What is this shit on my glasses?

[Mirhanda]

Why do my glasses get so filthy? I am careful to not touch the lenses with my hands. I keep them in the case when I'm not wearing them (which is most of the time) so how are they getting so gross?

[Joey P]

Maybe your eyeballs are off gassing.

[Brown Eyed Girl]

Greasy? That's the reason why I don't like wearing glasses. I never could understand why, despite trying not to touch the lenses, my glasses always seemed greasy. It's like the sweat and oils from my face evaporated and landed on my glasses.

I don't know what to tell you other than they make those little lens spray bottles purse size for a reason, I suppose.

[Mirhanda]

Yeah, it's like my pores are squirting onto the inside of my glasses, which is weird because I have terribly dry skin! I keep some little "moist wipes" for glasses in my purse at all times, but it's just a pain to have to clean them all the time.

[Art Rock]

I have had that problem for 44 years now (started to wear glasses at 8) - and I have to wear them all the time. Beats me as well why they are ALWAYS dirty. Even when I clean them, give it an hour or so and I can start again.

[dactylic hexameter]

Tears are proteinaceous and slightly oily. When you blink, you probably launch some moisture from your eye onto the inside of the lens. It collects dust, dries, and blam - filth.

[LurkMeister]

I swear that my glasses can get dirty sitting in their case while I'm sleeping. I'm constantly having to wipe them off.

[Joey P]

Then there's my brother.
Mom:Nick you're glasses are filthy, do you want me to clean them.
Nick:Nah, it's just milk.

[Mirhanda]

Originally Posted by dactylic hexameter

Tears are proteinaceous and slightly oily. When you blink, you probably launch some moisture from your eye onto the inside of the lens. It collects dust, dries, and blam - filth.

That really makes sense. Thank you. I always find it so strange because I have a very mild correction and don't really need them unless I need to read something on the TV screen. And yet, I find they get dirty so fast.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with this problem. Good to hear other people have it too. I guess misery really does love company.

[The Superhero]

I think it's a combination of sweat and skin oils migrating in whatever fashion they do to the lenses, which then provides a sticky surface that dust and shedding skin cells cling to.

And yeah, it's kind of gross and annoying.

It's another reason why I'm much happier after a year of wearing contact lenses than I ever thought I would be.

[Mirhanda]

Contacts aren't really an option for me because I don't need my glasses all the time. I guess I'll just have to keep cleaning them all the time. Maybe my eyes will worsen to the point that I need them all the time, but it's not something I'm going to hope for. Haha.