"Stephen Paul" wrote in message
...

What is the best and easiest way to polish minor scratches from glass, say
on a lens?
The problem is that a scratch has depth. To 'polish it out', involves
polishing away glass with a fine abrasive, till the whole of a significant
area round the scratch tapers down to the level of the bottom of the
scratch, thereby changing the actual shape of the lens...
To genuinely polish it out, without damaging the shape, involves removing
exactly the same amount of glass from the whole lens surface. Even this will
have a slight effect on the optics, since the thickness of the lens will
change.
It is possible to 'refigure' the lens, but doing so, really requires that
you have a similar level of equipment, to that used to make the lens in the
first place.
If a scratch is bad enough that significant light is being scattered by it,
then consider filling it with black paint instead. Otherwise don't bother
about it.

Best Wishes