When you wear eyeglasses every day, it can be easy to forget they are even there. Over time, they form a part of our identity, becoming a recognizable feature of our faces that we can’t imagine living without. While feeling comfortable with your glasses is a good thing, forgetting that they’re there means we often neglect to clean them as frequently as we should. 

Grime and dirt build up gradually on our lenses with daily use, obscuring our vision. However, because this process occurs slowly, it can take us a while to notice decreases in visibility.  

If you have trouble cleaning your glasses regularly, you’re not alone—a large percentage of people who wear glasses often forget the basic maintenance needed to keep their vision crystal clear. In fact, more than 197 million adults in the U.S. wear glasses or contacts, making up nearly 80% of the population. That’s a lot of smudgy lenses. 

While everyone who owns glasses understands the importance of keeping them clean, putting this understanding into practice is an entirely different issue. 

In this article, we’ll explain why your glasses keep getting dirty, what you can do to clean them safely, and how to develop a regular cleaning routine.

Man has glasses pulled off because they are in need of cleaning

Why Are My Glasses Cloudy?

While your glasses can pick up dust and grime from almost anywhere, there are several common culprits that are likely causing your cloudy lenses.  In the course of an average day, your glasses naturally pick up: 

  • Dirt
  • Dust
  • Fingerprints 
  • Makeup
  • Skin flakes
  • Skin moisturizers
  • Skin oils

Cloudy glasses make it harder for you to see the world. When glasses become smudged or dirty, they strain your eyes, forcing you to squint when you would otherwise see clearly through clean lenses. 

Much of the grime that smudges our lenses comes from our bodies and environment. Many people touch their glasses unknowingly, transferring particles from their fingertips to the surface of the lens. Although you can’t avoid all debris, keeping your hands away from your glasses should limit the amount of dirt that collects on these surfaces.

Woman poses for photograph wearing black rimmed glasses

How Often Should I Clean My Eye Glasses?

Clean your glasses daily to keep them in top condition. This includes computer glasses, bifocals, or even your non-prescription lenses. Spot-cleaning throughout the day can also help with rain splatter or condensation.

While regular cleaning can improve the longevity of your glasses, be sure to use the right tools for the job. The surfaces of your lenses are sensitive to friction and can become damaged when improperly maintained.

Below we’ll go over some of the best and worst techniques for keeping your glasses clean.

Person sprays solution on lenses to clean eyeglasses

Will Alcohol Disinfect My Eye Glasses?

Never use pure rubbing alcohol to clean your glasses. While many commercial products incorporate a small amount of alcohol in their eyeglass cleaners, these solutions are highly diluted and do not contain enough to harm the lens. In general, it’s better to use a non-alcohol-based substance to clean your glasses.

When you get new glasses, they come with a thin coating on the surface to protect from scratches. Harsh chemicals not meant for eyewear can strip that coating, making your glasses more susceptible to damage. 

In addition to alcohol, chemicals like bleach, toothpaste, or household cleaners like ammonia, vinegar, and lemon juice can damage this sensitive layer. 

Eyewear can be expensive and using the wrong cleaner can take years off the lifespan of your glasses, costing you money in the long run.

Man holds eyeglasses away from his face to check how dirty they are and if they are in need of cleaning

How Should I Clean My Eye Glasses?

While spot cleanings can involve a brief wipe with a microfiber cloth, a full cleaning requires eight steps to fully remove debris from your lenses and improve visibility. 

  • Start by washing your hands to prevent the transfer of dirt
  • Run your glasses under water to remove loose dirt and debris
  • Put one to two drops of lotion-free dish soap on your fingers and carefully lather your glasses, including the bridge, lenses, and nose pad
  • For heavy dirt, use a soft-bristled toothbrush on the glasses frames—never on the lenses
  • Rinse the glasses with warm water
  • Let the glasses drip off while you wash the dish soap from your hands and pat them dry
  • Apply a microfiber cloth to dry your glasses
  • Inspect the lenses for smudges, using the microfiber cloth to touch up areas you missed
  • Air-dry your glasses before putting them back on 

Most of what you need is easily accessible at your local pharmacy. You can also pick up a microfiber lens cloth almost anywhere, including at your eye doctor’s office. 

These cloths use polyester, nylon, or polyamide blends that are soft and highly absorbent, acting as a magnet for grease, dirt, and grime. However, because of this, microfiber cloths will need to be washed periodically to keep them as clean as possible. When the microfiber starts to spread more dirt than it absorbs, just pop it in the laundry to clean it.

You may think you can just rub your shirt on your glasses to clean them. Or maybe you think you should grab some Windex and a paper towel. However, using a shirt or a paper towel to clean your glasses can be like rubbing sandpaper across a lens. The fibers found in a shirt or on a paper towel create friction that produces tiny scratches that will eventually obscure your vision.  

Hot water should also be avoided, since it can damage the anti-reflective coatings that protect the lenses and keep out glare. 

Safe alternatives include disposable cleaning cloths that are pre-moistened with lens cleaner. They are convenient and travel well but can be more expensive over time when compared to a reusable micro cloth and dish soap.

Man uses lint free cloth to wipe the lenses of his eyeglasses

Do’s and Don’ts of Cleaning Your Glasses

To recap, here are our best tips for cleaning your eyeglasses.

Do

  • Clean your glasses at least once a day
  • Use warm water and dish soap
  • Use a microfiber cloth

Don’t 

  • Use your shirt or other clothing 
  • Use harsh chemicals
  • Use paper towels or any other paper products

Following these rules can help extend the longevity of your eyeglasses for years, keeping your vision clear from grime and debris.

However, keep in mind that your glasses are delicate instruments and will still need to be replaced over time as they wear down from daily use.

Optometrist uses cloth to wipe eyeglasses clean

How Often Should I Change My Lenses?

Your vision will change over time as you age, which means your glasses will also need to be updated. To keep up with these changes, doctors recommend you check your prescription every two or three years. 

However, if you find yourself squinting, have headaches, blurry vision, or if you’ve damaged your glasses, it’s time to call an optometrist. Taking care of these issues sooner rather than later can prevent unnecessary eye strain and discomfort from worsening your condition, and will provide you with the vision enhancement you need to look and feel like your best self.

At Bayhead Eye Centre, our vision experts are standing by to offer you the personalized eye care you need to keep your vision clear with the comfort you deserve. Our broad catalog of the latest eyewear allows you to choose the best fit for you with prescription lenses that match your needs. 

Request an appointment online or call us today at 407-322-2230.