Isopropyl Alcohol & AR Lenses ?

[Robert11]

Hello,

What a great group and folks.

For AR coated plastic lenses, the coatings done at Manufacturer
(Trivex), would the following wet Wipes be considered "safe":

Zeiss Lens Cleaning Wipes
Contains Isopropyl Alcohol
Pre-Moistened
Distributed by Carl Zeiss Vision (mfg. in China)

Guess it's the Alcohol that concerns me somewhat. Safe ?

What about Windex ?

If not, doing only dry wiping with a dry micro-fiber cloth doesn't sound
like a great idea either; some kind of moistening sounds right, but not
at all sure ?

Suggestions and thoughts would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
B.

[Dr. Big Blue Nation]

Post by Robert11
Hello,
What a great group and folks.
For AR coated plastic lenses, the coatings done at Manufacturer
Zeiss Lens Cleaning Wipes
Contains Isopropyl Alcohol
Pre-Moistened
Distributed by Carl Zeiss Vision (mfg. in China)
Guess it's the Alcohol that concerns me somewhat.  Safe ?
What about Windex ?
If not, doing only dry wiping with a dry micro-fiber cloth doesn't sound
like a great idea either; some kind of moistening sounds right, but not
at all sure ?
Suggestions and thoughts would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
B.

I am an optometrist, not an optician or a chemist, so my remarks come
from practical experience rather than research or chemical analysis.

I find using isopropyl alcohol (70 or 90%) works fine on A/R coated
lenses. just rub gently, and rinse the solvent off with eyeglass
cleaner or water quickly once it's job is done. Windex is a
complicated chemical mixture that could possible affect coated
spectacle lenses with repeated use so I would avoid using it
routinely. Once any cleaner is used to remove smudges, etc quicky
rinse with cold water (tap water is fine). DO NOT rub any type of
dry cloth onto lenses or you will produce scratching. Do not use
paper towels, napkins, or tissues. These are derived from cellulose
and can scratch lenses. Use soft cotton cloth or microfiber cloth.
DO NOT RUB.

Overall, the axioms are-- mild detergents or cleaning agents only with
gentle rubbing until desired stains/marks are removed, then rinse off
cleaning agents. dry lenses with minimal rubbing using a soft type of
cloth like microfiber. Do not rub the lenses in an attempt to "polish"
them clean.

[dumbstruck]

For goodness sakes no special purchases or science lab is needed. Just try several clear liquid handsoaps for a low residue version, and use that by all your sinks. Put a drop on one lense and hit it with warm water while you swirl with a finger. Advance to other lense and reverse sides quickly without need to add more soap which your finger retains. Rinse in water stream and eyeball twords the light.

When a handpump runs out of soap, fill it a quarter full of water and this mix gives the ideal cleaning balance for low residue. Keep it beside your new handpump, and use it free for things like soaping a sponge too.

[Mark A]

Post by Robert11
Hello,
What a great group and folks.
For AR coated plastic lenses, the coatings done at Manufacturer
Zeiss Lens Cleaning Wipes
Contains Isopropyl Alcohol
Pre-Moistened
Distributed by Carl Zeiss Vision (mfg. in China)
Guess it's the Alcohol that concerns me somewhat. Safe ?
What about Windex ?
If not, doing only dry wiping with a dry micro-fiber cloth doesn't sound
like a great idea either; some kind of moistening sounds right, but not
at all sure ?
Suggestions and thoughts would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
B.

Zeiss invented AR coating for photographic lenses many years ago, so probably their fluid is safe. Not
sure about Windex, although if you get the one made for car window interiors (for use on windows with
tint film applied) it probably is safe. I sometimes use liquid soap such as Ajax, or liquid hand soap,
rinsing with warm water before and after applying the soap.

As mentioned above, the preferred method is to rinse with running water before and after applying the
glass cleaner or soap (regardless of which one). The first rinse will help to remove any physical debris
or dirt on the lens. Obviously, body oil smudges will require some kind of soap or cleaner. So when
using a "cleaning wipe" be careful to not polish the lens with the wipe and be gentle and extra careful,
since it may not be convenient to rinse the lens with water before and/or after using the lens wipe
(which is probably why you would use the wipes instead of spray bottle).

IMO, Kleenex tissue is fine, if it used only to absorb any excess water after final rinsing. Do not wipe,
just absorb any remaining liquid from the lens. With high-end AR coatings, the water will bead up and
can easily be removed without wiping. The idea that using a cotton microfiber cloth is better than
tissue, may be true in theory if the cloth is absolutely clean each time, but that is not practical. Never
"polish" a lens with any cloth or material.

IMO opticians don't always use the best lens cleaning procedure, since they deal mostly with new
lenses, and if they do it improperly when the lens is new, probably no one will notice any adverse
effects immediately, but if done that way over a period of years, the effects could be damaging.
Besides, they have a vested interest in getting you to replace your lenses every few years or so. Not to
mention, that in many optical stores, there are often some low paid (and low-skilled) sales staff who
are not really all that knowledgeable.

The Zeiss Carat Advantage coating on my Zeiss ID lenses are now 5 years old, and coating is in
excellent condition.

[Salmon Egg]

Post by Mark A
Zeiss invented AR coating for photographic lenses many years ago, so probably
their fluid is safe. Not
sure about Windex, although if you get the one made for car window interiors
(for use on windows with
tint film applied) it probably is safe. I sometimes use liquid soap such as
Ajax, or liquid hand soap,
rinsing with warm water before and after applying the soap.
As mentioned above, the preferred method is to rinse with running water
before and after applying the
glass cleaner or soap (regardless of which one). The first rinse will help to
remove any physical debris
or dirt on the lens. Obviously, body oil smudges will require some kind of
soap or cleaner. So when
using a "cleaning wipe" be careful to not polish the lens with the wipe and
be gentle and extra careful,
since it may not be convenient to rinse the lens with water before and/or
after using the lens wipe
(which is probably why you would use the wipes instead of spray bottle).
IMO, Kleenex tissue is fine, if it used only to absorb any excess water after
final rinsing. Do not wipe,
just absorb any remaining liquid from the lens. With high-end AR coatings,
the water will bead up and
can easily be removed without wiping. The idea that using a cotton microfiber
cloth is better than
tissue, may be true in theory if the cloth is absolutely clean each time, but
that is not practical. Never
"polish" a lens with any cloth or material.
IMO opticians don't always use the best lens cleaning procedure, since they
deal mostly with new
lenses, and if they do it improperly when the lens is new, probably no one
will notice any adverse
effects immediately, but if done that way over a period of years, the effects
could be damaging.
Besides, they have a vested interest in getting you to replace your lenses
every few years or so. Not to
mention, that in many optical stores, there are often some low paid (and
low-skilled) sales staff who
are not really all that knowledgeable.
The Zeiss Carat Advantage coating on my Zeiss ID lenses are now 5 years old,
and coating is in
excellent condition.

There is a universe of difference between coating glass that can
tolerate heating and thermally molded plastics. Not only that, the
original AR coatings are nothing like the AR coatings used today. I ould
not depend upon the reasoning goven above to be a reliable guide.

[Mark A]

Post by Salmon Egg
There is a universe of difference between coating glass that can
tolerate heating and thermally molded plastics. Not only that, the
original AR coatings are nothing like the AR coatings used today. I ould
not depend upon the reasoning goven above to be a reliable guide.

The original AR coatings on photographic and industrial lenses made from glass were infinitely more
fragile (even up to about 15 years ago) than the best AR coatings available today on plastic eyewear
lenses. So I don't think your "universe of difference" is relevant (or logically correct) at all.

You are correct that just because Zeiss invented AR coating about 75 years ago, and they have been
one of the most respected makers of high quality photographic and industrial lenses for many years
(not to mention their eyewear lenses), you are correct that those facts do not guarantee that their
Zeiss eyewear lens cleaning fluid is safe for use on AR coated plastic eyeglass lenses. But I would say
it is somewhat reassuring. I have used Zeiss eyewear lens cleaning fluid (in addition to Walmart
eyewear lens cleaning fluid, liquid hand soap, etc) for about 5 years without any problem on my Zeiss
Carat Advantage AR coating. I suspect that other high quality AR coatings would hold up about equally
well if properly cared for.

[s***@gmail.com]

Post by Robert11
Hello,
What a great group and folks.
For AR coated plastic lenses, the coatings done at Manufacturer
Zeiss Lens Cleaning Wipes
Contains Isopropyl Alcohol
Pre-Moistened
Distributed by Carl Zeiss Vision (mfg. in China)
Guess it's the Alcohol that concerns me somewhat. Safe ?
What about Windex ?
If not, doing only dry wiping with a dry micro-fiber cloth doesn't sound
like a great idea either; some kind of moistening sounds right, but not
at all sure ?
Suggestions and thoughts would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
B.

[s***@gmail.com]

Post by Robert11
Hello,
What a great group and folks.
For AR coated plastic lenses, the coatings done at Manufacturer
Zeiss Lens Cleaning Wipes
Contains Isopropyl Alcohol
Pre-Moistened
Distributed by Carl Zeiss Vision (mfg. in China)
Guess it's the Alcohol that concerns me somewhat. Safe ?
What about Windex ?
If not, doing only dry wiping with a dry micro-fiber cloth doesn't sound
like a great idea either; some kind of moistening sounds right, but not
at all sure ?
Suggestions and thoughts would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
B.

I have a question? will silica in my well water scratch my ar coated eyeglasses?