How to Care for and Disinfect Glasses 

Even if you weren’t a germaphobe before, it’s likely that since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, you’ve become a little more mindful of germs—or at least found yourself reaching for the hand sanitizer a little more often. But no matter how many times we wash our hands, that doesn’t do anything about the bacteria and germs that manage to hitch a ride elsewhere. 

If you’re a glasses wearer, one source of germs that you might be overlooking on a daily basis is (literally) right in front of your face. One scientific study that investigated the bacterial load of the frames and lenses of glasses found that all of the eyeglasses tested were contaminated with bacteria, including a few species that are known to cause disease. 

How to Clean Your Glasses

Fortunately, sanitizing your classes is relatively easy and doesn’t have to involve fancy cleaning solutions or chemicals. Cleaning your glasses once a day using the following tips can help reduce the number of germs on them and keep yourself healthy in the process:

• The best way to clean your glasses is with warm water and lotion-free soap. Yes, it really is that simple! Normal dish soap, as long as it doesn’t have lotion in it, will work just fine. Alternatively, you can also use a special lens cleaning solution if you have one, but stay away from household cleaners or harsh chemicals.
  
• Before you start, make sure that your hands are clean. Wet your glasses under the water and use your fingers to gently work the soap over both sides of the lenses and around the frame. Try to avoid hot water, as this can potentially damage your glasses. 
• Use a microfiber cloth or cotton cloth to dry your glasses once you’ve rinsed them off. Other materials (like paper towels or normal dish cloths) may scratch the lenses.
  
• If you’d like, you can use glasses cleaning solution or a rubbing alcohol towelette to wipe down the frames (however, if you opt for rubbing alcohol, it’s best to keep it away from the lenses themselves). Be sure to pay attention to the nose pads, and get into any folds and crevices as best you can. 

Aside from cleaning them, one of the best things you can do to take care of your glasses is to store them in a case when you’re not using them. 

OneSight is on a mission to help the world see better by bringing affordable vision care to those who need it most. Since 1988, we’ve reached 52+ million people worldwide, including lives served directly as well as people who now have ongoing access to vision care through permanent vision centers. Our strategy is focused on both meeting immediate needs and establishing long-term solutions, and involves a combination of charitable clinics and sustainable vision centers. Contact us for more information about how you can make a difference in ending the vision care crisis, or consider donating to support our work.