 Oh no! Your favorite pair of eyeglasses is not functioning quite up to par. What do you do? Well, we definitely don’t suggest tossing out any glasses that need repairing. Many ophthalmic eyewear as well as sunglasses can actually be fixed quite easily at home or with a quick trip to an optician nearby. First and foremost, there are a few things that can typically go wrong with your glasses. We can give you some insight on what may be wrong with them, what you need or where you may have to go in order to have that eyewear happily back on your face! *(Be cautious of your warranty and what is or is not covered if you attempt to fix anything yourself.) • Bent or Broken Temple (AKA, the arm) – If one, or both, of your eyewear temples are bent, they can easily be bent back into shape by an optician with a special high tech heat device which can easily allow the repairer to bend the arm back into its correct shape. Although we do not always suggest trying things at home, if you feel you can get the job done without breaking it any further, we suggest aiming a hair dryer a few feet away from the arm and very slightly bending the arm back into the proper position. Be extremely careful as the metal and even the plastic may get hot!!! If the arm/temple is completely broken, it is best not to glue pieces together. You are much safer and better off going to your local eyewear retailer and seeing if a replacement part is covered under warranty, or ordering a new piece altogether. • Too Loose/Too Tight on the Face – This too is quite an easy fix. It is actually normal to have daily “wear and tear” on your eyeglasses. If you are constantly taking your glasses on and off your face, or letting them rest on the top of your head, this can stretch out the glasses and loosen them up. It is easier to fix glasses that are too loose rather than too tight. If your glasses suddenly become too tight, make sure they have not been altered or broken accidentally. Too tight of a frame may also be a sign that the frame sizing is too small for your face, or the shape is not right for your facial structure or size. An optician can heat and bend your frame into the desired tightness (or loosen) at your local eyeglass retailer. • Lost/Loose screw – Many of us do not have the typical tools and knowledge needed to repair screws and other small parts on eyewear. The screws used in each pair of glasses can truly vary in terms of depth and size. It is best to go to your local optician or contact the place of purchase in order to determine what is needed. Although the repair process is usually quick, we do not suggest attempting yourself as using the wrong screw can permanently damage your frame or scratch up your lenses in the process. At OPTX Rhode Island, we pride ourselves on walk-in repairs. If you have any questions about a loose or lost screw, feel free to see any of our opticians Monday-Saturday. • Broken/Missing Nose Piece(s) – This too is actually a quick and easy repair, granted the nose pad housing has not been broken or altered as well. Not having a nose piece on your glasses can damage the skin on your nose and be pretty uncomfortable for a daily wearer. Although many nose pads can be swapped and different sizes can be used, be mindful that certain designers have housing and spacing made specifically for their own parts. Always consult with an optician or your local eyewear shop when replacing nose pieces. • Scratched Lenses – Shoot! Another scratch appeared on your once perfect lenses. Many people struggle with scratches on their lenses on a daily basis. Sometimes the glasses slip out of your hands, are not stored properly or do not have a special outer coating to help prevent deep scratches. There are some tips and tricks clients can try at home before making the trip to your local eyewear shop. We always suggest using a cotton or a microfiber cloth for this process. The first step would be to lightly wash your eyewear with some mild dish soap. If the scratches are still there you can try taking petroleum jelly, non-abrasive toothpaste, or special scratch removing paste (usually found online). Rub the product into the lenses lightly with circular motions with one of the above cloths. Rinse, dry and repeat if necessary! If all else fails, it may be time to consider new lenses. (Or maybe new glasses, because one can never have too many! ) • Dirty/Worn Out Frame – This process can also be done at home. It is quite amazing what a good and thorough cleaning to your eyewear can do. Not only are you washing away build up and bacteria, but you are also prolonging the life of your eyeglasses! We suggest warm water with a mild dish soap as well. Always be sure to dry with a soft cloth. Make sure your glasses can handle the washing process, as some frames are delicate or have special care instructions. Another quick tip is taking a cotton ball soaked with some alcohol and carefully, lightly, rubbing the frame and lenses. Bonus is that this works as a disinfectant as well! Do not over apply any cleaning products on your eyewear, as this too can damage the coating on the frame and more. Always follow manufacturer/ seller directions as some acetate (plastic) frames cannot tolerate alcohol or other cleaning agents. Soap and water is usually the best bet, except for fabric or leather frames, which should probably never be wet or washed.  • Twisted/Crooked eyewear – This can be a sad moment for someone who really loves their eyewear. A twisted or extremely crooked frame can sometimes be irreversible. But, have no fear! Local opticians are trained to work with heavily damaged eyewear and repair processes. With special high tech equipment in-house, OPTX opticians are able to get some extremely bent and twisted glasses fixed in a quick walk-in visit for most patients and clients. Unfortunately if the frame has snapped, we never suggest gluing. In most cases, an optician will do all they can before they suggest ordering a new frame.  At OPTX Rhode Island, we truly pride ourselves on repairing and accommodating all of our customers’ needs. We happily accept walk-ins for consultations and repairs as well, even if you are not a local customer or did not purchase the eyewear from us. It’s quite amazing what can be done in such a short amount of time with the right knowledge, tools and high-tech equipment. Please visit our showroom at our flagship store in Johnston, R.I, and speak to an optician yourself! We are also available via telephone (401-521-OPTX) and ready to assist in any way we can with your eyeglass repairs and eyewear needs!
What's the best part? Most minor repairs are provided as complimentary, whether you purchased the eyewear from us or not! Our opticians and frame stylists are always happy to chat with you and try to find a quick, easy fix to minor eyewear woes at no charge! When in question give us a call and we will happy to discuss the repair options with you or take a look at the frame in our showroom! |
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