“Oh no, the stem of my eyeglasses has broken. This is my only pair of glasses! What do I do?”

Eyeglasses can be stylish and fun, but if you depend upon your eyeglasses for proper vision, it is not a good idea to own just one pair.  Much like backing up your computer in case of disaster, you should always have a back up pair of eyeglasses.

While there are still a small amount of handmade eyeglass frames, the vast majority are manufactured in automated factories located across the Pacific Rim and Europe.  Unfortunately, standardized quality control does not exist, meaning unless your optical provider deals only with reputable suppliers, the frame you purchase may prove to have a disappointing service life.

Sharpglasses.com deals only in the highest quality frames. Under normal use and proper care, our frames are engineered to last the life of your prescription.  Should you have a damaged frame purchased from us, we prefer that you return it so we may determine if an adequate repair can be made.  If you have damaged eyeglasses that were purchased elsewhere, the following information will help to determine if it is feasible to attempt repair:

Nose pad replacement, metal frame:  Most optical shops are able to replace lost or worn nose pads for a nominal charge.  A broken “guard arm” (the part that the nose pad attaches to) is a more serious problem.  If its attachment to the “eye wire” (the part of the frame that holds the lenses) is broken, the only way to reattach them is by welding.  See welding below.

Broken eyewire, metal frame:  Rejoining metal pieces must be accomplished by welding.  See welding below.

Temple replacement, metal frame:  Temples that have detached from the eye wire (usually at the hinge) must be reattached by welding.  See welding below.

Temple tips, metal frame:  Most optical shops are able to replace lost or worn temple tips for a nominal charge.

Temple replacement, plastic frame:  Plastic frames with detached temples most often can’t be repaired.

Broken eye wire, plastic frame:  Attempting to rejoin plastic pieces most often does not result in an acceptable repair. 

Welding:  Most metal frames are base metals electroplated with a hypoallergenic alloy and finished with a clear coat lacquer. Additionally, paint and other adornments may be applied. It is possible to weld broken pieces together but damage to the plating, lacquer, paint and adornments can occur. Before you agree to a weld repair, ask what the charges will be. If you have to pay for the repair, be prepared to invest in a repair you may find unsightly.