Replacing New Lenses in Your Old Frames - Is it Worth it?

This post was last updated in 2023

When looking into sustainable options for my eyewear, I came across the term “reglazing”.

Reglazing is the process of inserting new lenses into existing eyewear frames.

If you are wondering if it’s worth doing, I would say yes. It’s a pretty good option to consider if you have some old frames on hand that are still in good shape.

In this blog post, you will find more information about reglazing, specifically answering the following questions:

Can I replace new lenses in my old frames?
How much does it cost to replace lenses in glasses?
Is it cheaper to put new lenses in old frames?
Is it worth getting glasses reglazed?
How do you replace old glasses lenses?

Plus some quick answers to the following questions:

Can rimless glasses be reglazed?
Do Specsavers reglaze old frames?
Will Specsavers replace lenses in existing frames?
Can I bring my own frame to Specsavers?
Can I just buy lenses for my frames?
Why can’t you get new lenses in old frames?

A list of companies in Australia that provide reglazing services is also provided below, so you know where to go if this is something you want to do.

Can I replace new lenses in my old frames?

Yes, you can replace new lenses in old frames. Most opticians will be able to do this for you in a process they call “reglazing”. However, your frames do need to be in good condition to withstand the process and it can take some time before you get your frames back.

The following eyewear retailers offer reglazing services:

Specsavers
Optical Superstore
OPSM
Oscar Wylee (Oscar Wylee frames only)

But really, almost all opticians should be able to offer this service.

As noted, not all frames are suitable for reglazing. If your frames are metal, the screws in the frames need to be strong enough to provide a snug fit for your new lenses.

For plastic frames, the frames can not be chipped or worn down otherwise they may break when new lenses are fitted into them.

Your optician should be able to advise if your frames are suitable for reglazing.

They should also be able to advise if they have the right type of lenses for your frames since each frame requires lenses of a particular shape and curvature. Not all opticians have a wide range of lenses in stock to suit all frames. For this reason, you may find some retailers can only reglaze frames that come from their store. Call them before you go into their store to see if they can help you.

A call to the ones listed above revealed that they will reglazed frames that do not come from their store, with the exception of Oscar Wylee.

In most cases your frames can be reglazed in store. But in some cases they may need to send your frames off to their labs to be reglazed – it all depends on your frames and what stock they have on hand. If that is the case, it can take 2 – 3 weeks before you get your frames back.

If you are finding it difficult to find an optician that can help you or the timeframes they are giving you seem unreasonable, there are a few online options to consider. Online eyewear companies tend to have more lenses in stock, especially if they specialise in reglazing services.

In Australia check out :

How much does it cost to replace lenses in glasses?

The cost of replacing lenses in glasses depends on the type of frame you have (fully-rimmed, semi-rimmed or rimless) as well as the lens type (single-lense, bifocal or multifocal) and if you want to add special lens features. In general, getting new lenses into old frames will cost $59 minimum.

To give you an idea of how much it costs based on frame and lens type, I have provided a price comparison in the tables below. This is based on the prices charged by Optically, Framesbuy and 4 Eyes Optical.

Out of the three, both Optically and 4 Eyes Optical have the best pricing. You can use this to compare to the prices your optician charges for reglazing services.

The first table below provides a summary of the base rate charged depending on the frame type you have:

	Optically	Framesbuy	4 Eyes Optical
Full-rimmed	$59	$49	$40
Semi-rimless	$69	$59	$70
Rimless	$79	$69	$90
Sunglasses	$89	$49	NA

On top of this, an additional amount may be charged based on the lens type you need.

There are generally three types of lenses on offer:

Single-vision lenses – these are used either for distance or for reading. This is sometimes noted as “SV” lens on your prescription.
Bifocal lenses – are used for both reading and long distance. Bifocal lenses are distinctive as they have a line that marks out the distance area from the reading area on your lenses.
Multifocal/progressive lenses – these are also used for both reading and long distance but they differ from bifocals in that they do not have a distinct line marking out the areas of the lens that are used for reading or long-distance vision.

The table below summarises how much extra you need to pay on top of the prices shown in the table above:

	Optically	Framesbuy	4 Eyes Optical
Single lens	free	$72 - $239	$20
Bifocal	$69	$182 - $338	$50
Multifocal	$79	$182 - $339	$80
Non-prescription	free	$72 - $137	free

A wide range of prices is noted from Framesbuy because of the different quality lenses and additional features they offer.

As you can see from the tables above, for single lenses fitted to fully-rimmed frames, it will cost around $60. The costs then increase depending on what you need.

Is it cheaper to have new lenses in old frames?

Putting new lenses in old frames is always going to be cheaper because you are paying for lenses only – you save on the money needed to purchase a new frame. The price savings are not significant because lenses tend to cost a lot more than frames, however, it is still a saving.

And if you’re the type to buy very high-quality frames, then you definitely end up saving money by not having to buy expensive frames each time your lenses need an upgrade.

Looking online at Specsavers, one of the largest retailers of eyewear in Australia, you can get frames for as little as $39. So it could be argued that this is the minimum you save by replacing lenses in your old frames.

But this is the absolute minimum. In reality, you are likely to save more than that.

If you value high-quality frames, you could be paying around $200 -$300 just for the frames.

But if you already have a pair of high-quality frames at home, you can save $200 – $300 by reusing these frames and refitting them with new lenses, when needed.

So for sure, you can save money by exploring this option.

And don’t forget there are usually health insurance options available to cover the costs of eyewear – this includes reglazing services. So depending on your healthcare cover, you may not need to pay much at all.

Is it worth getting glasses reglazed?

It is worth getting glasses reglazed if the frames you have on hand are high quality or hold some sentimental value. The cost to reglaze eyewear is very reasonable and you end up saving money by not having to pay for new frames.

And with very little effort, you end up with a pair of frames that are familiar and perfectly suited to you.

So if your prescription has changed or your lenses have been damaged and need replacing, it is worth considering reglazing. It’s an affordable way to keep your favourite pair of glasses and get them looking brand new again.

And affordability aside, reglazing eyewear also offers the following benefits:

It’s a sustainable option – you are making use of something that already exists and preventing unnecessary waste. In America around 4 million reading glasses are thrown away each year. That amount is staggering and completely wasteful when you consider how easily these frames can be reused, even if your prescription has changed.
Less time shopping around – finding the right frame to suit your face can take time. By using existing frames, you don’t have to waste time shopping around.

Perfect fit – relating to the point above, by using existing frames you know you have the perfect fit covered
Sentimental reasons – sometimes the benefit of using old frames can be priceless. If you have found frames used by a loved one that suits your face, then you can easily reuse them by taking advantage of reglazing services. Priceless.
Upgraded lenses – for less than the price of a new pair of glasses, you can upgrade the features of your lenses. Anti-reflection coating, scratch resistance, UV protection or reaction lenses might be some of the features you may want to get. It is easy to get an upgrade by replacing the lenses in your eyewear.

Of course, for me, it is the sustainability aspect that I find most compelling. Considering eyewear needs to be replaced frequently – sometimes around every two years as your prescription changes – that does mean a lot of frames are being created and discarded regularly.

I needed reading glasses around the time I turned 40, which is very typical for most people. If, say I live to be 84, I may need to change my eyewear around 22 times in my lifetime. What a complete waste it would be to buy 22 frames each time!

I would rather buy high-quality frames once every 5 – 10 years. My hope is by purchasing high quality, well made frames and ensuring I take care of them well, I should be able to get them to last 10 years. So then I need only buy 4 – 5 frames in my lifetime.

And when I do purchase frames, it will likely be from one of the sustainable brands noted in this blog post: 7 Sustainable Prescription Eyewear Brands Worth Checking Out. Check this out if you are in the market for some new frames.

How do you replace old glasses lenses?

How lenses are replaced in old glasses depends on your frame type and frame materials. If they are metal glasses, screws are loosened to allow for the new lenses to be fitted. If they are plastic frames, the frames will be heated to take out the old lenses and fit new ones in.

So you can see why it is important to ensure that your frames are in good condition before you decide to reglaze them. You don’t want to fit new lenses into your frames and find the frames breaking in a couple of months time!

The YouTube video below gives some great pointers on what to look out for when assessing your frames for reglazing:

The key points from this video are:

Acetate (plastic) frames show signs of wear if they have sections that have whitened or have lost their shine. They may also feel rough to the touch.
Ensure the hinges are still working well. If they are a bit stiff, they may not be suitable for reglazing as they may place further pressure on the frame material.
Ensure metal frames are free of chips and scratches. They can still be reglazed if chipped or scratched but it will take away from how the frames looks – something to keep in mind.

An optician should be able to advise you whether or not your frames are suitable for reglazing in case you are not sure.

Further related questions:

Can rimless glasses be reglazed?

Yes, rimless glasses can be reglazed. The old lenses can be taken out and new ones put in by pretty much all opticians. That includes Specsavers, Optical Superstore, OPSM, Oscar Wylee and online stores like OPtically, 4 Eyes Optical, Framesbuy and Vision Direct.

Do Specsavers reglaze old frames?

Yes, Specsavers can reglaze old frames. If you have one of their standard frames, they should be able to reglaze your frames in store. They also reglaze vintage frames or frames from other brands however they will need to be send away for reglazing in these cases and it can take up to 3 weeks before you get them back.

Will Specsavers replace lenses in existing frames?

Yes, Specsavers offers reglazing services so this means they can replace old lenses in existing frames. They provide this service for frames brought from their store as well as frames from other stores or other brands.

Can I bring my own frame to Specsavers?

Yes, you can bring your own frames to Specsavers and they can fit new lenses into those frames for you. This is true whether your frames are a couple of years old or a couple of decades old. However, no matter the age, the opticians in store will assess your frames to make sure they can withstand the reglazing process.

Can I just buy lenses for my frames?

Yes, if you have a pair of frames and all you need is new lenses, then at most optical stores you can just buy lenses for your frames. When you walk into these stores it seems like the only option is to purchase frames and lenses together – but that’s simply not true. They do sell lenses separately.

Just ask one of the staff members at the store and they should be able to help you.

Why can't you get new lenses in old frames?

If you are told by an optician that you can not get new lenses in your old frames, it is likely because their store does have the type of lenses needed to fit into your frames or your frames are too worn out to be reglazed.

If the store does not have the right type of lenses, check out one of the online options available like Optically, Framesbuy, 4 Eyes Optical or Vision Direct.

If they won’t do it because they think your frames are not suitable for reglazing, you can seek a second opinion at another store. But if you are able to convince another store to reglaze your frames, you will be taking on the risk that the frames may break during the process or break in a couple of months time.

While I have yet to reglaze my prescription glasses, I have taken advantage of this for a pair of Prada sunglasses I own. You can read about the company I used to reglazed my sunglasses here: Sustainable Sunglasses – Know What to Look Out For

Hopefully this gives you some confidence to explore this option and keep perfectly good frames in use.

xxx Tahsin

After more information? You may be interested in....

Don’t Throw Them Away – Practical Uses for Your Old Glasses – if you have old eyewear, don’t trash it! Explore this guide, which covers options to repair, reuse and recycle glasses.

Sustainable Sunglasses – Know What to Look Out For – learn about the different options available to make your sunglass purchase a sustainable one.

9 Sustainable Sunglass Brands Worth Checking Out – for a list of Australian brands making sunglasses from sustainable materials and a summary of the pros and cons of each.

Sustainable Choices for Your Eyewear – Your Options Covered – for information on reusing old frames and lenses and where to get glasses second-hand.

7 Sustainable Eyewear Brands Worth Checking Out – for a list of Australian brands making prescription glasses from sustainable materials.

Plant-Based Sunglasses – What Are They Made From Really? – read this if you want to know what “plant-based” sunglasses really mean and what makes them a sustainable option.

Recycled Plastic Sunglasses – Innovations Worth Supporting – learn about the types of recycled plastics used in sunglasses and the different brands that sell this sustainable option.

A Close Look At Bamboo Sunglasses – Sustainable or Not? – for a great overview of bamboo as a material source, allowing you to judge whether it is a sustainable option or not.

Recycled Metal Sunglasses – From Waste to Wearable – discover the unusual source materials used in recycled metal sunglasses and the studies that show they are a sustainable option.

Replacing New Lenses in Your Old Frames – Is it Worth it?