new lenses in old glasses frames??

*snow*white*

Hi there silly question alert but here goes.

I need to get my eyes tested again and probably need new glasses. The frames I have are fine and am trying to keep costs down so can I just get the new lens put in my current glasses? does this work out cheaper?

Alter_ego

They usually find a reason/excuse not to do it.

pattycake

May well not work out cheaper any way but have your considered what you will do while the frames are away having new lenses made? Unless you have a spare pair you will be in trouble!

jenniewb

I've had this done before, normally works out cheaper if you don't have special offers going on so check this first.


If you find it hard to get this done at a mass marketer, maybe try an independent retailer as often they are more helpful with things like this.

pmduk

Be careful if someone suggest reglaze my glasses. They appear to spend more time on here promoting themselves than they do helping customers. There are many unanswered complaints on these boards about them.

Susan1962

I've just done this but I had a spare pair so wasn't stuck. Plus I've been with the same - independent - optician for almost twenty years so trust him implicitly. I had an old pair plus a frame I'd found at a car boot which I just liked (cost £2). He used the car boot frames for my main glasses which are normally expensive - complex lens, -16 prescription, thinned lenses - to keep the cost reasonable. For the spare set, which were to keep at work in case my contacts bothered me, it worked out cheaper to buy the lens and frame together. So I'd suggest finding a good, local independent and asking first ...

teddysmum

Some years ago, I needed reading glasses, as well as my distance ones, but didn't want to pay a lot for these. As I still had my old glasses whose frame I liked, I asked Specsavers for a quotation on lenses only and was actually quoted more than the total cost of the cheapest frames with lenses.


I asked, as I knew that they assembled the glasses on the premises, if I could buy the cheapest complete package, but have my frames used and was told that the lenses wouldn't fit.


However, I was able to point out that my old frames were actually smaller , so they agreed to my suggestion.

*snow*white*

thanks for all your replies will look into it a bit more.

GBNI

I use Specsavers (Although initially bought my lenses in Vision Express I think it was) and they have never had an issue just replacing the lenses and have never pushed me to try other frames. In fact, the first time it was them sugestted just replacing the lenses! Only took an hour or so the last time as well, I went in for my eye test, left glasses and collected them that afternoon. I wear contact lenses though so I wasn't stuck!

PenguinOfDeath

Specsavers recommended I had my frames reglazed (after a bit of moaning by me about struggling to find frames I like) I'd only had them a couple of months as my last ones had broken but I needed a new prescription in one lens.

Contacts also helped tide me over at this point!

cw18

I've asked about this a few times in different opticians (I like large frames, and they're becoming harder and harder to find).

I was told there would be a non-refundable charge (normally around £20) for fitting ito old frames, and if the frames broke while they were doing it (the older they are the more likely they are to break) they couldn't be held liable - and I'd not only have to purchase new frames but also another set of lenses to fit the new frames on top of having paid the charge for them to try doing it :eek:

Needless to say I've not reused old frames.