Finding the perfect pair of sunglasses can completely change your life. But once you’ve found the sunglasses that flatter your face shape and make you feel great, it’s important to keep them in good condition and protect them from any wear and tear.
Not sure where to start with looking after your shades? Don’t worry, help is at hand! Here are some top tips to help you take care of your sunglasses:
One of the most important things you can do to take care of your sunglasses is to protect them when you’re not wearing them. The best way to do this is to keep your sunglasses in a hard case. Most high-end sunglasses (including brands such as Maui Jim and Prada) are supplied with their own hard case, but if your frames don’t then you can buy one relatively inexpensively.
Use the case whenever your sunglasses are not on your face to minimise the risk of scratching, damaging or ruining your lenses.
Regularly check and maintain your shades. Make it part of your routine to give your sunglasses a once over once a week to check that the screws aren’t loose or the frames aren’t damaged. Loose and missing screws is one of the most common complaints that can reduce the life of your frames, but it’s such a simple problem to fix!
If you do notice that one of your screws is loose then you can tighten it gently with a small screwdriver: if you’re not sure how to do this yourself then any high street opticians will be able to do this for you in just a few minutes.
The main aim of sunglasses (aside from looking great) is to protect your eyes without reducing your vision. With this aim in mind, it’s important to regularly clean your lenses to keep them as clear as possible.
A gentle lens solution is the best thing to clean your glasses with, and it’s important to ensure you always clean your glasses when they’re wet or damp. If you wipe your lenses when they are dry then any dust or dirt particles that are left on it could lead to scratches and accidental damage. In the absence of lens solution, warm clean water provides a passable alternative when you’re out and about.
During the summer months when you are wearing your glasses almost constantly, you should wash them once a day to keep them clean and prevent any build-up of dirt and dust, which could become trapped in the arms and reduce their functionality. Washing your glasses will ensure your lenses remain in their optimal state, and help you to keep them for longer.
Once you have washed your glasses, let them air dry. This will minimise the chance that you could scratch or damage the lenses with a cloth or paper towel. Remember that the better care you take of your favourite glasses, the longer you will be able to wear them without having to replace them.