The pandemic was a lesson indeed to let us know that at the end of the day, we all know our savior is the sanitizer! But is it the savior for our eyes?
You might want to use the very same sanitizer on your lenses for cleaning it as the one you use for your hands. But is it safe?
Scroll through the article to learn if using sanitizer for cleaning glasses is right or not. You’ll also come across other relevant sanitizer-related information that you should know as a person wearing eyeglasses.
Effect Of Using Sanitizer For Cleaning Glasses
Sanitizer, when used for cleaning eyeglasses has a few effects on its lenses (and sometimes even frame!). When sanitizer is used repeatedly, it can damage the lens and the frame of your eyeglasses.
A few hand sanitizers are more leaned towards the basic nature; however, they aren’t harmful to the anti-reflective and anti-scratch coating of your eyeglasses.
When using sanitizer to clean your glasses, there are high chances that due to the sticky nature of the sanitizer, it might leave smears and streaks if not dried properly.
Effects Of Wearing Glasses Cleaned With Sanitizer
In case you clean your eyeglasses with a sanitizer, and a bit of it is left on the lens, you might end up exposing your eye directly to alcohol.
As sanitizers contain alcohol, they can very easily cause irritation, redness, blurry vision, and pain to your eyes and might even lead to bigger problems.
The problems can become even bigger if the sanitizer reaches the cornea of the eye. Also, if the sanitizer stays for a longer time in your eye, it can cause an infection or even blindness.
Which Sanitizers Should Be Avoided?
Since most of the sanitizers are alcohol-based, their acidic nature is what makes it important for us to avoid using them. So, sanitizers with a high alcohol ratio should be avoided.
A sanitizer made with 70% isopropyl alcohol is still safer compared to other alcohol-based sanitizers as its pH level is way higher than other sanitizers.
What To Use To Clean Glasses Instead Of Sanitizer?
There are a lot of other ways which are way safer than using sanitizer for your glasses. Few of them are listed here,
- Use lens cleaning wipes.
- Clean your eyeglasses with lens cleaner and microfiber cloth.
- Use dish soap and water to clean glasses.
Apart from these, make sure you remember that even though other methods like rubbing alcohol, vinegar, lemon juice, etc. might be advised by others to clean your glasses, they aren’t safe due to their acidic nature.
Things To Consider About Glasses Amid Pandemic
Since the transfer of the virus via contaminated surfaces is one of the most common ways of spreading the COVID-19, the glasses you wear all day need extra care. The glasses are required to be cleaned more carefully and on a more frequent basis.
Here are a few things you should take care of amid pandemic,
- Make sure you do not put the frame in your mouth.
- Try touching your glasses as little as possible.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning your glasses.
- Do not blow on glasses, it might cause the germs to reach your eyes too.
- Every time you go out, clean your glasses after returning.
Conclusion
To conclude, it is understandable that sanitizer might and can be used to clean your eyeglasses but it is not a safe option. The most reliable method is the same old lens cleaner and microfiber cloth method and also you can try the no microfiber cloth method.
Regardless of the pandemic, one thing is ensured, that the utmost careful cleaning of your eyeglasses is unavoidable. Make sure to clean them regularly and always wash your hands before cleaning the eyeglasses.
