Lenses are tinted by submersing the lens in a dye. To remove the tint from eyeglass lenses, you need a fairly expensive lens-dying unit. It would be more cost-effective to take the eyeglasses to an optical store where they already have the machines and they can lighten the lenses for you. If you have multiple pairs of eyeglasses, then it might be in your best interest to invest in the lens-dying unit. You can only remove the tint from plastic lenses.
Instructions
things you’ll need:
Lens-dying unit
Lens neutralizer
Small eyeglass screwdriver (optional)
1 Heat up the lens-dying unit to the temperature required by your unit according to the directions. Typically this temperature is 200 degrees F. It may take about 20 minutes to heat up the machine, depending on the type of unit.
2 Pop the lenses out of the eyeglass frame. Loosen the screws on metal frames. Warm the plastic lenses to aid in lens removal.
3 Wash the lenses with distilled water. Dry them very well. If any water is left on the lenses, there is a possibility of streaking and color variations once they are placed in the machine.
4 Fill the unit with a neutralizing solution. Read the instruction manual to ascertain the proper amount to use.
5 Place one lens into each lens holder that is in the lens-dying unit. Immerse the lens holder down into the unit by sliding it down the track into the neutralizing solution.
6 Remove the lenses after 15 minutes and check them to see if they are light enough. If you want them lighter, place them back into the holder, and slide the holder back into the solution for another 10 minutes, then check the tint again.
Tips & Warnings
After drying the lenses, you may want to leave them out for a half hour to air dry any possible drops of water that might be left.
Read the lens-dying unit owner’s manual to see if bleach can be substituted for the neutralizing solution.
Anti-reflective lenses will not lighten. The lens-dying unit may ruin anti-reflective lenses.