Lens Delamination: Your Sunglasses are Peeling and We Tell You What to Do

Delamination is when the layers of your glasses start to peel off. Think of it as "peeling". This happens if you leave them in the sun, clean them poorly or spill chemicals on them. Your glasses look ugly and you can no longer see well with them.

What is delamination and why does it happen to my lenses?

Delamination happens when layers of your lenses become loose, such as UV filters or glare removers. These coatings separate from the base of the lens. You will see bubbles, non-transparent areas or colored spots, as if the lens is peeling. It's like peeling skin from a burn. The lens no longer serves well, it loses its original shape and functions. This is of great concern to those of us who wear sunglasses, because it affects how we see, it doesn't protect us the same way and the glasses look bad.

How to Tell If Your Lenses Are Peeling Off

If you find the delamination early, it will help you understand what's going on. Look at these things, they're the most common:

• You'll see spots or areas that aren't clear and won't come off when you clean.
• Small or large bubbles come out inside the lens or around the edges.
• Thin cracks or a "spider web" appear on the surface.
• The lens is discolored or cloudy in places.
• The lens feels "peeling" if you touch it.
• You see everything weird or less clear when you wear the lens.

All this means that the coatings that protect your glasses are coming loose. This affects your vision and they no longer protect you the same.

Parts of a lens: How they are made

If you want to know why your lenses are "peeling," you need to look at what they are made of. Today's lenses have many layers, they are complicated:

• Base Material: the largest part of the lens, it can be polycarbonate, CR-39 or others.
• Polarized Coating: Removes annoying glare, so you see everything better and with more colors.
• UV Filters: Keeps the sun's harmful rays from reaching your eyes.
• Anti-Reflective (AR) Coating: Keeps you from seeing reflections, so your lenses look better and you see better too.
• Hard Coating: Helps keep them from scratching as easily.
• Water and Grease Repellent Coating: So water and grease don't stick to them, it's easier to clean your lenses.

These coatings are bonded with adhesives or otherwise. If something damages them, they separate and that is delamination. It is very important that these adhesives are good, so your lenses last longer.

What Causes Your Sunglasses to Peel Off

If you know why your lenses peel off, you can take better care of them and make them last longer, whether they are Ray Ban or another brand. People always ask why their sunglass lenses are peeling off. There are several things that cause this.

Too Much Heat and Strong Sun

Heat does a lot of damage to your lenses. Don't leave your glasses in the car in the sun, or near a window that gets a lot of sun, or in very hot places like a sauna or heated pool. This causes the lens materials to expand and shrink in a strange way. That force breaks down the adhesives and coatings, and so they "peel". The sun's rays, UV rays, also gradually damage them over time, even if the lenses have a filter.

When your glasses touch harsh chemicals

Many of the things we use every day have chemicals in them. Those chemicals are bad, they eat away at the lens coatings. Imagine perfume, hairspray or insect repellents, even some regular window cleaners. They can dissolve those protective coatings, if your glasses accidentally touch them or you use them for cleaning. This weakens the lens and causes it to peel sooner than it should.

Cleaning your glasses wrong

How you clean your glasses is very important. If you rub the lenses with scratchy clothes, paper towels, alcohol wipes, or even tissues, you can scratch a lot the surface. This damages the coatings, plus those tiny scratches don't let you see well. They can also let moisture and dirt get into the coatings, so the lens peels faster. Cleaning glasses poorly, is one of the main reasons for damage.

Glasses wear out, and quality is key.

Over time, all lenses wear out, it's normal. But notice, the quality of how they are made is super important for them to last. Lenses that aren't as good, or those with poorly placed coatings, will peel much easier. The materials and adhesives used to make them directly affect how durable the lens will be. We are talking about resistance to the environment and everyday use. A better quality lens, for example, from brands like Persol Sunglasses, will last longer without problems.

Blows and misuse

Well, lens peeling doesn't always happen from a direct hit. But if you drop them, or treat them roughly, or they take a hit, that can make tiny cracks on the surface, on the edges. Through those tiny openings, moisture or dirt can get in between the layers. So the lens starts to peel or the process is accelerated. And if you are careless, for example, you store them without their protective case, you expose them to friction, and that also damages them. They end up spoiling.

Don't want your glasses to peel? Here's how to take care of them

Don't let your glasses delaminate, it's better to avoid it than to try to fix it. Taking good care of them helps them last a long time, so they protect your eyes and you can see clearly. Many people wonder what to do to keep lenses from peeling, here are some ideas.

Where to Store Your Glasses: The Best Place to Store Them

Good storage is key. Always use their hard case when you're not wearing them, it's best. This way they won't get knocked or scratched, and you'll protect them from heat or very cold weather. Do not leave them in the car, in the dashboard it gives him/her much the sun, neither in windows where the direct sun arrives to them. Humidity is not good either, your case should always be clean and dry, it is their safe place.

How to Clean Your Glasses: What to Use and How to Do It

Cleaning is very important. Always use warm water and a normal soap, no creams or moisturizers, or look for a special lens spray. First, run the glasses under the faucet to remove dust, don't rub them yet. Then, dry them carefully using a clean and dry microfiber cloth, one of those for lenses. Do not use paper towels, tissues, your clothes or alcohol wipes. These things will scratch or damage the coating on your glasses.

Don't leave them where it's too hot or too cold.

As we already said, heat is the big enemy. Never leave your glasses in the car, especially in summer. Don't put them in saunas or steam baths, and don't wear them near hot things like ovens or barbecues, that will damage them. Strong temperature changes are also bad. They cause the materials to enlarge and shrink suddenly, so the glued layers will weaken.

Beware of Chemicals and Makeup

Don't leave your glasses near chemicals. Always take them off if you are going to use hairspray, perfume or insect repellent. Also for sun creams. If you accidentally drop something on them, clean them quickly. Use lukewarm water with mild soap, then dry them with a microfiber cloth. This is very important to protect the lens coatings.

Why It's Good to Choose Lenses That Last

It's a good idea to spend on a brand name sunglasses, like Chanel Gafas De Sol, or any other you know. And that their lenses have good quality coatings, the kind that are certified. That's the best way to keep them from failing in the long run. Professional opticians use materials and techniques that hold up better. They don't drop their coatings, they don't scratch as easily, and they resist the weather. Ask about warranties and if the manufacturer supports you. If the quality is good to begin with, they will last longer and you will have peace of mind.

What do I do if my lenses are already peeling?

When the coating on your eyewear has already started to fall off, many people ask questions. Like, "What do I do if my sunglasses are peeling?" or "Can you fix peeling sunglasses?". You have to be realistic with what you can do. That way you avoid getting mad or having them damaged further.

Is there a fix for a peeling lens?

Most of the time, no, they can't be fixed. When the coating peels, it is because the lens is damaged on the inside, in its layers. Once it starts, there is no going back. There are no home made tricks that work to "glue" or "repair" those peeling coatings. If you try to sand, polish or put chemicals on it, you're sure to make it worse. It could further damage your eyesight and you may even lose any warranty you may have. You have to accept that, if the lens peeled off, it no longer protects you or helps you see like it used to.

Options: Lens Replacement vs. New Glasses.

Your lenses are peeling, they're no good, so you have two paths:

• Lens Replacement: If the frame is fine, you can replace just the lenses, you save money that way. It's better for the planet, and you don't have to give up your frame if you like it. An optician will tell you if your Balenciaga men's glasses, for example, can take new lenses, and find you ones with good filters, with proper coatings.
• Buying New Glasses: If the frame is old, broken, or you just want something different, buying new sunglasses is better. This way you can choose a more modern model, which has lenses with the latest technology to protect your eyes, which will last a long time.

Think about how much new lenses are worth and how much a complete pair of glasses are worth, take a good look at your frame, so you can decide what suits you best.

When is it time to visit an optician?

If your lenses are peeling, or if you're wondering "Will the warranty cover me if the lenses come off?", go to an expert now. At Bassol Optics, our guys know their stuff, they can help you with this:

• They look at how bad your lenses are.
• They tell you if the manufacturer's warranty covers the peeling lenses, that changes a lot with each brand and why they got damaged.
• They give you the best solutions, it can be changing just the lenses, or find you a new Sunglasses that go well with what you need and what you want to spend.
• They give you tips on how to take better care of your glasses afterwards, so they don't get damaged.

Come with us to have us look at your glasses, so we can find a good solution for you.

Eyewear Care: Myths and Truths

Many people think they know how to care for their glasses, but it's not always true. Let's take a look at what is and what isn't.

Many people use a T-shirt or paper to clean their glasses. This is a mistake. Clothes have fibers that can scratch the lenses. Paper too, is very abrasive, it damages the treatments. Always use a soft microfiber cloth. Some people use saliva to clean them, don't do it. Saliva has bacteria, leaves stains and does not clean well. It is also very unhygienic. We think alcohol disinfects, but on glasses, alcohol can damage the protective coating. It dissolves it, sometimes. Better use only special liquids for lenses. If your lenses are scratched, don't try to polish them at home. You can make them worse, the vision is distorted. When they peel, you can't fix them, there's no way back. We think that any case will do to store your glasses. That's not true. You need a hard case to protect them from shocks. The soft ones don't take good care of them.

This way you can take better care of your glasses and make them last longer.

Lens delamination happens a lot, but we can avoid it most of the time. If you know why it happens and how to avoid it, your glasses will be fine. It's important to take care of them. Store them well, clean them with the products that work, don't leave them where it's too hot. Protect your lenses from harsh chemicals, it keeps them looking good. It makes a big difference in how long your sunglasses last. Prevention is best, always, to make your glasses last a long time. At Óptica Bassol, we can help you with any questions you may have. We can check your old lenses. We also advise you to choose new glasses, with good quality and protection. We want you to see well. Come visit us, take care of your eyes with people who know.