Your Complete Guide to Eyeglasses Care and Repair

Knowing how to fix glasses is an important skill to have if you wear them regularly. Though not all repairs are easy to do or can be done at home, there are a few tips, techniques, and quick fixes you can do, at least until you can get them to a professional. The following is a complete guide to eyeglasses care and repair.

How To Fix Scratches on Your Lenses

Discovering a scratch on your prescription eyeglasses is annoying and frustrating, especially if the scratch is in the center of the lens or your field of vision. If you’re looking for a solution, the best recommendation is “DDIY” — don’t do it yourself. Prescription lenses should only be repaired by a professional because at-home methods usually end up making the problem much worse. If you absolutely must do it yourself, some people have found success using a paste made from baking soda and water (or toothpaste) and gently rubbing it over the scratch to buff it out. The results of this method are purely anecdotal, and the risks generally outweigh the possibility of saving a little money.

What To Do if Your Frames Break

In many cases, damage to the frame doesn’t mean your glasses are permanently broken or that they even require a professional to repair them. Whether you need a quick-fix or a more long-term solution, here are some tips to repair your broken glasses yourself.

Bends:

For metal frames, wrap them with a soft cloth and use plastic-tipped pliers to gently bend them back in the correct position. For plastic frames, warm them for 30 seconds in warm water or steam, and gently use your thumbs to adjust them. The frames will be very fragile while they’re warm, so use extreme caution not to bend them too hard.

Bridge:

A broken bridge can temporarily be glued together with super glue or hot glue, but will most likely need a professional to permanently fix it.

Arm:

Usually, a missing hinge screw is to blame if the arm falls off. You can find replacement screws and the appropriate screwdriver in any glasses repair kit.

Nose pads:

You can easily replace lost or broken nose pads with an eyeglasses repair kit, which includes both the parts and tools you need.

Temples:

Another name for the “arm” of your glasses, the temple is difficult to fix if it has broken in half. Before attempting to glue it, check to see if your glasses are under warranty, because gluing them may invalidate it.

Metal frames can be soldered or welded, but this is best left to a professional if possible. Plastic frames that are broken can be super-glued and reinforced by sewing them together. This requires a tiny drill bit, needle, and thread and should be done after gluing. Finally, rimless frames can be fixed with a fishing line and a lot of patience. There are tiny holes near the bridge where you thread the fishing line in and out and run it along the groove at the bottom of the lens. Once you tighten the line in place, tie it off and trim the loose ends.

What Parts You May Need for Repairs

It’s helpful to know how to fix glasses when the repair is relatively minor. Most of the parts you will need for basic repair can be found in a repair kit. The kit will include screws, nuts, washers, and nose pads, along with the tools you will need. If you need to replace the temples, you can search for them online, noting the manufacturer, color, and size. Clear super glue is great to have on hand to repair cracks or breaks — look for a brand that has a micro-tip on the bottle, so you only dispense what you need. It is not recommended that you attempt to repair broken hinges or lenses; those need to be handled by a professional. Your optician can assist you or you can search for an online company that does optical replacements and repairs.

What Tools To Have on Hand for Emergency Fixes

Glasses repair kits are so inexpensive and easily obtainable, you can keep a repair kit in every place you spend a good deal of your time. You can keep a kit at home in a kitchen drawer, one in your desk at work, and one in the glove box of your car. Most kits include hinge screws and the screwdriver to use with them; bolts, nuts, washers, and rubber screw caps; extra nose pads, a curved tweezer, cleaning cloth, and spray. Not only are the kits great to have in an emergency, but you can also use them for regular care and maintenance of your glasses.

How To Prevent Damage

Preventing your glasses from damage is all about developing a practice of basic care. Create habits and routines for where you store them when not in use, when and how you clean them, and what tools you will use to maintain and repair them if needed.

How To Care for Your Glasses

Whether you wear prescription glasses, sunglasses, or both, following a few basic guidelines will help them last until you’re ready to update your style or prescription:

1. Purchase high-quality frames from reputable optical retailers. Quality materials and services don’t have to be expensive, and you shouldn’t trust something as important as your eyesight to discount stores or unlicensed vendors.
2. Keep your glasses in a case when not in use. Most damages occur when you’re not wearing them, so keeping them protected in a case is the single most important way to make them last.
3. Don’t fall asleep while wearing your glasses. If you even think you might doze off, put your glasses in a case so you don’t inadvertently bend or break them while you’re asleep.
4. Clean your glasses regularly with a microfiber cloth and optician-approved cleaning spray. Dust particles left on the lenses can cause etching or scratches over time. Do not use paper products or household cleaners on your lenses, as they can do more damage than good.
5. If you play sports or do any other physically-demanding activities, invest in a pair of impact-resistant, durable glasses specifically for that purpose.
6. Take your glasses to be professionally adjusted at least once a year.