
Heat can quickly break your sunglasses. Heat causes the materials of the sunglasses to expand and heat cracks occur. Mostly you can observe this on the surface of the lenses if a coating is present. It looks like your glasses have many small tiny scratches.
These heat cracks occur because the lens material and the coating on it expand differently. For example, in a car, high temperatures quickly develop that can damage your glasses. For this reason, do not leave them in the car.
Is It Bad to Use Scratched Sunglasses?
While small, barely noticeable micro-scratches on the lens surface do not impair vision, large and deep scratches can become a problem. On the one hand, vision can be severely impaired if coarse surface damage in the lens is just in the area of the pupils, and on the other hand, deeper scratches can significantly reduce the UV protection of your lenses.
Depending on the lens, UV protection is present in the coating or in the material itself. This means that UV protection could be lost if a lens is damaged. If you want to know if your UV protection is compromised, you should visit an optician with a UV tester. He can tell you how much UV protection is present in your sunglasses.
Can Scratches Be Removed From Sunglasses?
Removing scratches from eyeglass lenses by polishing – contrary to popular belief, this is hardly possible. Experts strongly advise against polishing agents such as toothpaste or even silver cleaner, which are often recommended as home remedies. The substances can contain coarse-grained particles that additionally scratch the lenses.
Sunglasses In addition, there are further lens refinements such as a special tint, polarization, or integrated UV protection. Manipulation of the glass, for example by polishing, destroys these layers and thus the special features of the lens. The following applies: lenses made of plastic are much more sensitive than lenses made of glass.
Once a scratch is on the glasses, usually only the optician can help. However, he can also not remove scratches from the lens and in most cases will replace the scratched lens. If only the frame of the glasses is affected, this is less of a problem. Scratches in the sunglasses frame can often be polished out by the optician.
