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CK Wong,

 

I run a theater that uses circular polarized glasses, and I have run into
the same dilemma as you.  The black plastic “theme park” glasses are what we
use, and they cost around $6-$8 US dollars each (depending on how many you
buy).  We are a small science center and get around 100 people per day into
the theater.  Under these circumstances, it is possible to clean the glasses
using a soft and clean dry cloth.  I don’t know of a professional service
that cleans them.  Circular polarized glasses cannot be cleaned with water
or other liquids, because the water takes the polarized film off and ruins
them.  I know this from experience.  The other problem with the plastic
theme park style glasses is that they can also be easily broken, especially
if you are dealing with young children (5 and under) regularly.  Children
tend to bend and play with the glasses, which easily breaks them.  They are
made of cheap plastic. The lenses also get scratched up very easily. We have
not used the paper circular polarized glasses, because we simply cannot
afford to use disposable glasses at $1.40 each.

 

So the answer to your question is that the only way to clean them is to use
a dry lens cloth.  I use a soft lens cloth used for cleaning camera lenses.
Cleaning them can often take several minutes and is very tedious.  The only
way I know of cleaning them is by hand.  I have put some in a dishwasher,
but they were ruined when I took them out.  The polarization is very
delicate and ruins when wet.  I have also tried spraying them with glass
cleaner and alcohol, but this ruins the polarization as well

 

Adam Smith  

Digital Theater Operator

Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center

65 Government St.

Mobile, AL 36602

(251) 208-6859

 

 


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