Reglazing Glasses (Spectacles)

[dangie]

Has anyone had a pair of glasses reglazed? That is when you fit new lenses into existing frames. I’ve just had my eyes tested and my prescription has changed. Rather than buy new frames I’d like to have the lenses fitted into my current frames. They are plastic frames not metal.

My optician offers this service at a cost of £30 per pair of glasses (plus cost of lenses of course). Not only will this allow me to keep the frames I like, but will also probably save me some money. It will also mean less waste.

However opticians are a business. As well as providing a service they are there to make money. I felt they were trying to edge me away from reglazing and get me to buy new frames, obviously for more profit.

Has anyone on here had glasses reglazed, especially plastic frames? Was it successful? Thank you.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I had an expensive frame that was worth re-using. The optician said they would not do it because if they broke a part they could not get a replacement part. A screw iirc. He also said my eyes had not changed enough to make it worth getting new lenses. But I now feel I need bi-focals so got to address that again.

I will go for the cheapest frames next time round.

 

[Leyland Bus]

I do it all the time, I've used Specsavers for years and never had any issues. Due to my job, I have a pair of glasses that I just use for work and always have the lenses changed into the same frames, I won't buy new frames just to get them covered in paint..!

 

[styles]

I've had the same frames for 5 years and 1 month. Had them reglazed once when my prescription changed. I'm tempted to have them done again to add anti-glare coating as it's quite noticeable on Teams/Zoom calls for work.

I found that telling the member of staff in Specsavers that you'd never buy frames in-store as they're about double the price of websites like Glasses Direct, knocks on the head the new frames sales pitch.

 

[dangie]

Thank you.
Those who have had them reglazed, were they plastic frames? The optician said that plastic frames sometimes break when being reglazed. This is probably true but maybe not as often as they intimated. I think they were trying to direct me to new frames.

I found that telling the member of staff in Specsavers that you'd never buy frames in-store as they're about double the price of websites like Glasses Direct, knocks on the head the new frames sales pitch.

I'll bear this in mind. Good one.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Thank you.
Those who have had them reglazed, were they plastic frames? The optician said that plastic frames sometimes break when being reglazed. This is probably true but maybe not as often as they intimated. I think they were trying to direct me to new frames.

I'll bear this in mind. Good one.

Yes, mine are plastic frames.

 

[Buzby]

Do it all the time - I avoid the High Street and use an optical workshop. It is a given that if the frame breaks in the process they’re not accountable, but they’’ll be able to supply a similar frame profile to match what they’ve made - and usually at trade prices.

 

[McRhu]

I'm quite fortunate; the only thing I've had to replace is the elastoplast.

 

[Hadlow Road]

The only time that I have had problems with new lenses in old (?) frames is in the U.K. In Italy (specifically Lucca) the service is faster, cheaper and better. Even down to buying varifocal, but leaving before the four-day turn round. They simply said that they would post them and seek payment when I was happy. I was. And I paid!

My current two pairs, U.K. tested and sourced, are poor, after a year and three sets of lenses. Come on U.K.

And the first challenge with the U.K. replacement set was not being able to read the screens at EUS, most important with a ten minute boarding. And then the train was cancelled.

 

[DelW]

Those who have had them reglazed, were they plastic frames? The optician said that plastic frames sometimes break when being reglazed. This is probably true but maybe not as often as they intimated. I think they were trying to direct me to new frames.

I've had several pairs reglazed over the years, both plastic and metal frames, for both normal specs and sunglasses.

Only once has a (plastic) frame broken during the process, needing me to buy a new frame. One metal frame had a tiny retaining screw fall out a few days later, but fortunately the lens stayed in place and the optician was able to fit a replacement screw.

 

[david1212]

Yes

https://www.reglaze-glasses-direct.com

Return delivery from posting frame within a week which the High Street can not match.

Frame bought on eBay for around £10. Always worth having a spare identical frame if you can find one, do note that the same frame name can come in more than one size so check the dimensions match.

 

[JKF]

The mrs broke her glasses a few years back, I was able to find the exact same frame on eBay for under £20 (I think used, but from a business seller). Pretty sure she managed to change the lenses over herself, don’t think it was that hard to do!

 

[Harpo]

On the flip side, I find that frameless glasses rarely last long enough to be re-glazed.

They work by attaching the arms and bridge to the glass with screwless (friction fit??) two piece connectors meeting inside holes drilled in the lenses.

My two previous pairs have both worked loose in around two years. This time I’ve been luckier. No prescription change and no loosening of the fixings. So far.

 

[BingMan]

On the flip side, I find that frameless glasses rarely last long enough to be re-glazed.

They work by attaching the arms and bridge to the glass with screwless (friction fit??) two piece connectors meeting inside holes drilled in the lenses.

My two previous pairs have both worked loose in around two years. This time I’ve been luckier. No prescription change and no loosening of the fixings. So far.

With my framed metal specs I always check the tightness of the screw weekly. Opticians don't appear to have heard of thread lock compound.

 

[D365]

This thread is very well timed as the protective coating on my glasses lenses is degrading.

Does anyone know if Specsavers [or Vision Express] are, as a whole, happy to repair/reglaze glasses that aren’t one of their own? I wad previously at an independent optician, which is where I acquired my latest everyday glasses, before I signed up to a chain for prescription safety glasses.

 

[Buzby]

Frame bought on eBay for around £10. Always worth having a spare identical frame if you can find one, do note that the same frame name can come in more than one size so check the dimensions match.

What you’ve missed is what are the frames made of? Polycarbonate is usual but within this there are many variations. I had bought two different colours and had them glazed. Within 3 months tiny stress fractures appeared and a single (usually) lens fell out. Because of the stresses caused by retaining the lens in different temperatures. The suppliers solution was to send out a replacement frame, but this too failled in a similar timeframe. As usual, caveat emptor!

Does anyone know if Specsavers [or Vision Express] are, as a whole, happy to repair/reglaze glasses that aren’t one of their own?

How would they know unless you told them? Unless a warranty claim, the stores you mention are really set up to sell frames, as in the don’t have their own lab onsite it’ll be farmed out to the nearest optical workshop which is invariably independent.

 

[dangie]

Does anyone know if Specsavers [or Vision Express] are, as a whole, happy to repair/reglaze glasses that aren’t one of their own?

I asked my local Specsavers if they’d fit new lenses into frames I hadn’t bought from them and they said no they don’t.

 

[david1212]

What you’ve missed is what are the frames made of? Polycarbonate is usual but within this there are many variations. I had bought two different colours and had them glazed. Within 3 months tiny stress fractures appeared and a single (usually) lens fell out. Because of the stresses caused by retaining the lens in different temperatures. The suppliers solution was to send out a replacement frame, but this too failled in a similar timeframe. As usual, caveat emptor!

All the frames I have had for many years are full frame metal.
If generally Polycarbonate/'Plastic' frames were a problem I would have thought those who actually remove and replace lenses would refuse to and likewise on inspection refuse frames they thought would soon deteriorate.

This thread is very well timed as the protective coating on my glasses lenses is degrading.
....

Been there, got the t-shirt.
The first reglazes I had done were mail order to Bowden in Bolton but as above more recently used Reglaze Glasses Direct in Market Bosworth. Some have been executive bifocal ( dividing line right across the lens ) which only a limited number of suppliers offer.

OT but for new varifocal glasses very good service & support from Glasses2You in Southampton.
Once lenses remade with the fitting centre height moved and once a frame sent when I had to modify as arms ~20mm longer than description but while doing so I scratched the frame.

 

[jon81uk]

All my glasses have been from the two frames for £20 or similar range from Glasses Direct so cheap enough to get two more pairs when the prescription changes (and I'm on my third in five years).