Spectacle wearers love that great feeling when they put on their new glasses for the first time and once more enjoy unhindered vision. But let’s not kid ourselves, after leaving the practice, those glasses quickly migrate to the bottom of a handbag, and cleaning cloths don’t get washed enough – often they are filthier than the lens itself.
Not only are glasses a breeding ground for infection, incorrect eyeglass cleaning can cause microscopic scratches that ultimately impair vision. Now, more than ever, it’s a great idea to educate patients about the importance of lens hygiene and discuss these convenient ways to help them make it routine.
1. Fast cleaning, out and about
Remind patients to avoid using their shirt sleeve to clean lenses when they are out and about. Instead, ZEISS lens wipes are the perfect solution – they take up practically no space and are immediately ready for use.
A 2018 study by Hochschule Furtwangen University in Germany investigated the efficacy of four cleaning methods to reduce microbial loads on spectacles: moist alcohol wipes, alcohol-free wipes, dry tissue and dry microfibre cloth. Moist lens-cleaning wipes showed the most germ reduction at ≥99%. ZEISS lens wipes are made of micro-fine cellulose fibres, are gentle on lenses, provide streak-free results and, most importantly, do not contain any other chemical agents. For the eyecare professional (ECP), lens wipes are also an easy-to-implement practice-builder product category.
ZEISS lens wipes are also ideal for cleaning touchscreen displays which, like eyewear, are breeding grounds for microorganisms. A study by the same university indicated that an uncleaned 4-inch touchscreen is home to approximately 111 species of microorganisms!
2. Thorough cleaning at home
Patients should rub a drop of pH-neutral washing-up liquid between the fingers until suds are formed, then apply this to the lenses before rinsing them under running, lukewarm water and drying them gently with a clean microfibre cloth.
3. A special treat for specs: an ultrasonic clean
Invite patients to return to you more regularly by offering an ultrasonic clean for their spectacles every six months.
4. Correct storage
Glasses deserve a good home! Advise patients to store them in a hard case, or to put them in a safe spot with the lenses facing upwards. Many patients are unaware that glasses should not be exposed to temperatures over 80⁰C, which damage lenses and frames – car dashboards are frequent offenders!
