The Small Habits That Shorten the Life of Your Glasses

Most broken glasses aren’t the result of accidents. They’re the result of small, repeated habits that add up over time. After years of fitting, adjusting, and repairing frames, these are the patterns we see most often,

Sitting on Them

This is the most common, usually accidental, cause of broken glasses. People set glasses on a bed, couch, or chair for “just a second” and forget them. Frames flex for your face, not body weight, so sitting on them can bend or break them.

Always put glasses in the same safe spot—bedside table, shelf, or case—to avoid damage.

Leaving Them in High-Risk Places

Edges of sinks, dashboards, open bags, and countertops are risky spots. A small bump, quick reach, or heat can make glasses slide, bend, or crack. Much damage comes from repeated knocks that slowly weaken frames or misalign them. Putting your glasses down carefully is one of the easiest ways to make them last longer.

Adjusting Them Yourself

When glasses feel loose, don’t bend them yourself. Many modern frames (like acetate or metal blends) crack if adjusted cold. A quick professional adjustment with proper tools and heat will fix the fit without damaging the frame.

Improper Storage

Glasses thrown into a bag or drawer get scratched, bent, or misshapen from keys, pens, and pressure. A proper case prevents this gradual, irreversible damage.

Cleaning Without Enough Care

Dry-wiping lenses with a shirt, tissue, or paper towel can cause fine scratches if tiny particles rub across the coatings. It’s okay to gently dry already-clean, wet lenses with a clean paper towel. The important part is to remove grit first — most lens damage comes from quick, careless rubbing, not the lens material.

A Final Thought

Most of these issues are easy to avoid once you’re aware of them. And when something doesn’t feel quite right, a small adjustment early can make a big difference over time.

That’s often all it takes to keep a good pair of glasses feeling great for years.