Eyeglass Lens Cleaners

[OpticianLynn2000]

I purchased a supply of California Optical lens cleaner many months ago. I have had a rash of wierd crazing on AR coatings. Many warranty remakes! I really suspect that our lab process is defective, however.....Has anyone EVER had a problem with a particular brand cleaner and AR coat?
Our lab would like to think that is is the brand cleaner I've been selling. I think it was their process.
Anyone ever had a similar problem? By the way, it is clearly not abuse or improper cleaning practices. It's like ice crystals spreading all over the lenses.

[John R]

Have you tried testing the cleaner on one of their lenses just to be sure.

[OpticianLynn2000]

That is the lens cleaner I've been using in my office! But "long term" use.......on the same lenses day after day......
I still think it is our lab process that was defective. Thanks for your reply, but that is the most obvious thing looked at first.

[Chris Ryser]

OpticianLynn2000 said:
I purchased a supply of California Optical lens cleaner many months ago. I have had a rash of wierd crazing on AR coatings. Many warranty remakes! I really suspect that our lab process is defective, however.....Has anyone EVER had a problem with a particular brand cleaner and AR coat?
Our lab would like to think that is is the brand cleaner I've been selling. I think it was their process.
Anyone ever had a similar problem? By the way, it is clearly not abuse or improper cleaning practices. It's like ice crystals spreading all over the lenses.

As a designer and manufacturer of lens treatment chemicals I can give you the following advise:

Stay away from any lens cleaner that is made with Isopropyl Alcohols, Methanol or any other solvent.
"The oldest lens cleaner formulas are 60% Isopropyl and 40 percent water"
When solvent creep under AR coatings they create crazing and delamination from the lens, specially when they are hot.(glasses freshly cleaned lying on dash or in the hot car. Solvents are many times more active the warmer they get.

Make sure that you use only surfactant based lens cleaners, they CAN NOT do any harm and work as well, but are a little more expensive.

[JandJOPT]

Don't use the new AR KLEENER from
Hilco I think thats where i got it
. It will eat the skin
right off your hands.

[hcjilson]

Jand Jo,
I've been using Hilco cleaners for years and never heard anything like what you describe with a lens cleaner I would check to see that no one refilled the bottle with something other than cleaner. I know of one office who has been known use their empties for alcohol in order to get lens markings off.........Mine!

You said you "think" it was Hilco cleaner. That should be easy enough to check-they clearly mark their bottles. I think the fair thing to do is to check the product before making a statement like that. I know that Hilco will stand behind any product they sell, so returning defective cleaner should not be a problem.

I am not employed by Hilco nor do I have any financial stake in the company. I have been a satisfied customer of theirs, however, for somewhere in the vicinity of 40 years.

harry j

[JandJOPT]

Sorry, I'm SURE.
and it was a brand new bottle.
that was not refilled.:D

[hcjilson]

Don't keep us in suspense....surely the bottle had the type of cleaner and the brand name they use. I am sure if there's a health hazard they would want to be informed. Not that I am thinking of bathing in the stuff, but I would like to try it to see if it does in fact "eat the skin off my hand". Please tell me what I should order-Shield alcohol free AR cleaner, or just their AR cleaner- or the Fog Buster- or the Kids Kleen......couldn't be the Kids Kleen....,wouldn't want to eat the skin off THEIR hands.

When knocking a product, please try to be more specific.

hj

[JandJOPT]

For the last time its called sheild
AR Lens Cleaner AR FORMULA blue bottle
The brand new formula not the
old one. Order a whole jug
and happy skin peeling.:hammer:

[Jedi]

JanJOPT

For the last time its called sheild

You didn't name the product the first time. ;)

[Jedi]

For the last time its called sheild

You didn't name the product the first time. ;)

[OpticianLynn2000]

THANKS ALL FOR YOUR SPEEDY REPLIES TO MY QUESTION!
OHHHHHHHH MY..........I JUST ORDERED A SUPPLY OF HILCO CLEANER !!!!!!!!! OOOOOOOH NOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I've used Hilco for years....No problems have I ever experienced. However, I have someone typing this for me because my skin is...............................
(hehehehe), JUST JOKING KIDS! I've had approx 27 remakes and/or strip and recoat over the last several months since our lab bought their own machine. I can't imagine ALL those people doing the exact same thing to their lenses. I think its time to start selling premium AR i.e., Zeiss, or Crizal. Anyone swear by one or both of these? The handful of Crizal AR's I've sold in the last year have not come back. Veddy Interestink!:D

[Jedi]

In my neck of the woods, we use either Nikon (predominately on sv Nikon lenses, imagine that.), or UTMC (Ultra tough multi coat).
Not only are the both cheaper than Crizal, IMHO I can't, let alone the patient tell the difference between the 3.

[Chris Ryser]

applied an "AR Protector" on the lenses even the nastiest lens cleaner would become innocent...............want to know more about it.............just ask me

:hammer: