Can You Reuse Lenses in New Frames?

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If you wear glasses, you may be wondering if it’s possible to reuse your lenses in new frames.

It’s a common question, especially if you have prescription lenses that are expensive or difficult to replace. The answer is that it depends on several factors, including the type of lenses you have and the shape of the frames you want to use.

In this response, we will explore whether or not you can reuse lenses in new frames and what you should consider before making a decision.

Still, it does bring up the question: if you get to replace your frames with a new ones, can you still Reuse Lenses?

Short answer: yes, you absolutely can!

And here’s how you can do it:

Drop by for a Visit

Give your optician a visit; if it’s minor damage on the temple or the rim, the optician can definitely fix it!

However, if it’s ruined beyond repair, then you’ll really need to have it replaced.

Besides that, it’s also down to the optician whether or not your old lenses are in good condition to be swapped into a new frame.

So, if they think it’s too damaged, then you’ll have to get a completely brand-new pair of glasses.

But if they’re still good, then you’re good to go!

Of course, everyone has their impulsive side pop out, so you might decide to take matters into your own hands and fix your broken frames yourself.

However, you need to know that it’s a dumb move.

If you snapped the arm off and thought a dab of glue could fix it, you’re living life on the edge because there’s an extremely high risk of getting a nasty reaction with your face being so close to the glue’s chemicals!

You can protest all you want that you trust your frames could carry on like normal, but maybe you should put that trust more on the optician since anything about eyeglasses is practically their entire career.

They know their craft, and your only job is to enjoy it and appreciate it!

Be Faithful to the Original!

Make sure your new frames resemble your original ones.

Or, if possible, ask your optician if they have a copy of it they can pluck off the shelf; that way, it’ll be a quick transfer of your old lenses to the new frames.

If there’s no replica available, then you better be careful in scoping out for a new one.

You could pick any pair that match the original, or you can ask your optician to do it for you since they’re much more knowledgeable on what’s available in their stock.

Once you have your choices all laid out in front of you, now starts the evaluation.

Is your original frame metal or plastic?

Plastic would be much easier to choose from because it’s far easier to mold and produce, having quantity to its advantage.

Besides quantity, it’s also much, MUCH easier for your old lenses to fit because many plastic frames are thick enough to hide the edges, making it look good as new if your optician’s an expert in handling this kind of issue.

Metal, on the other hand, can be a bit tricky.

It’s always designed as a thin frame, so that might cause some complications in fitting your lenses into its rims, especially if it’s not the exact replica of your original one.

In that case, the best course of action to take would be to replace your metal frames with plastic ones, although they should stay faithful to the original’s shape.

That way, there’s a higher possibility of things going smoothly!

Check the Measurements!

The size is something you could already eyeball at a glance; however, the actual complication comes during the exact measurements that you’ll need to jot down.

Both lens height and width are important to know for obvious reasons. 

Other than that, there’s also the curve.

It’s a small detail to note, but having flat lenses or convex ones can affect your frames, too!

Flat lenses (like what you see from circular lenses) only fit into flat-faced frames, and the same goes for curved lenses.

If you fit curved lenses into a flat-faced frame, you’ll see that the edges of the lenses will be bulging outside the rims, even though the measurements check out down to the T.

So, if you’re the type to get bothered by intricate details such as this, then you might want to get a frame that goes along your lenses perfectly.

Is It a Match?

Now that you have your chosen frames in hand, the last thing to accomplish is fitting!

A brand new, plastic frame can allow the optician to heat it so the rims could loosen for the lenses to sit in.

On the other hand, the metal frame has screws holding it together, which the optician has to loosen for the lenses to be inserted seamlessly and have the frame accommodate it instead of the other way around.

And, ta-dah! You got yourself a new and improved pair of glasses!

Final Thoughts for Reuse Lenses in New Frames

Having no idea how much it costs to Reuse Lenses into new frames is normal since you’re not technically looking to replace the whole thing.

But, for the sake of a heads-up, you might want to set aside a hundred dollars for it.

Still, only replacing one part of your glasses at a time is a cost-efficient way!

Since your old lenses are still operational, you can work on saving up in case its grade gets too low for your tastes or, even worse, breaks down or gets damaged.

The whole process basically involves going back and forth between the lenses and frame, but it should somewhat benefit your budget, especially with how rough times are turning out to be.

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Author

Tessa Reynolds
Meet Tessa Reynolds, who lives in Denver, Colorado. She likes to write about sunglasses, and eye makeup so that she can share her knowledge, and help all the people who need something for their eyes. When she is not writing, you can find her skiing in the mountains of Colorado.