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How do I care for spectacles in Goa's humid weather?

Goa is humid for most of the year, and from June to September the monsoon brings rain, damp and mould into every home. Near the sea at Baina, Bogmalo or the port, the air also carries salt, and on hot days sweat runs down the frame. Spectacles take a beating in this climate. A few simple habits keep your lenses clear and your frames working for longer.

How to clean spectacles the right way

1. Wash your hands first, so you do not put skin oil and dirt back on the lenses.
2. Rinse the spectacles under plain running water. This washes off sand and grit, which would scratch the lenses if you wiped them dry.
3. Put one small drop of mild dishwashing liquid on your fingertips and rub both sides of the lenses, the nose pads and the frame gently.
4. Rinse again and shake off the water.
5. Dry with a clean microfibre cloth or soft cotton cloth. Wash the cloth often; a dirty cloth just spreads grease and grit.

Avoid: the corner of your shirt, sari or dupatta, tissue paper and newspaper, which scratch the lenses; saliva; hot water; and hand sanitiser, alcohol, kitchen or glass cleaners, perfume and hair spray, which can damage lens coatings. Lens cleaning sprays are fine if they are made for spectacle lenses.

Monsoon storage: keeping mould away

Mould grows where it is damp, dark and dirty. A spectacle case that stays closed with a damp cloth inside, or spectacles put away with sweat and skin oil on them, can soon show spots of mould on the case, the cloth, the nose pads and even the lenses.

• Clean your spectacles before putting them away, especially the nose pads and hinges where dirt collects.
• Let the spectacles, the case and the cloth dry fully before you close the case.
• Keep spare pairs and sunglasses in a dry, airy place, with a few sachets of silica gel in the drawer or box. Replace or dry the sachets when they stop working.
• Do not leave spectacles in a damp bag, a bathroom or a closed cupboard for weeks during the monsoon.

What people call fungus on lenses is often dried residue or a damaged coating rather than mould. If spots do not come off with gentle washing, do not scrape or scrub them: the coating may be damaged, and the Vision Correction Centre can tell you whether the lens needs replacing.

Why spectacles fog up, and what helps

Lenses fog when warm, moist air meets a cooler lens: stepping out of an air-conditioned room or car into the humid air, opening a pot of hot food, or breathing upwards from a face mask.

• Wait a few seconds for the lenses to warm up; the fog clears on its own.
• If you wear a mask, press its nose wire firmly around your nose and let the spectacles rest on top of the mask.
• Anti-fog cloths and sprays made for spectacle lenses can help. Check that they are safe for coated lenses.
• Do not rub fogged lenses hard with a dirty cloth.

Rain on your lenses

A cap with a brim or an umbrella keeps most rain off your spectacles. A water-repellent lens coating helps drops run off. Dry the lenses with a clean cloth when you reach shelter instead of wiping them with wet fingers. In the monsoon, a spare pair in your bag is a good idea in case your main pair is lost or broken on the way.

Salt air, sweat and rust

• If you live or work near the sea, or have been to the beach, rinse your frames in fresh water and dry them.
• Screws can rust and loosen; the arms and hinges then wobble.
• The metal arms that hold nose pads can turn green with sweat and salt. Clean them gently, and have discoloured or yellowed nose pads replaced at the Vision Correction Centre.
• If your skin reacts to a metal frame, tell the Vision Correction Centre; corrosion-resistant metals and plastic frames are gentler on the skin. Our guide to spectacle frames has more.

Heat damages spectacles too

Never leave spectacles or sunglasses on a car dashboard, in a scooter's seat compartment in the sun, or near the stove. Heat can make coatings crack into a fine web and can bend or warp frames. For sunglasses, see power sunglasses in Goa.

Everyday handling

• Use both hands to put your spectacles on and take them off, so the frame does not bend.
• Never put them down lens-side down.
• Keep them in a hard case in your bag, not loose in a pocket.
• Do not push them up on your head; this stretches the frame.

Contact lens care in the monsoon

Eye flu (conjunctivitis) spreads easily in the rainy season. Wash and dry your hands before touching your lenses, and do not touch your eyes when you are out. Never let rainwater, flood water or tap water touch your lenses or case. If your eyes get splashed with dirty water while you are wearing lenses, take them out and throw them away. In humid weather a lens case dries slowly, so leave it open and face down to air-dry, and replace it regularly. If your eye becomes red, painful or blurred while you are wearing lenses, take them out and see an eye doctor the same day; ReNew Vision provides emergency eye care 24 hours a day. More rules are on our page on contact lenses.

When to bring your spectacles in

Bring your spectacles to the Vision Correction Centre at ReNew Vision Eye Hospital in Vaddem, Vasco if the screws are loose, the frame sits crooked or wobbles, the nose pads have discoloured, the frame is rusting or cracked, or the lens coating is peeling. Small repairs and adjustments keep your lenses in the right place in front of your eyes. Call or WhatsApp 072489 88039 to ask about timings.

Questions patients ask

How do I remove fungus from my spectacle lenses?

Wash the lenses gently with plain water and a drop of mild soap, then dry them with a clean microfibre cloth. If the spots do not come off, do not scrape them: the coating may be damaged, and the Vision Correction Centre can tell you whether the lens needs replacing.

Why do my glasses keep fogging up?

Warm, moist air condenses on a cooler lens, for example when you leave an air-conditioned room, eat hot food or wear a mask. Wait a few seconds for the fog to clear, fit your mask snugly over your nose, and try an anti-fog product made for spectacle lenses.

Can I clean my spectacles with hand sanitiser?

It is better not to. Alcohol, kitchen cleaners, perfume and hair spray can damage lens coatings over time. Plain water, a drop of mild soap and a clean microfibre cloth are safest.

Why are my nose pads turning green?

Sweat and salty air make the metal parts that hold the nose pads corrode, which can leave a green deposit. Clean them gently, rinse the frame in fresh water after the beach, and have the nose pads replaced at the Vision Correction Centre if needed.

How should I store spectacles in the monsoon?

Clean and dry them first, let the case and cloth dry fully, and keep spare pairs in a dry, airy place with silica gel sachets. Avoid damp bags, bathrooms and closed cupboards for long periods.

This page is general eye-health information, not personal medical advice. Your eye doctor advises you after examining your eyes.