It can be an absolute nightmare to find out your prescription has changed. Buying a whole new pair of glasses can be a real headache, especially if you are in love with your current frames. Just the thought of having to go through the process of finding new frames that suits your face shape, goes with your wardrobe, and shows off your style can seem like a very difficult task. Not to mention how much you’d be hurting your wallet, by buying a whole new pair.
It can be much more affordable and easier to simply replace the lenses in your current frames. This way, you’d get to keep your beloved frames, and not have to go through the trouble of finding a new one.
What Are the Benefits of Keeping Your Current Frames?
1. It’s More Affordable
Even if you aren’t necessarily crazy about your current frames, you would save a lot of money by keeping them. While buying a whole new pair of glasses (frame and lenses) would cost on average $200-400, simply changing the lenses would cost around $100-200, which is half of the price you would pay for a whole pair.
2. You Would Save Time
Looking for a new pair of frames would take quite a bit of time. It’s especially hard if you have already fallen in love with your current frames. It would take extra long if you go to a brick and mortar store, but even looking online would take up a lot of your time, since online stores have a larger catalog to choose from. Sending your current frames for lens replacements to an online store would be the fastest way. You can check the website for eyeglass lens replacement.
3. You Wouldn’t Have to Let Go of Your Frames
After wearing the same pair of glasses for a year or two, you’ve probably gotten used to how they look on your face. Even if you do end up finding another pair of frames you like, you would still have to get used to your new look, which can be quite hard. Once you find a pair that sticks, sometimes you just don’t want to let go, and thankfully, you don’t have to.
Here Are Some Tips to Keep in Mind Before Sending Your Current Frames for Lens Replacements:
If your current frames are not in very good condition, it might not make sense to keep them. The process of putting in new lenses can break your frames for good, if they aren’t in good condition. And even if they don’t break, they won’t be able to serve you for very long, and you would have to buy a new pair soon anyway. So, it would make much more sense to simply buy new frames in the first place.
It’s also possible that your face shape has changed between now and when you first bought your current frames and your frames no longer fit comfortably on your face. In this situation, the best thing to do would be to contact your vendor and see what your options are. Depending on the material and condition of your frames, it may be possible to get them adjusted. But if not, you would have to search for new frames.
Finally, you should consider the changes you want in your lenses. Besides your prescription, you can add on new coatings and treatments to your lenses. You have many options, such as UV-protectant, anti-glare, anti-fatigue, anti-scratch, light responsive and more.
General Prices
Most optical shops carry a variety of lenses, so you’ll have many options to choose from. Here are some of the standard options and prices to keep in mind.
Regarding the thickness of the lenses, the most standard option is polycarbonate lenses. Polycarbonate lenses start from around $100 for simple clear lenses that usually include anti-glare, anti-scratch and UV protection coatings. Prices for polycarbonate lenses can go up to around $250, depending on the coating and treatments you need for your lenses.
Thinner 1.67 high index lenses are usually the thinnest lenses offered. These are a bit pricier, but usually are recommended for people with higher prescriptions. Simple clear high index lenses cost around $150, usually including anti-glare, anti-scratch and UV protection coatings. Prices for high index lenses can go up to around $400, depending on the coatings and treatments needed.
The lenses mentioned above are the standard lenses that most optical shops carry. Of course, depending on the optical shop, they may have more options. It is important to figure out with your optometrist, which lenses and coatings/treatments would be the best options for your eyes.
Now that you know everything there is to know about eyeglass lens replacement, you don’t need to worry about going through the hassle of picking new frames anymore!