--- title: "🕶 How We Tell the Difference: Lens Scratches vs. Manufacturer Defects" description: "🕶 How We Tell the Difference: Lens Scratches vs. Manufacturer Defects" --- [Skip to content](https://help.rheosgear.com/-how-we-tell-the-difference-lens-scratches-vs.-manufacturer-defects#main-content) English - United States Show submenu for translations [Customer portal](https://help.rheosgear.com/tickets?hsLang=en-us) [![Rheos Floating Sunglasses](https://help.rheosgear.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Rheos_Logo_VT_NVY_Float.png?width=200&height=136&name=Rheos_Logo_VT_NVY_Float.png)](https://rheosgear.com) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English - United States Show submenu for translations - [Customer portal](https://help.rheosgear.com/tickets) - [Contact us](mailto:hello@rheosgear.com) [Contact us](mailto:hello@rheosgear.com) How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Direct Customer Service](https://help.rheosgear.com/?hsLang=en-us) 2. [Warranty & Support](https://help.rheosgear.com/warranty-support?hsLang=en-us) May 7, 2025 # 🕶 How We Tell the Difference: Lens Scratches vs. Manufacturer Defects ## How to tell the difference between accidental damage and a manufacturer defect on your shades. We know it’s frustrating to see marks on your lenses—and we want to help you as quickly as possible. When evaluating a lens issue, we look closely at the **type of damage** to determine if it’s from **improper use** or a **manufacturer defect**. Here’s how we tell the difference: --- ### 🔄 Scratches from Wear & Tear / Accidental Damage (Not Covered) These are considered normal wear and tear or accidental damage: - Scratches that appear after cleaning lenses with a shirt or towel - Scuff marks caused by sand, keys, or impact (like dropping your shades) - Fine lines or directional streaks in a pattern (e.g., wiping in circles) - Edge chips from high impact or being tossed in a bag 💡 *Tip: These scratches often appear in random spots and build up gradually with use.* --- ### 🧪 Possible Manufacturer Defects (Covered) We cover defects that show up **early and unexpectedly**, including: - **Peeling or bubbling** of the lens coating - **Cloudy or patchy areas** that weren’t caused by impact - **Uniform discoloration** or coating lift - Issues showing up on **both lenses** at once, especially within the first year 💡 *These issues are often signs of a breakdown in the lens coating rather than external damage.* --- ### 📸 What We Need From You To make a warranty decision, we kindly ask you to: 1. Send a few **clear, close-up photos** of the issue in good lighting 2. Include your **order number** and let us know how long you’ve had the shades 3. Tell us a bit about how you normally care for or clean your lenses From there, we’ll take a look and get back to you quickly with next steps. Please remember to take care of your shades so they can take care of you! Store them in your free hard case, use our included microfiber cloth, and rinse with fresh water after saltwater exposure. - [Sun Collective](https://help.rheosgear.com/sun-collective?hsLang=en-us) - [Warranty & Support](https://help.rheosgear.com/warranty-support?hsLang=en-us) - [Returns and Exchanges](https://help.rheosgear.com/returns-and-exchanges?hsLang=en-us) - [FAQs](https://help.rheosgear.com/faqs?hsLang=en-us) - [Contact Us](https://help.rheosgear.com/contact-us?hsLang=en-us) [![Rheos Floating Sunglasses](https://help.rheosgear.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Rheos_Logo_VT_NVY_Float.png?width=200&height=136&name=Rheos_Logo_VT_NVY_Float.png "Rheos Floating Sunglasses")](https://rheosgear.com) [mailto:hello@rheosgear.com](mailto:hello@rheosgear.com) Copyright © 2025, Rheos