How to remove scratches from prescription glasses with coatings

If you've ever visited an eye care professional for your kids — or you're an active person or have a strong prescription — you've probably heard the sales speech on polycarbonate lenses. These lightweight, impact-resistant lenses offer a lot of benefits. They hold up to active lifestyles, help mitigate the coke-bottle effect that can come with strong prescriptions, and don't tend to shatter when dropped.

But are polycarbonate lenses scratch-resistant? You'd think so, given that laundry list of strengths, but the lens material itself is prone to scratching. That's why these lenses almost always come with an anti-scratch coating.

The coating helps mitigate scratch risks but doesn't remove them altogether. Scratches can appear on glasses due to:

• Dropping them on rough surfaces, like asphalt 

• Daily wear and tear

• Cleaning lenses with abrasive cloths or solutions

Learn how to remove scratches from glasses with coatings below. Spoiler alert: You can't just hit the surface with a buffer tool and call it a day.

Do home remedies remove scratches from glasses?

Spend any amount of time on social media, and you'll see short videos with "life hacks." It seems like every content creator has a magic tip for cleaning, repairing, saving on, or making something, and eyeglasses aren't immune. 

Some DIY hacks for removing scratches can work. Others can leave your lenses in worse shape than when you started, especially if they have special coatings.

Will toothpaste remove scratches from eyeglasses?

According to the internet, you may be able to use non-whitening toothpaste on a microfiber cloth as a gentle abrasive to buff out fine scratches. While it might work on general glass, you should probably keep toothpaste away from your eyeglasses. It may be too abrasive and could strip away anti-glare and other protective layers on your glasses. Going too hard with toothpaste could also leave you with more fine scratches than you started with.

Does vinegar remove scratches from glasses?

Vinegar is a go-to home cleaning product for all types of surfaces, including glass stove tops and windows. However, that cleaning power doesn't translate well to eyeglasses with coatings. The acidity in vinegar, which makes it a powerful home cleaning agent, can damage blue-light, anti-scratch, and other coatings on lenses. 

Does baking soda remove scratches from glasses?

See a pattern developing? You can probably guess that even though baking soda is also a common home cleaning agent, it's not right for eyeglasses with coatings. Baking soda creates a gritty paste that's ideal for scrubbing down a shower or sink, but scrubbing your glasses with the same mixture can scratch away coatings.

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Try a non-abrasive option if you have coated lenses with light scratches

The previously mentioned abrasive cleaning options pose risks to lens coatings, but non-abrasive options may help you buff out small surface scratches. You might try:

• Adding a small amount of baby oil to a clean microfiber cloth

• Gently cleaning your lenses with the oiled cloth, using a circular motion 

• Wiping the lenses dry and clear with a non-oiled portion of the cloth

Even something as non-abrasive as baby oil can wear away lens coatings over time, so avoid using these types of DIY scratch removal options often. 

Other options you can try to clean glasses and help reduce the impact of small scratches include:

• Using store-bought lens cleaners

• Washing glasses in warm water with mild dish soap

• Trying specialty glass lens repair spray (always read labels carefully to ensure it's safe for the type of coating on your lenses)

When it's time to throw in the microfiber towel and get new lenses

Small, surface-level scratches might be buffed out, but deeper scratches can't be fixed with these DIY measures. In some cases, damage to lens coatings can be fixed by professionals. If you think the coating on your glasses has worn off or you see a lot of small scratches in it, consider asking about re-coating options.

You can also choose to replace your lenses or get all-new glasses (including frames). Signs it might be time to replace lenses or glasses instead of trying to buff out scratches include:

• Scratches on the lenses are impacting the clarity of your vision.

• Specialty coatings are starting to visibly peel away.

• Scratches impact the aesthetics of your glasses, and you don't like the way you look in them.

• DIY methods for cleaning your glasses or buffing out small scratches aren't working.

You can save on a new pair of glasses by ordering online with The Framery. Enjoy a free in-home try-on to ensure you get glasses that look and feel great on you.

Original publish date: 11/4/2022

Updated date: 3/3/2026