A broken or ill-fitting pair of glasses is frustrating, especially when you depend on them every day. The first question most people have is whether they can be fixed without having to replace them entirely.
The honest answer is: it depends on what is damaged, and on the age and condition of the frame. At Prime Optometrists Auburn, we offer free repairs and adjustments and will always tell you upfront what we think is achievable.
What We Can Usually Fix
Many common glasses problems are straightforward to address:
- Loose or missing screws: The most common issue. Screws at the hinges and temples loosen with daily use. We can tighten or replace them quickly at no charge.
- Bent temple arms: Temple arms that have been bent out of shape, for example from being sat on or stored loosely in a bag, can often be straightened with heat and careful reshaping.
- Misaligned frames: If the frame is twisted or one side sits higher than the other, a physical adjustment can usually correct this.
- Nose pad issues: Loose, missing, or irritating nose pads can be replaced or repositioned.
- General fit problems: Glasses that slide down, grip too tightly, or leave marks can often be adjusted for a better fit.
What Is Harder to Repair
Some types of damage are more complex, and outcomes are less predictable:
- A broken hinge: If the hinge itself has fractured, it may be possible to replace it on some metal frames. On plastic frames, a broken hinge is often not repairable without specialist equipment we do not have on-site.
- A snapped bridge: The bridge, which connects the two lenses, is under significant stress. A break here is difficult to repair in a way that holds reliably under daily wear.
- A crack in the frame rim: If the rim that holds the lens has cracked, the lens may fall out and the structural integrity of the frame is compromised. In most cases, replacement is the right answer.
The Age of Your Frame Matters Significantly
This is something many patients are surprised to learn. Glasses frames do not last indefinitely, and the material genuinely degrades over time.
Acetate and plastic frames become brittle as the plasticiser in the material evaporates over years of wear. Heat exposure (from being left on a dashboard, for example) speeds this up significantly. Metal frames develop micro-fractures at stress points, particularly at hinges that flex open and closed thousands of times over the life of the frame.
What this means practically is that a frame which looks intact may already be under significant internal stress. When we apply heat or pressure to adjust or repair it, the frame can snap at that stress point. This can happen even when the repair is done carefully and correctly. It is not a sign that the repair was done incorrectly. It is simply that the frame was already at the end of its life, and the adjustment was the final stress it could not absorb.
We will always inspect your frame before attempting a repair, and if we can see signs of brittleness, we will tell you honestly. For frames that are three or more years old, or that have been repaired previously, we will attempt the repair but we cannot guarantee the outcome. We would rather you know this before we start than be surprised if it does not hold.
When Is It Better to Replace?
Sometimes the most practical and cost-effective answer is a new frame. Consider replacing your glasses if:
- Your frame is more than three years old and has been worn daily
- It has snapped or cracked at the hinge, bridge, or rim
- It has been glued or repaired before and has broken again
- The frame no longer holds an adjustment and keeps going crooked
- Your prescription has changed significantly
If the lenses are in good condition and your prescription has not changed, your existing lenses can often be transferred into a new frame, which reduces the total cost considerably. We will check whether your lenses are suitable when you come in.
No-Gap and Health Fund Options
If new frames are needed, your private health fund optical extras cover can offset a significant portion of the cost. We have HICAPS on-site for instant claiming. We also offer no-gap glasses options for patients with optical extras cover, meaning some frame and lens combinations are available at no out-of-pocket cost.
Read more about how this works: How to Use Your Health Fund for Glasses Before It Resets and Does Medicare Cover Glasses or Contact Lenses?
Come In for a Free Assessment
If you are unsure whether your glasses can be repaired, the easiest thing to do is bring them in. We will take a look at no charge and give you an honest assessment.
Prime Optometrists is at 43 Auburn Road, Auburn NSW 2144, open six days a week. Walk-ins are welcome for repairs and adjustments. We serve patients from Auburn, Berala, Regents Park, Lidcombe, Granville, Parramatta, Merrylands, Guildford, Strathfield, Chester Hill, Homebush, Silverwater, Birrong, and Yagoona.
Call us on (02) 9761 0005 or book online if you would like to combine your repair visit with a full bulk billed eye test.