Hardcoat | Scratch Resistant Coatings
As of today, there is no lens material in the industry that is 100% scratch proof. How do these scratches appear on eyewear? The simple task of cleaning them with a cloth or tissue is often enough to mildly scratch lenses. Compounded over the life of the eyewear, just this act alone can cause major scratches on a pair of eyewear.
Several materials come with factory-applied scratch coats, but this is not often the case. For many materials, scratch coats are optional. To ensure your lenses are properly protected from scratches, be sure to make your request known to your optician.
Even with the application of a scratch resistant coating, your eyewear cannot be totally protected from scratches caused by daily wear and tear. It is recommended that eyewear be kept in a proper cushioned case, and cleaned with a recommended cleaning solution and microfiber cleaning cloth. Do not clean your lenses with household glass cleaner or dish detergent. These products can degrade the coatings on your lenses and compromise the integrity of these coatings.
Beware of advertisements that claim to fill in scratches on eyewear. These products do not work, and are actually known to slightly change the prescription of your lenses. It is better to use proper care than to rely on these types of solutions. They can only compound the problem.