Armour Etch is a brand of fast-acting, specially formulated glass etching compound. It is meant to create permanent etched designs on glass and mirrors. Because the cream strips the glass of its UV coating, it can also be used as an inexpensive solution to strip eyeglasses of their UV protection or other coating. You can purchase a small 3 oz. bottle online for about $6.50, as of 2010.

Read all the directions on the Armour Etch packaging before proceeding.

Clean your glasses thoroughly. Wash them with a mild cleaning solution or liquid soap and warm water. Use a soft cloth or sponge to scrub any residue that may be on the glasses and rinse off all traces of soap.

Dry the glasses with a very soft cloth, preferably cloth or wipes made specifically for eyeglasses.

Apply a generous amount of Armour Etch on both sides of the lenses. Use a cotton swab to spread the compound on the entire surface of the glass, making sure you get it into all the corners.

Wait five minutes for the compound to dissolve the coating on the eyeglasses.

Rinse the eyeglasses thoroughly using lukewarm water. Using a soft cloth, make sure all the compound is removed from the glasses.

Let the eyeglasses air dry or use the eyeglass wipes to completely dry the lenses.