Can I get a small dent buffed out of my glasses?

Question

I have a dent in my glasses from dropping them on pavement, and now theres a big circle in my vision when I look through it. Can I go to the optical shopped and get it buffed out, or do I need new lenses?

Answer 1

The dent or chip in the lens has a certain depth. I assume that you are not wearing any kind of bifocal. Whether your lenses are made of glass or plastic, it is theoretically possible to resurface the lens and create an optically clear lens. Polishing only the spot that is "dented" would, as stated in a previous answer, result in distorted, poorly focused light through the area.

Two reasons why you probably will not be able to have the lens resurfaced. First, It would be much less expensive just to purchase a new lens. Most laboratories are prepared to grind and polish the BACK surface of a lens, but few can do the same to the front surface, where your dent is. Second, resurfacing the lens would probably require removing so much material from the surface, that the lens would no longer meet impact resistance requirements for prescription lenses.

I see a new lens in your future, or your adapting to a "dent" in your visual world.

Answer 2

No. Scratches cannot be "buffed" out of a lens, like you can buff scratches out of your watch face.

Buffing a scratch will warp the lens and the prescription. And in plastic and polycarbonate lenses, it may even melt the lens.

You need a new lens...

Answer 3

A good optician can sometimes polish out scratches, but I think it depends on the depth of the scratch and whether it would thin the lens to do so. It's worth asking, I'm sure! They'll tell you whether they can do it or not!

Answer 4

You will need new lenses. If it were possible to "buff" out, it would leave a very distorted view through that area.

Answer 5

no or yes im not sure