How to protect your PlayStation VR lenses

Taking good care of the lenses in your PlayStation VR is essential to its longevity — it's really no fun using a head-mounted display when there's even one scratch on the lens, nevermind a bunch. Here's how to take care of your lenses, as well as a few solutions for glasses-wearers out there!

General care

It's always a good idea to store the PSVR by itself. Putting it into a drawer or container with a bunch of other VR items can lead to scratches on the lenses. The ends of USB cables are metal and will scratch, and even a DS4 controller in the right position can rub up against the lenses.

A problem unrelated to scratches but related to lenses in head-mounted displays is sunlight. Setting your PSVR down near a window on a sunny day can lead to damage to the screen. Light is focused by the lens down to a small point that sits on the display. Yikes. Keep your PSVR out of sunlight when not in use.

Those of you with eyeglasses should see if you can use PSVR without them, and mention the same thing to any friends trying it out. If you can't see without your glasses, fret not; there are plenty of workarounds that will protect your expensive seeing devices.

Invest in lens protectors

PSVR starter kit

A PlayStation VR starter kit has popped up for pre-order on a few retailer sites in the UK, and becomes available November 30. The kit includes lens protectors, an extra USB cable, a clip for your PS Camera, a silicone jacket for your DualShock 4 controller, a cleaning cloth, and a small velcro strap to keeps cables organized.

While you'll probably be most interested in the lens protectors, all of these accessories make great additions to PSVR, and will only cost you about $20. Expect to see more lens protectors in the future, but for now, this seems like your best bet.

Invest in a LensPen

Nikon LensPen

One of the first things you should pick up is a LensPen. This will take care of any dirt, grime, dust, or smudges on the lenses, and it comes in a very small package that — you guessed it — resembles a pen. It has a small brush on one end to remove dust, and the other end has a pad with a cleaning agent on it to remove oils and grime. Pick one up today for about $8.

See at Amazon

3D print your own spacers

3D-printed spacers

A Thingiverse user named Stoney came up with a design for some spacers that fit around the outside of your PlayStation VR's lenses. These are best suited for a certain set of glasses and won't work with every pair out there, but if you have a 3D printer and wear glasses, this is a great attempt at a solution.

See at Thingiverse

Create a temporary solution

If you don't have a 3D printer and don't want to wait for lens protectors to ship, you can take matters into your own hands with supplies found around the house or office.

Cover your metal glasses frames

  1. Grab a pair of scissors and a plastic straw from the kitchen. If you have medical tubing of about the same diameter sitting around the house, use it instead.

    Grab some scissors and a straw.

  2. Cut the straw into two pieces about the length of the frame along the top of your glasses lenses.

    Cut the straw into two pieces.

  3. Cut lengthwise along the straw so that it opens up.

    Cut lengthwise along the straw.

  4. Place the pieces of straw over the top frames of your glasses.

    Place the pieces of straw over the frames of your glasses. Depending on your glasses, you might want to do the same to the bottom of the glasses as well. If the covers keep falling off, consider tacking them down with something sticky but temporary. You won't look cool, but you'll keep your lenses safe!

Create your own spacers

  1. Grab some scissors, some cardboard, and some temporary adhesive.

    Supplies you'll need.

  2. Cut the cardboard into pieces about an inch long and a half-inch wide.

    Cut the cardboard into pieces.

  3. Stack the pieces of cardboard and make sure they sit above the surface of the lens.

    Stack the cardboard high enough to sit over the lenses.

  4. Adhere the pieces of cardboard together using an adhesive. Here I'm using sticky putty.

    Stick the cardboard together with an adhesive.

  5. Use temporary adhesive — like sticky putty — to stick the cardboard spacer onto the PSVR next to the lens.

    Stick the cardboard to the PSVR with temporary adhesive.

  6. Repeat the process for the other side, and you'll have a decent set of spacers to keep your glasses off the PSVR lenses.

    Repeat the process for the other side.

Your lens care

Have you tried any tricks to help keep your PSVR lenses scratch-free? Let us know in the comments section below!

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