How to Clean Eyeglasses with Anti‐Glare Lenses

Medically reviewed by Shaune Wallace, OD

Last Updated: October 2, 2020 References

Anti-glare or anti-reflective eyeglass lens coating has become a common eyewear feature. The microscopically thin anti-glare layer improves eyewear performance, particularly in instances like night driving and using a computer. It also allows other people looking at you to focus on your eyes, rather than on a distracting reflection in your glasses. However, the anti-glare coating does require special care to ensure that you don’t wear it off when you clean your glasses.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Anti-Glare Lenses

1
Use dish soap, warm water, and your fingertips. According to the American Optometric Association, using clean fingertips, warm water, and dish soap is the preferred way to clean your eyeglasses. Before you start the cleaning process, have a clean, soft, lint-free cloth or microfiber towel handy to dry your lenses after you've washed them.^{[1]
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- Avoid dish soaps that contain lotions or harsh solvent chemicals, like ammonia or alcohol.
- You should never touch your anti-glare lenses without wetting with them first.^{[2]
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- You’ll be using your fingertips to clean your lenses, so wash away any lotion, dirt, oil, and other grime from your hands prior to cleaning your glasses. Don't touch your lenses with unwashed hands.^{[3]
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2
Rinse the lenses with water. Run your glasses under a gentle stream of lukewarm tap water. Flowing water will wash away debris that could damage lenses. Don’t use hot water, as too much heat will ruin the anti-glare coating.^{[4]
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3
Apply a small amount of dish soap to each lens. Dab a drop of mild dish soap, such as Dawn original, onto each lens. Gently rub and lather for several seconds with your fingertips in soft, circular motions across each side of the lenses. Make sure to get into nooks and crannies, to clean the earpieces, and to remove oils and any other buildup from the nose pads.^{[5]
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4
Rinse away the suds. Hold your glasses under a stream of lukewarm water once again. Wash away the soap suds from both sides of the lenses, frames, and all other parts. Inspect your eyewear carefully to make sure all of the soap has been removed, as any left on will cause smearing.^{[6]
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5
Shake off excess water and wipe dry. Gently shake off any excess moisture, taking care not to bend the frame or earpieces. Use a microfiber towel or soft, lint-free cloth to completely dry them. Avoid using towels that have served other purposes or have been stored in the kitchen. These will have likely picked up grease, dust, or cooking oil residue that’ll smear or scratch your lenses.^{[7]
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- Don’t use fabric softener or dryer sheets when laundering your eyeglass cloths. These substances can smear or leave residue on your lenses.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Developing an Eyewear Care Routine

1
Clean your glasses every morning. Developing a normal cleaning routine will prevent debris, oil, and dirt from building up. Daily cleaning makes your eyewear easier to maintain and extend their lifespan. Further, cleaning your eyewear from lenses to earpieces regularly will prevent them from becoming discolored and lower the risk of eye infection.^{[8]
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2
Keep clothes or towels designated for eyeglasses. Use specific towels or cloths for cleaning your glasses, and don’t use them for other purposes. Clean them every few days to make sure they’re not harboring any particles that could damage your lenses or anti-glare coating. Keep cloths handy when you’re on the go, but make sure to use them in tandem with tap water or a generous amount of spray cleaner.^{[9]
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- Keeping cloths with you when you’re away from home will reduce the temptation to use napkins or other paper products, which don’t work very well and can leave small particles that might cause fine scratches.
3
Use spray eyewear cleaner on the go. Keep a spray cleaning solution approved for anti-glare lenses for when you’re on the go and don’t have access to tap water and dish soap. Use plenty of the solution on your lenses before you do any wiping. Really soaking them will remove dust and dirt particles. Keep a lint-free cloth or microfiber towel handy to wipe your glasses after spraying them down with solution.^{[10]
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- Check the label or verify that the solution is anti-glare approved with your optometrist
- You could make your own spray eyeglass cleaner as well.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Avoiding Common Eyewear Care Mistakes

1
Wet your glasses when cleaning them. Never wipe your glasses when they’re dry. Even if they’re invisible to you, tiny dust and dirt particles are present on your lenses, and dry wiping will scratch them. Once your glasses are scratched, there’s nothing you can do to buff them out.^{[11]
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- It’s especially important to avoid dry wiping anti-glare lenses. Scratches are more obvious on anti-glare eyewear because they block out almost all light reflection, which helps to hide tiny scratches on eyeglass lenses.^{[12]
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2
Stay away from solvents. While ammonia (like Windex), vinegar, alcohol, and other solvents can be used on windows and stemware, keep them far away from your anti-glare eyeglasses. These cleaners can wear away or damage your anti-glare coating. Check with your eye doctor to make absolutely sure your eyewear cleaning solution is mild enough for your anti-glare lenses.^{[13]
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3
Store your glasses carefully. Keep your glasses away from hot or cold temperature extremes. The heating and cooling can cause the anti-glare coating to warp and crack because it expands and contracts at a different rate than the lens. Don’t leave them out on the dashboard of your car. Always keep them in a case when you’re not wearing them, especially when toting them in a bag or purse.^{[14]
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- Try not to leave them out on your sink or vanity, since splatters from products like hairspray, perfume or cologne, and other cosmetics can damage or strip the anti-glare layer.
4
Don’t huff and wipe. Most people are guilty of exhaling on their lenses and wiping them off on their shirt. Your clothes are full of tiny bits of dirt, oil, cologne or perfume, and other damaging chemicals and particles. Further, the fabric itself can be abrasive for eyewear lenses, whether or not they’re coated with an anti-glare layer.^{[15]
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5
Don’t spit shine. It’s important not to be tempted to use saliva to wipe your glasses. Even if it seems quick and easy, saliva won’t get rid of the small particles that can scratch your lenses. Further, using saliva not only doesn’t work well, but there’s a slight risk that the bacteria in your mouth could cause eye infections, so be sure to practice good hygiene and avoid spit shining.^{[16]
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