Lens Care Guide
Clear Lenses Last Longer.
We test our eyewear in the high-altitude, variable conditions of the Rocky Mountains. If our sunglasses can handle the harsh sun, dust, and sudden weather at 14,000 feet, they can handle whatever adventure you throw at them.
We design our gear with a clear intention: keep it on your face and out of the landfill. High-performance gear requires proper care to maximize your frame's life expectancy and ensure distortion-free vision.
Look after your sunglasses, and they will look after you.
1. DAILY HANDLING & STORAGE
Simple daily habits go a long way in protecting your lenses from micro-scratches and frame distortion.
- Wear them on your face, not your head: Resting sunglasses on top of your head stretches out the temple arms over time, loosening the fit. It's also the fastest way to drop them onto rocks, pavement, or dirt. Plus, sweat/oils from your head and hair can make the lenses dirty.
- Use a retainer or cord: If you take your glasses off frequently while hiking, fishing, or working, use an eyewear retainer or cord so they rest safely around your neck.
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Case them when not in use: When your shades aren't on your face, store them in their protective hard case or microfiber pouch. Throwing loose sunglasses into a backpack, cup holder, or pocket is asking for scratched coatings.
- Keep them out of extreme heat: Avoid leaving your sunglasses sitting on a hot car dashboard. Extreme heat can warp frame materials and compromise protective lens coatings over time.
2. OUR CARE PROTOCOL: CLEANING YOUR LENSES
Sweat, sunscreen, road spray, and saltwater happen. Don't forget to clean your sunglasses when you get off the trail or water—cleaning your lenses correctly preserves their protective coatings, optical clarity, and durability.
Step 1: Freshwater Rinse
After exposure to salt air, saltwater, sunscreen, bug spray, or heavy sweat, rinse your sunglasses as soon as possible with clean lukewarm water. This flushes away abrasive dirt, sand, and chemical residue before you touch the lens.
Step 2: Mild Soap Only
If your lenses have oil, sunscreen, or stubborn smudge buildup, place a drop of mild, non-abrasive dish soap on your lens. Gently work the lather over the lenses and frame, then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
WHAT TO AVOID:
Never use harsh household cleaners, glass sprays (like Windex), acetone, or industrial soaps. These chemicals strip protective lens coatings and damage frame materials.
Step 3: Dry with Microfiber Only
Dry and polish your lenses using only a clean microfiber cloth or the microfiber cleaning pouch included with your eyewear.
WHAT TO AVOID:
Never wipe your lenses with a t-shirt, paper towels, napkins, or tissue paper. Wood fibers in paper products and fine grit trapped in everyday clothing fabrics leave micro-scratches across your lens coating.
3. HYDROGLARE™ CARE
HYDROGLARE™ polarized lenses feature specialized protective layers engineered to defend against harsh environmental exposure, saltwater corrosion, and heavy sweat.
We took our HYDROGLARE™ shades down to Florida to field-test them alongside hardcore captains and tournament anglers in demanding marine environments. Their real-world feedback taught us two things: HYDROGLARE™ optics deliver uncompromised clarity on open water, and proper care is critical to keeping that technology performing season after season.
- Immediate Freshwater Rinse: Always perform a freshwater rinse as soon as you get off the boat or trail. Saltwater and heavy sweat leave behind abrasive salt crystals; rinsing flushes them away before they can dry and bake onto the lens surface.
- Microfiber Cleaning Only: Dry and polish your lenses exclusively with your microfiber cleaning pouch. Using t-shirts, boat towels, or paper napkins will trap salt grit and leave micro-scratches across your protective lens layers.
BACKED FOR LIFE. PERIOD.
We stand behind our gear for the long haul. If you are the original purchaser of Optic Nerve sunglasses and there is a manufacturer's defect in the material or workmanship, we'll make it right.
Every pair of Optic Nerve sunglasses is backed by our Product Lifetime Warranty—because durable eyewear belongs on your face, not the landfill.