Wearing eyeglasses daily can lead to a lot of wear and tear on the frames and lenses, especially on hinges, causing damage over time. Sometimes accidents lead to broken or bent frames. Fixing the glasses yourself can be easy, and it saves a trip to the optometrist and the wait for repairs. While some fixes may not last forever, they will temporarily save you time and money.
Instructions
things you’ll need:
Small Eyeglass Screwdriver
Eyeglass screws
Nose pad screws
Pliers
Cloth tape
Clear tape
Fast acting adhesive
Nose pads
Clear plastic thread
Jewelry wire
Magnifying glass
Repairing Eyeglass Frames
1 Take the eyeglass screwdriver, which should match the screw type, and slowly tighten the screw on the frame. Use the magnifying glass if necessary and work on a light-colored surface (such as a towel) to easily recover a screw if it comes loose.
2 Obtain a new eyeglass screw if the original has fallen out and become lost. Most eyeglass repair kits, even inexpensive ones, will contain replacement screws. Choose one and screw it into the frames using the eyeglass screwdriver. Do not force the screw if it does not fit, as this will permanently damage the frame. Order a new screw from the manufacturer or a more extensive eyeglass repair kit that contains more types of screws.
3 Repair bent eyeglass frames by reshaping them back into their correct shape with pliers. For metal frames, cover the tips of the pliers with cloth tape to prevent damage to the glasses. Use the pliers to gently and slowly clamp down and straighten the bent parts of metal lenses and prevent breaking the metal.
Plastic frames require heat to make them pliable before bending them into shape, according to Glasses Crafter. Carefully place the frame over a pot of steaming water to soften the plastic. Once the frames become pliable, use your fingers to gently push the bent frame back into place.
4 Use a fast-acting adhesive or hot glue to repair broken frames. Apply the glue to the two pieces of the frame, hold in place until set, and leave overnight to fully dry. For certain types of metal frames, the glue alone will not work. In this case, glue the two pieces and secure with clear plastic tape. The tape makes a makeshift splint around the two pieces.
Other Eyeglass Repairs
1 Use clear plastic thread or jewelry making wire to construct a makeshift screw if the proper screw is lost or unavailable. Simply pull the thread or wire through the hinge and tie off the thread or twist the wire with pliers before snipping off the remainder of thread or wire to make it virtually undetectable.
2 Reinsert a lens that has popped out of the frame by simply lining it up with the opening and gently, using a lens cloth to protect the lens, popping it back into place. For semi-rimless lenses, line up the groove in the lens with the clear thread on the frame, insert the thread into the groove, and pop the lens into the rest of the frame.
3 Replace a lost or discolored nose pad by removing the screws that keep the old pad in place. Many glasses repair kits contain nose pad replacements. Attach the new nose pad and tighten the screws. If you cannot find the correct replacement pad, some glasses repair kits contain temporary, self-adhesive ones. Use these until you can locate proper nose pad replacements or visit an optometrist.
Tips & Warnings
Some eyeglass companies use a high-tech polymer in their frames and contain no screws or metal. Fix these frames by simply popping the pieces back together should they become loose.
To avoid maintenance related issues with frames, take them for servicing at your local optometrist every six months.
In a pinch, masking tape can temporarily fix broken eyeglass frame parts.
Avoid soldering metal frames unless very experienced in this technique, as plastic lenses can melt from the heat and the entire frame may melt as well.
Protect lenses from scratches during repairs by covering with a cloth.