Caring for your eyeglasses properly helps them to last longer and there’s no time of year when this is more important than winter. With Calgary winters dipping into the negative thirties, eyeglasses are extra susceptible to temporary fogging and other permanent damage. And, of course, many people want to hit the slopes, but eyeglasses aren’t built for these outdoor winter sports. So how can you care for your eyeglasses when you’re trying to enjoy the winter? There are a few simple steps you can take this winter to keep your eyeglasses safe and make your eyeglass-wearing experience better.
Eyeglasses Care For The Coldest Months
Keep Eyeglasses Out Of The Cold
Extreme temperatures are damaging to all sorts of materials, including the materials your eyeglasses are made out of. The colder the glass gets, the more brittle and prone to breaking it becomes. Any plastic used on your frame also becomes more brittle, and any metal on the frame or legs can become incredibly cold against the skin. Switching from the extreme cold outside to indoor heat is also not good for eyeglasses, as this rapid temperature change affects the materials they are made of. To avoid exposing your eyeglasses to extreme temperatures, make sure you bundle up when you go outside, including a scarf and toque that partially cover your eyeglasses. If you’re going to be spending the day outside snowshoeing, skiing, or doing any other activity in the beautiful but cold great outdoors, consider prescription ski goggles, as these are better designed to withstand cold temperatures.
Store Eyeglasses In A Hard Case
If you take your eyeglasses off (for example, to switch to UV-blocking sunglasses or ski goggles) make sure you place them in a safe place. Never put your eyeglasses in the pocket of your coat or pants, on a seat, or in a cup holder, especially if they don’t have a hard case for protection. Leaving your eyeglasses out without a hard case can quickly lead to an accidental break, especially if the eyeglasses are sitting in your cold car and becoming more brittle.
Clean Eyeglasses Often
Exposure to wind, ice, snow, and salt or gravel from the roads all cause eyeglasses to get very dirty, very fast. If there is salt on the ground, this is especially damaging to eyeglasses, as it can damage any specialty coatings on the lenses and can cause rust to develop on the metal parts of your eyeglasses. Always keep a cleaning cloth with you and make sure you clean your eyeglass lenses properly, and give your eyeglasses an occasional deep clean.
Avoid Fog
Every Canadian who wears eyeglasses knows what it’s like to walk into a room and have their vision immediately obscured by foggy lenses. Help keep your eyeglasses fog-free by asking your optician about anti fog wipes, sprays, and lens coatings. To prevent your eyeglasses from fogging up while you’re outside, either make sure your face covering is tight to your upper cheeks so air doesn’t escape upward, or try using a balaclava that has a breathable portion for the mouth to help prevent condensation from getting trapped.
Find The Right Eyeglasses For You
Whether you’re replacing old eyeglasses or getting your very first pair, Blink Eyewear can help you find the perfect eyeglasses. Our Calgary opticians can help you find a style you like that perfectly compliments your face and they can help you decide what specialty coatings may suit your lifestyle. Our opticians can also help you find a pair of sports eyewear to suit your needs for winter sports. With three convenient locations in Crowfoot in NW Calgary, West Springs in SW Calgary, and Creekside in NW Calgary, Blink Eyewear can offer you great optometry services throughout the city. To speak to a Blink Eyewear team member, call 1-403-516-2292 or fill out the online contact form.