Old spectacle frames, new lenses?

partypopper

Hi, I have had many prescription changes over the years for my shortsighted eyesight and now that I am getting older, i need help with close up work too and so will go for varifocals. Each time i have gone for new glassses on the high street, i have been told that new frames from the cheap ranges always work out cheaper than having new lenses put into old frames and so being on a limited budget, i have gone for new frames.
I want to know if this is still the case in 2019. Surely for environmental reasons, opticians should be letting me have new lenses put into one of my many frames that i have saved over the years?

sheramber

Some High Street chains work on commission so want to sell you frames.

Cheap frames are not meant to be reglazed. That is why opticians will not do it.

If you have good quality frames then ask an independent optician about using them.

My optician does it with no problem.

One time they broke my husband's frame so he was asked to choose a new frame free of charge.

BananaRepublic

They probably mean that new glasses from them are cheaper than having them reglaze glasses. However, I had my nice titanium rimless glasses reglazed online for about £55 including AR and hard coatings, very nice job too. They look like new. SpecSavers for example are cheap but the choice of frames is limited, which is partly why I had existing glasses reglazed.

maman

I've always been told that they will do it but at your own risk. That's for more expensive glasses but with plastic frames. The reason is apparently that they have to heat them slightly and the plastic may or may not respond well. I can see that it might be more straightforward with metal frames.


I currently have some expensive glasses (approx. £200) that I bought last year but I think my prescription might change this year. I'm hoping they can replace lenses.:(

PDC

maman wrote: »

I've always been told that they will do it but at your own risk. That's for more expensive glasses but with plastic frames. The reason is apparently that they have to heat them slightly and the plastic may or may not respond well. I can see that it might be more straightforward with metal frames.

I've had the same 'warnings' from one high street optician but its never been a problem.

I guess it can happen, so the warning is fair to a degree, but I think it much more comes down to the fact they do not make anything like the profit on lenses that they do in selling new frames.

Friday1989

I've only bought three pairs of glasses frames in the past 17 years but I've worn 5 because two pairs were originally other people's. I've never had any issues getting specsavers or vision express to put new lenses in old frames. They tried to sell me frames (and extra thin lenses, and anti glare...) but I just told them I couldn't afford and they accepted it.

alba7

I've stopped going to my local independent optician because of the hard sell to buy their most expensive glasses. They wouldn't reglaze my titanium frames (2 years old and still in excellent condition. They cost me over £400 at that same opticians) and "decided" the new frames they would sell to me (cost £465 with lenses). I was given no other choices.

I walked out!

maman

alba7 wrote: »

I've stopped going to my local independent optician because of the hard sell to buy their most expensive glasses. They wouldn't reglaze my titanium frames (2 years old and still in excellent condition. They cost me over £400 at that same opticians) and "decided" the new frames they would sell to me (cost £465 with lenses). I was given no other choices.

I walked out!

I've developed a thick skin!


I use the independent for my eye test because they're really good. Then I pick up my prescription and go off to Boots (or other chain of choice).:)

DigForVictory

Our optometrist has had the lads glasses reglazed without a peep so they always had a spare pair.
It can't hurt to ask, or to walk away if the answer is unhelpful.

alba7

maman wrote: »

I've developed a thick skin!


I use the independent for my eye test because they're really good. Then I pick up my prescription and go off to Boots (or other chain of choice).:)

I like the optician there and would be happy to continue seeing her but I can’t cope with her staff! If you don’t do what they want, they become rude, aggressive and hostile. My skin just isn’t thick enough to deal with them.