how bad is this?

[mer]

i was busting up some 15mm rod and one of the pieces skittered across the bench and smacked the lens of my specs. it left a small scratch on the dark part of the shade. i can't see it when they are on my face but i think my eyes don't focus that close. is this dangerous to try and work with? should i try to buff it out or take them to somebody?

[PyroChixRock]

oooh i'm glad that didn't hit your eye! sorry about your glasses babe. as for dangerous to work with, i've got no idea. mike isn't online as much on the weekends but PM a url to the thread to get his attention. it would be good to know what he thinks.

[HumanLathe]

you cant buff the lens it is a laminate you will completely ruin your glasses personally with my bad eyes a scratch could really hurt me. I think you should be fine but when you have say 400 extra dollars buy some new ones lol<joke. Turn your torch on and hold the glasses off your face can you see the yellow flame through the scratch? I have had waaay worse that that, I think your fine and shouldn't worry too much about it. Just remember just because you can't see it when you working doesn't mean its not hurting your eyes test the scratch like I said previously before putting in a long day.

[mer]

thanks guys. luckily i wasn't wearing them when it happened, but i was stupid enough to leave them on the bench while i chopped up marble cane. i'm gonna go do matts test. (fingers crossed)
peace, m

[Mike_Aurelius]

Shouldn't be a problem. It doesn't appear deep enough to have affected the integrity of the lamination, more like just a surface scratch. I've seen lots worse last a good long time.

Matt's correct, it cannot be buffed out or repaired. It would have to be replaced.

Since it is so small, I doubt you will even notice it.

[mer]

thanks mike, that's reassuring.

[gravdigr]

Yeah that is no big deal. Mike would know more than I do about lens glass. My experience is mainly with single strength glass. I use an old welding mask for sandblasting and I cut my own pieces of single strength glass for the lens. That glass gets pummeled with sand or steel bead constantly and aside from replacing the lens when it gets too frosted I have never had one shatter. I also occasionally get sandblast media bouncing past my mask and inside hitting my glasses. My sandblast glasses have nics all over em and I never had a problem (used glass and plastic lenses with the same results). If the lens actually starts to crack I would get it replaced though.