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scratched glasses how to fix? *UPDATE in comments below*

Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,381 ******
edited April 26 in General Discussion

Anyone here polish minor nicks and scratches out of their prescription eye-wear? I have some polycarbonate lens ones I'd like to give a polish to, but I'd be curious to learn your tried and true technique before I begin and ruin them completely.

TIA!

Some will die in hot pursuit
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain

Comments

  • Don McManusDon McManus Member Posts: 23,672 ✭✭✭✭

    an interesting question.

    Polish removes material and will change the refractive properties of the glasses. May not be a big deal, it you may have to remove the same amount over the whole surface.

    Freedom and a submissive populace cannot co-exist.

    Brad Steele
  • waltermoewaltermoe Member Posts: 2,296 ✭✭✭✭

    I have polished some plastic before with some special polishing paper I have that is for polishing plastics. I picked it up several years ago in a hobby shop. Now I did hear once that you can polish plastic lens with tooth paste, but I have never tried it. Something like a jewelers polish would be to abrasive I’m sure.

  • slingerslinger Member Posts: 1,441 ✭✭✭✭

    What Don said.

    When you polish only a small area, you create what amounts to be a divot. That makes abberation.

    Generally the front of the lens is molded at the factory; the back is ground specifically to a patient's prescription on a "lap" or "tool". Theoretically, you could re-surface the back of the lens on the same tool. We used to do it when working with glass lenses. Plastic, (CR-39), Polycarbonate, etc. tend to flex too much and are usually a failure.

    The front of a progressive lens is aspheric, to make the different curvatures needed for different focal lengths and so there is no corresponding "tool" with which to perform the magic.😉

    Hope this elucidates.

  • yonsonyonson Member Posts: 940 ✭✭✭

    I have used Brasso to polish plastic for many years, but as has been said, removing part of the surface will change the prescription. IMHO replacement is the only practical option.

  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,081 ✭✭✭✭

    Buy new ones😎

  • hoosierhoosier Member Posts: 1,594 ✭✭✭✭

    Hate that !

    Have a Scratch in mime but getting used to it.

    Do have insurgence on them, but doing in to the eye Doc in a month, so will get new ones then.

    Has a protective coating on the lenses. Think $ 25.00 covers 2 years on the frames and Lenses. Not a bad deal.

    Magazines, Gun Parts and More. US Army Veteran, VFW, NRA Patron
  • Gregor62Gregor62 Member Posts: 3,143 ✭✭✭✭

    Poly is great for reduced weight, that's where the benefits end. I just replaced my glasses due to the same issue.

    I now treat them like a piece of gold. No finger touching, and only clean with designated wipes approved by the manufacturer.

  • MercuryMercury Member Posts: 7,830 ✭✭✭

    Zenni Optical is how. :)

    I pay $25 for the IDENTICAL frames that my local place wants $175 for. I wish I was joking…….

    Merc

  • Lady Rae Lady Rae Member Posts: 2,343 ✭✭✭✭

    I seem to remember Costco sending them into be fixed. Lenses getting scratched is part of wearing glasses unless your perfect lol then you have a glasses case marked on top that says TOP and you never set them down the wrong way. I've worn glasses my whole life.... It's just part of it.

    "Independence Now, Independence Forever."

    John Adams

  • Toolman286Toolman286 Member Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭✭

    Is the scratch in the lens itself or in a coating (like low glare or tint.) If the scratch is in the coating, get some "Armour Etch" for etching glass. It is a cream that wont affect or harm the plastic lens but will clear off the scratched coating. I've used it and the glasses are like new again.

  • montanajoemontanajoe Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 59,950 ******

    I suggest taking them back to where you got them. They will know. Betting you're looking at a new pair.

    Hope this helps.

  • Ditch-RunnerDitch-Runner Member Posts: 25,220 ✭✭✭✭
    edited April 19

    I have worn glasses since 1st grade when they realized my bad grades because I could not see the black board or read it

    any way I have ask every eye doctor I have ever been too.

    same answer nope sorry cany repair them. now very minor I do mean minor ones that can

    make a little better other wise new glasses

    I try and be careful with mine but just every day working in no time I have them scratched up to the point they look so foggy like sanded or sand blaster and that's with being careful rinsing them off using the special soft Lense wipes and sprays

    I am about to break down and get new ones again, I can deal with bad ones to the point then I cant stand it if I get a year out of a pair I am happy

    the safety glasses ( real glass I wore at work for 25 yrs I could wear them at work for years even grinding welding sanding and almost nothing hurt them as

    the polycarbonate are light but a joke in durability

    yes I get the special protective coatings $$ ( but just waste of money

    same story the docs all say no way more ham than good trying to polish them

    oh by the way I did the toothpaste trick many years ago on old pair it just scratched them up beyond use

    if you find some way to remove them I would love to save $$

  • 62vld204262vld2042 Member Posts: 1,194 ✭✭✭✭

    Contact lenses........they will open up your world.

    I too, once thought I had "sensitive eyes".........my doctor proved me wrong.

    Going on 43 years now….....no problems.

    BTW.......at home, I may still wear my old scratched up glasses, once in awhile.

  • bullshotbullshot Member Posts: 14,680 ✭✭✭✭

    The only thing you can do to plastic lenses is screw them up even worse by trying to polish out scratches.

    I say this from personal experience, if you must try, go ahead and order new lenses before you start polishing .......…. You'll need them.

    "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you"
  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,381 ******

    Ok Gents, I am getting the picture (I see what you're saying?) I hadn't considered there might be a warranty to look into. I will do that. I think new lenses are in order. There is one nick I can feel with a fingernail and a couple other more minor scratches on the same lens that are annoying. The nick is the worst since it's in the most magnified portion of these progressives.

    As wearing glasses goes, I am still a newb compared to a lot of you. Only had to wear them full time for about 2 years now.

    Ugh.

    Maybe contacts is the way to go? I recall that the last visit to the eye doc he told me it was an option. When I first needed glasses they said it wasn't.

    Thanks all.

    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
  • Toolman286Toolman286 Member Posts: 3,209 ✭✭✭✭

    I take my prescription to Wally World and get 2 pair of bifocals for under my $200 insurance. That gives me a spare just in case. One year they replaced a set of lenses where the coating became scratched from normal cleaning. I don't waste my $$ on coatings anymore.

    My mother needed a single bifocal lens and the optometrist wanted $120. WW did it for $52 plus $10 to fit it into her frames. Wifey just got new progressive lenses put in her frames for $140. Don't waste your $$ at a fufu place.

  • hoosierhoosier Member Posts: 1,594 ✭✭✭✭

    Talking about Glasses. Sorry to jump in.

    If you are on a fixed income and no insurance , and need glasses. Lions Club.

    Contact the Local Lions Club, that on of the missions they perform is getting eye war for folks that can't afford it.

    Our Local Club has done 12 set so far this year. Includes exam and glasses.

    Magazines, Gun Parts and More. US Army Veteran, VFW, NRA Patron
  • BrookwoodBrookwood Member, Moderator Posts: 13,719 ******

    Walmart optics must be different in various parts of the country. My wife just had an eye exam along with a new pair of progressive lens eye glasses that cost just a bit over 600 dollars. 😓

  • tnrangertnranger Member Posts: 440 ✭✭✭✭

    At Walmart, It depends very much on whether they accept your insurance. My glasses with all the bells and whistles (including rated as safety glasses) would have cost over $600 w/o insurance. With my add-on vision insurance they cost a little over $120. YMMV

  • Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 40,032 ***** Forums Admin

    That is about what it cost me too. The pair I'm wearing now came from dumb-mart and were $500. No Insurance for me so cash out of pocket. In my line of work all glasses are junk. As already stated, the plastic lenses scratch easily. If I get glass lenses, sparks from grinders and welders embed themselves in the glass readily.

    My kid got glasses somewhere on the internet for $78.00, and she loves them. I am afraid to do that, but maybe I'll give it a shot. 500 bucks for glasses that are basically junk after a year ain't makin' it.

    To the op, yep what others have said about polishing/buffing lenses changing the optics. That is the answer I got from my glasses guy 20 years ago when I asked that question.

  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,886 ✭✭✭✭

    My last pair was from the Zenni website, & they met my requirements for $80 ; light lenses, they got the Rx perfectly right, fast delivery, & fit was perfect.

    Neal

  • roswellnativeroswellnative Member Posts: 10,158 ✭✭✭✭

    the irony is the place the scratch goes is Dead center…

    Although always described as a cowboy, Roswellnative generally acts as a righter of wrongs or bodyguard of some sort, where he excels thanks to his resourcefulness and incredible gun prowesses.
  • montanajoemontanajoe Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 59,950 ******

    Real good update,WTG

  • Lady Rae Lady Rae Member Posts: 2,343 ✭✭✭✭

    I'm glad you got All figured out 🥸 I wear my glasses at home and when it's time to go somewhere I put my contacts on… my shooting is better with them. And as I tell my mom at 75 who is a fairly new glasses wearer, never get fancy coating or ultra lights it messes with your prescription know matter what they say. Do try and keep them in a case when not use😁 or at least not face down 😜 Happy Seeing 🥸

    "Independence Now, Independence Forever."

    John Adams

  • Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 40,032 ***** Forums Admin

    Glad it worked out in your favor, Mr. P.

  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭

    Hey Neal, glad to see you posting more! Does Zenni take insurance? (At that price it may not matter...)

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