Forums Forums Wirral Information Ask - Wiki Wirral Super glue on glasses lens

Just tried putting the nose pad on my glasses with superglue and ended up squirting it all over the lens, (expletives deleted), and I can't get it off the lens.
Tried lens wipes as soon as it happened, no good, then WD40, no good, then hot water and washing up liquid, still no good.
I turned to google for advice but I am weary of using nail polish because they are coated with a UV layer (a bit late after the WD40 episode I know).
A bit gutted, because these glasses have no scratches on and my everyday glasses that don't have the UV protection are on the last legs.
I know Google has the answers for everything, but has any wiki members had the same problem and solved it?

What an absolute pain! If it's at all blobby you might be able to shave it off with a very carefully wielded Stanley blade or similar, but you might also end up with scratches. Would it be worth ringing your optician for advice?

On the Loctite website they mention using toothpaste... also something called Loctite Glue Remover? Not sure what it'd do to your UV coating though...

Hi Mike. Don't know if you have this product there but it works well.

https://googone.com/goo-adhesive-remover-spray-gel

Modern 'glasses' are plastic, and I suspect that anything that attacks superglue will also attack the lens with disastrous result.

If you have an old pair of glasses, I suggest you experiment with them by trying any solvents on them first.

You might try acetone (Nail varnish remover) once you have tested the effect on the plastic lenses, or Isoppropyl alcohol. Try soaking the glasses in them overnight. Isopropyl alcohol makes up about 30% of windscreen cleaner if you have difficulty getting it pure. If you have an ultrasonic cleaner that might be worth a try. Aldi used to sell them foe about a tenner.

You might try plunging them into hot and cold water alternatively in the hope that differences in thermal expansion will weaken the bond between them, so the superglue can be detached easily, but I'm not optimistic. I suspect its probably a new lens for you, Mike. Sorry.

Thanks for the replies guys.
I put them in the kettle in the hope the glue would melt, and have destroyed both of the lens now, gutted.
New glasses it has to be, which are not cheap anymore, with the extras of thinning, anti-glare and UV protection. A very harsh lesson learned here, put the superglue on the pad, not the glasses.

Bad news and so easily done. Just a thought, would you consider getting glasses on line? They are incredibly cheap compared with opticians. One of our sons did it and total cost was a quarter of what he would usually pay. I will certainly check it out later this year when I am due a test.

You will need your prescription if you go on line for new glasses. Your optician is compelled by law to give it to you after an eye test and will have it on record from your last test. Just ask them and you are set up to try online.

Sorry to hear you destroyed the lenses. I can remember the time when they really were glass. You could have got the superglue off them no problem but as a boy I had to wear them and they were so heavy I got pressure sores on my nose from them! Plastic really is better although not tin this case.

Salmon, I am going to look at the online option with Spex4Less because they are based in Hoylake which will be easier to deal with if there are any problems. Has anyone else used these?
Excoriator, if I ring Specsavers, will they just give me my last prescription at no cost?

Yes, I believe they have to. They may try to charge you, but point out that this is your data not theirs and they are compelled by law to supply it free.

They may want you to produce ID which I suppose if fair enough so you may have to turn up in person with a passport or driving licence, but try them by phone first. If they have your address on record, they might be prepared to post it to you.