If you enjoy how your eyeglasses fit and look on you but need new lenses, you can get new lenses done into your favorite frames.
You’ve always been capable of doing so, but most people don’t.
This is where this guide comes in.
Where can you get replacement lenses for your glasses?
Most optical shops will replace your lenses if your frames are in decent shape and the lens form isn’t too tough.
Seek Optics, another alternative, is an online vendor specializing in prescription lenses for current glasses.
However, the entire process begins with an eye test to ensure you have the correct lenses to help you see well.
The best Glasses Lenses for your visual requirements
The vision-correcting properties you seek are the primary determinants of the lenses you select. Depending on your vision requirements, you may require single-vision or multifocal lenses.
Single-vision lenses are adequate for distance or reading vision for many people.
Single-Vision Distance
If you are among the 42 percent of Americans who are nearsighted, you may be looking for single-vision distance lenses to correct your vision. If you wear distance-correcting glasses, your prescription will start with a (-), and your lens will be concave, or will curve inward, to appropriately correct your vision.
Single-Vision Reading
Reading glasses are intended to help you see items up close, often between 30 and 40 cm (11.8 to 15.8 inches). These convex lenses, which curve outward, are ideal for folks whose prescriptions begin with a (+).
While single-vision lenses are appropriate for the majority of eyeglass wearers, your eyes may be unique. If you have trouble seeing at both close and far distances, you may require bifocals or multifocals. These glasses correct your vision at numerous distances, allowing you to see clearly both close up and far away.
Why would you want to replace the lenses in your glasses?
If you’ve been wearing your glasses for years, replacing the lenses with your new prescription is a good idea. Your family, friends, and clients (if you work in sales) will not have to adjust to a new you.
Replacing the lenses rather than purchasing new frames and lenses is usually less expensive. How much less costly? It depends.
How much does it cost to replace frames’ lenses?
Calculating the cost of replacing your lenses might be difficult. Because lens replacement pricing can vary, it’s preferable to go through your vision insurance, if your plan allows it.
Some places will change your lenses for as little as $40, however that only applies to basic lenses. When anti-glare coating and photochromic lenses (like as Transitions) are added, the cost of new lenses in your old frames might reach $100.
Of course, you’re saving money on the frames, so as long as your lens add-ons or new prescription don’t include progressive lenses, you should wind up paying less than if you had gotten a deal on a brand new pair of spectacles (frames and lenses).
As an example, consider the son’s eyeglass lenses in his father’s frames.
Gilson cherishes his relationship with his father by donning his father’s standard military-issue glasses. The only distinction? Gilson’s prescription lenses are now housed in the boxy black frames that have been seen around the world — his father served two tours in Southeast Asia after graduating from boot camp in 1961.
How did the father-son glasses reunion come about? Gilson noticed the Buddy Holly-inspired frames while helping his father clean out a junk drawer in a desk in 2014. At the time, Gilson’s father had lymphoma, a type of cancer.
“May I have these?” Gilson inquired. His father shook his head. Gilson took the frames home with him.
Gilson chose to have his prescription placed in his father’s frames instead of getting a pair of trendy new frames on his next visit to the optometrist.
“I’ve worn them every day since,” Gilson says, “a little piece of my dad I carry around with me.”
Some glasses stand the test of time
Paying for new lenses in existing frames may seem like more trouble than it’s worth to some. However, Gilson sees it as a means to respect his father’s connection.
“As my father nears the end of his life, I’ve noticed that the totems — these glasses or pictures of him or stuff we collected when he was my Boy Scout leader — have become increasingly important to me,” Gilson says.
How Do I Select The Right Lenses?
Here are some pointers to help you choose the right lenses for your glasses, either to make your decision easier or to ensure you make the best choice.
When it comes to eyeglasses, everyone has different requirements. There are numerous options for both fashion and functional needs. So, before you choose your glasses, you should consider a few factors.
Do you have difficulty seeing things up close or from a distance?
Myopia (short-sightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness) are common eye conditions that can be easily corrected with single-vision prescription lenses. You may require progressive lenses if you need help seeing objects close and far away.
Are you having trouble reading?
If you are over the age of 40, this is a common symptom of presbyopia, which may necessitate the use of progressive lenses.
Do you spend much time on the computer or watching TV?
Computer glasses can help to reduce eye strain and blue light exposure. These lenses are ideal if you spend time looking at digital screens.
Do you enjoy being outside?
UV lenses can help protect your eyes from excessive UV light exposure. Furthermore, photochromic or adaptive lenses provide comfortable vision indoors and outdoors.
Do you participate in many sports?
Anti-scratch, anti-smudge, anti-dust, anti-fog, and even water-repellent lens coatings on your glasses can help you get the most out of your active lifestyle.
Do you like to drive at night?
Anti-glare lenses help you avoid accidents by giving good vision during your journey.
There are many more questions you should ask yourself, but these should provide you with an excellent starting point for selecting the lenses that are best for you. Spend adequate time exploring these choices with your eye specialist.