Repairing glasses and reusing frames in London

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

Show the damage to an optical practice

Start with the original supplier or a local optician. Bring the glasses, loose parts, receipt and frame details. Ask whether adjustments and small repairs are done locally or sent to a workshop.

Screws, hinges, arms and damaged lenses need different solutions. Avoid forceful heating or glue near the eye without assessment.

Distinguish two services

Reglazing generally means putting new lenses into an existing frame. Transferring old lenses to a different frame is another request: shape, size and optical centration need checking. Do not buy a new frame assuming any old lenses will fit.

Supplier policies differ. For example, Specsavers ↗ describes reglazing frames previously bought from it. This does not oblige every practice to accept third-party or damaged frames.

Compare repair and replacement

Ask about repair durability, timing, spare-part costs and whether new lenses are needed. Correct fitting matters particularly with complex or progressive lenses. Clarify what happens if an old frame cannot withstand the work.

If vision has changed or the prescription has not been reviewed for some time, discuss a sight test before expensive manufacture. Reproducing old glasses indefinitely does not replace eye assessment.

Collection and guarantees

Check comfort, stability, frame position and familiar tasks at different distances when collecting. Ask about further adjustments and the guarantee for the actual repair.

Free repair is not universal; it depends on the defect, contract and service. Keep receipts and order details. If glasses are essential, discuss a spare pair or temporary solution while the workshop has them. Eye symptoms need appropriate assessment rather than only mechanical adjustment.