Ok, Optician here: I can definitively tell you all: Eyeglass cleaner (if it's designed for glasses), dish soap (without any beads or ammonia), and rubbing alcohol (nothing over 70% isopropyl) are ALL PERFECTLY FINE!
I use all three on my own glasses.
Rubbing alcohol and dish soap will dry out plastics if used too often.
Here's the kicker, though! DO NOT CLEAN YOUR GLASSES DRY. No shirt tailing, no breathing a hot breath on them, no kleenex, no toilet paper, no paper products. Wood fibers can exacerbate micro scratches. And if you clean them dry, you're basically sandpapering any dirt back and forth across your lens. If you don't have cleaner, run it under cool water. NOT HOT. Heat damages some coatings. Then wipe clean.
Use a microfiber or 100% cotton cloth. Old t-shirts, cloth diapers are wonderful, tea towels(what I use), or if you want to spend money, get KIM-wipes. They're designed for delicate items. They look like kleenex, though.
DO NOT BUY SINGLE USE GLASSES WIPES!!!! They used to be made with microfiber and a good solution. Since 2020, ALL COMPANIES (Yes, even the lens companies like Zeiss) use paper and a high alcohol content solution that dries out fast and can damage Zyl (plastic) frames. They even have warnings on them now. Don't waste your money.
Your microfiber cloth will get dirty. Wash it by hand in the sink with dish soap and air dry. Machines have residual fabric softeners that fill the cloth with oils. Do not use the dryer, they're too rough and the heat ruins the microfiber )(it "burns" the ends).
Also, you'll push dirt and oils into the cracks and crevices just by cleaning. We're all animals with oils, dirt, sweat, make up, etc... that gets on our lenses. The cracks between the lenses and frames collect that stuff when we clean. So you may end up cleaning over and over and feeling like it never cleans. Well that's because you're pulling dirt from those areas.
To clean this, use a small amount of dish soap (see above) and cool water. And this eventually will also not work. Take them to an Optometrist/Opthamologist/etc... They should have an ultrasonic cleaner that uses sonic wave frequencies in water and cleaner to knock the dirt loose. (This looks disgusting, by the way, lol) It is the same exact method that your jewelers use to clean your precious rings and watches and such.
Again, don't use dish soap or alcohol too often, it will damage your frame and make them look terrible. The oils that get on your frame soak into the plastic, and then when you pull those oils out it leaves behind a white residue and makes the plastic more brittle.
One last list of DO NOT DO's because I've seen a LOT of things over the years that make me scratch my head. So here goes:
Don't put your glasses in the dishwasher
Don't leave your glasses on in the shower (heat damages coatings)
Don't wear your glasses in the sauna (see above)
Don't power wash your glasses
Don't use glass cleaner (the chemicals will destroy your frames and lenses because the lenses aren't usually glass anymore. they're plastic)
Don't try to "buff out" scratches, it will NEVER work. Even if you get it clear again somehow (probably some polish) it has fundamentally changed how the light goes through the lens and will not work anymore.
Listen to licensed Opticians (we usually know what the fuck we're talking about)
Don't take your glasses to big box or chain stores. Walmart/Costco/Sam's etc... will 100% pull employees from other areas to cover optical. The deli guy will put on a coat and adjust your glasses with NO knowledge! Also, not their fault.
If you're not close to your personal optometrist and something happens to your glasses, call around to private practices and see if they will help. Some will, some won't work on things that aren't theirs.
Some states require Opticians to be licensed, some don't. (I have no idea about international laws)
Don't leave your glasses in the car. It is an oven in the summer and will ruin your lenses (even sunglasses w/o prescription) and warp your frames. If you MUST leave them in the car, do NOT put them up high. Heat rises and that little compartment above is a tiny little pizza oven for your Ray Bans. Automobile designers don't give a shit. DO NOT LEAVE THEM ON THE DASH OR SEAT. Don't leave them in the console in direct sunlight. If you must leave them, leave them in the glove compartment or somewhere low and out of direct sunlight.
If you break your glasses DO NOT USE SUPERGLUE. It voids manufacturer warranties. Tape is your friend. We can get the residue off and still warranty things a lot.
Even if you don't think it can be fixed, bring it in. Even I'M surprised by what I can fix sometimes, lol. And if I can't, maybe we can warranty it. Or get you a discount. Or direct you someplace to get it fixed.
Which is another thing, if you need them soldered, call local jewelry stores and watch repairs. They may be able to help you. Some won't.
TLDR: All of the above works, listen to your Optician, and don't clean them dry. AND DEFINITELY DON'T CLEAN THEM DRY IN FRONT OF YOUR OPTICIAN!!!! You will make them cringe and irritated.
