Tips for Eyewear Care: Interview with the Experts

Keeping Your Eyewear Safe

Dominic and Gregor, opticians here at CustomEyes, have been in the game for a really long time, and have seen a lot of broken eyeglasses. Here are their tips for keeping those beautiful pieces of wearable art in good shape and fitting well.

"Well, opticians have only a couple of jokes for eyeglasses, and they both reveal the number one reason glasses get broken," says Gregor. "One is kind of a naughty rhyme, but it goes: 'Never put your glasses where people may put their ... *sses.''' Glasses tend to get sat on A LOT. (The other one opticians always joke about: "That's no way to get hindsight!")

Seriously, to avoid accidents, it is important to never lay down your glasses in a random spot where someone may sit. A simple folding technique can be used to keep your glasses safe. Always fold the temples closed (temples are the pieces that loop on top of your ear). Lay the glasses down with the lenses facing up and the temples folded. This position can withstand pressure and usually does not break the glasses. If the glasses are laid down with the temple open, it creates a lever of force that can quickly break the hinges on the frame front, even with just a little amount of pressure. That's why Gregor and Dominic recommend that you put them in the case every time you take them off.

Securing Your Eyewear

Losing glasses is heartbreaking. Dominic and Gregor have a few helpful hints to keep that from happening. Constantly taking them on and off often leads to misplacement:

Tip #1: try to keep your glasses on to avoid misplacing them

“Well, you know, they never get lost if you are always wearing them unless something pretty tragic happens,” says Gregor. Glasses are often left behind on restaurant tables, in the seat pocket on airplanes, in an Uber or taxi, or in other transition places. "People walk around with their glasses on top of their head… or with one temple stuffed into the front of their shirt. This works until they forget about them," says Dominic. "Bending over or fast movement can dislodge them and you might not notice until they go flying."

Tip #2: keep name-brand sunglasses out of sight

If you are going to leave a good pair of sunglasses in your car, while running a quick errand indoors, hide them out of sight. It is the sad truth that a pair of good quality name-brand sunglasses left visible in a locked car can tempt a dishonest person to break in and grab them.

Tip #3: strap on your activewear frames.

Water activities are always risky for losing glasses, without a really good strap or retaining device. Never wear precious sunglasses surfing, water skiing, snowboarding, or on jet skis.

Learning How to Take Care of Your Eyewear

Taking good care of your lenses and frames should include keeping the frames perfectly adjusted to fit comfortably. Gregor and Dominic from CustomEyes welcome you to stop by anytime if your eyewear needs to be adjusted.

"Glasses that are too loose can easily fall onto the ground or a concrete surface and scratch the lenses," says Gregor. "We never charge for adjustments, whether you have purchased them from CustomEyes or somewhere else. Since we both wear glasses full-time, we know how important it is to have them feel comfortable. It can drive you crazy to have to deal with a pair that is too loose and always sliding, or worse, too tight and hurting behind the ear or on the nose," says Dominic.

At CustomEyes, we have the proper tools to fix bent frames. It is best not to try to fix or straighten them yourself, as using your fingers instead of the proper tools can easily break them.

Lens Care: Cleaning your Glasses

Lens care is an essential aspect of maintaining your glasses. At CustomEyes, we understand this and include a microfiber cleaning cloth and an approved liquid cleaner with every pickup. These tools will help protect the sophisticated anti-reflection coatings on your lenses. Microfiber cleaning cloths are gentle and effective, so heavy scrubbing is not necessary. Avoid using a shirttail, paper towels, or cleaner papers in little packets as they can harm or scratch your coatings or lenses. Unlike other materials, microfiber has a tight weave that does not trap small crystals and grit in the fabric, making it the ideal cleaning method. When purchasing cleaning tools, make sure to look for the "approved for anti-reflective lenses" statement on the packaging.

Keeping your glasses in good condition means cleaning them properly. You can clean them using cool water and mild dish detergent. First, soap them up using your fingers and then rinse with cool water. Dab dry with a clean paper towel to get most of the water off. Use only your clean microfiber to polish them. If your microfiber starts smearing your lenses, it's probably because the fabric has trapped fingerprint oils. You can wash and dry microfiber cloths in the washing machine to get them as good as new but do not use fabric softener or dryer sheets.

You may also be interested in: What Makes CustomEyes Lenses Superior?

Protecting Your Frames

There are some activities involving eyewear that can be risky. These include spray painting or using varnishes, solvents, or chemicals, using hairspray, or working around grinders, sanders, or metal. It is best to use safety goggles over your glasses when performing these tasks. If harsh substances get on your glasses, do not try to clean them yourself. Instead, rinse them gently and avoid rubbing the surface. You can bring them to CustomEyes, where Dominic or Gregor can often clean them with the appropriate solvent that won't damage the lenses.

Extreme heat can damage both frames and lenses, especially if you wear plastic frames or frames with plastic parts. Leaving your glasses exposed to direct heat in the car for long errands can be harmful. Tuck them under the seat or away from direct exposure and try your best to limit the time any eyewear is left in the car on hot summer days.

By following these tips, you can keep and cherish your frames for years, even through several prescription changes. At CustomEyes, we want to help you look good and see well.