The line between rescuing an old pair of lenses and destroying your everyday glasses is thinner than most people realize. Mild methods like a smooth baking soda paste or gentle, non-whitening toothpaste can sometimes soften hairline scratches on uncoated plastic or glass. But the moment coatings enter the picture—anti-glare, blue light, scratch-resistant—those same tricks turn from “repair” to irreversible damage. Abrasives don’t just polish; they strip. And once a coating is gone or clouded, no home remedy can bring it back.

Fillers like car wax or lens scratch products don’t actually heal scratches; they only mask them, and often at the cost of clarity or coating performance. That’s why prevention is your real power: hard cases, microfiber cloths, proper cleaners, and never setting lenses face-down. When scratches sit in your direct line of sight or cause strain and glare, the most loving choice isn’t another risky hack—it’s replacement. Clear vision is not a luxury upgrade; it’s the baseline your eyes deserve.