Philip Walsh - My glass lenses are scratched, do I need a new pair?

Scratched lenses can be annoying, especially if you’ve just invested in new glasses!

Whether or not your scratched glasses need replacing will depend on how deep the scratch is on the lens and where the scratch is located. If your glasses don’t have a protective coating, then you will most likely need to invest in new lenses.

If the scratch is located in the centre of the lens this will likely affect your vision and you’ll need new lenses but good news is, if the scratch is located on the side of the lens this shouldn’t cause any obstruction to your vision and will not affect your sight.

Equally important is taking care of your glasses so you can avoid having scratched lenses in the first place.  When you are not wearing your specs, you should keep them in a protective case or if you don’t have one on hand, remind yourself to place them in a position so the lenses are face up and not touching any type of surface.

To save your glasses from scratched lenses in the future, be sure to ask the dispensing optician about scratch resistant coating. This is applied to the surface of the lens during the glazing process and acts as a protective barrier against scratches. This can also help your lenses last longer and prevent scratches.

To find out more about scratch resistant coating, talk to your local Specsavers optometrist or visit www.specsavers.co.nz.