- The Sunglass Fix

Advanced Sunglass Care

It's no secret that people across the world love sunglasses. Ray-Ban Wayfarers, made famous by the Blues Brothers, have been around since 1953 -- and sold 10 million units in 1998 alone. Even fictional characters love them. The round lenses of The Matrix's good guys and the rectangular ones of the bad guys made an impression on the world's fashion conscious. Still, sunglasses are so much more than just fabulous accessories. The vision care market generated $34.54 billion in 2012, and that number would be higher, except that 20% seem to think that sunglasses aren't important to their health. Even the military recognizes their importance and had special dark-green tints created to protect pilots form high-altitude glare.

If you're a sunglass devotee like myself, you've probably run into every snafu imaginable with your shades. Here, we'll look at some advanced care tips for your favorite pair of sunglasses, from how to fix scratched sunglass lenses to how to replace them.

How to Fix Scratched Sunglass Lenses

There's nothing worse than a scratch across one of your lenses. There are a few different materials that can fix scratched sunglass lenses if applied with a lint free cloth and rinsed off afterward. Try vehicle wax, brass or silver polish, lemon pledge, toothpaste, or baking soda and water.

How to Clean Polarized Sunglass Lenses

It's important to check your manufacturer's recommendations first, but this process should work for all polarized lenses. Use a clean linen or cotton cloth to rub away marks and smudges. If something is stuck, first try rubbing it with warm water. For a really stubborn stain, you may try a very mild detergent, but even this is risky. Your best bet is to obtain a specialized spray and cloth from an optometrist.

How to Replace Sunglass Lenses

You can order replacement sunglass lenses either from the manufacturer or from aftermarket providers. Sunglass lens replacement is easier for metal frame sunglasses than for plastic ones, but both are certainly doable. For metal frame sunglasses, loosen the screws, keeping the frames together, and pop in the new lens before tightening the screws back up. For plastic frames, soak the sunglasses in warm, soapy water for a while before popping the old lenses out and the new ones in.

Caring for your favorite sunglasses is all about keeping up with maintenance. Keep them clean, store them safely, and make sure the screws are always tightened appropriately. If you follow those steps, you might be able to avoid needing these tips in the first place


                                                                           How to replace the lenses yourself

Where Have You Left Your Sunglasses....Glasses TrackR Will Tell You
We all know how frustrating it can be to lose our designer sunglasses or shades right at the moment when we're running out the door and need them. Tha...
Oakley New Release Sports Sunglasses Review: The Pitbull and Max Fear Light Jawbone
Oakley's latest release this season continues the trend of large sunglasses and big lenses. Rumours are that Oakley plan to replace the Hijinx and Mon...