Glasses repairs & adjustments

Adjusting to new glasses, whether you've switched to a new prescription or are wearing them for the first time, can be a challenge for some people. If you've never worn glasses before, simply having frames on your face may seem strange and take some time to get used to. On top of this, some people may suffer from problems such as headaches, dizziness, or their eyes may water.

For most people, they will get used to the new sensation within a matter of days. Fortunately, plenty of people have been through the same experience and there are several tips you can try to adjust to wearing glasses more quickly. First of all, start by putting on your glasses as soon as you start your day. This will help you to form a habit of wearing them early on, and if you put them on later on in the day you may find the sudden change more disorientating.

Itchy eyes, redness, soreness or blurred vision can occur, in which case you should remove the glasses until the symptoms pass and try again. Adjusting may also depend on the glasses themselves. If you are wearing graduated lenses or bi- or tri-focals, you may want to try to turn your head instead of only moving your eyes. This will take a conscious effort but you will soon get used to the movement, which will make the transition easier.If after a period of two to three weeks you are still not happy with the fit of the frames on your face, or are still struggling with headaches, dizziness or watery eyes, then you should consult your optometrist. They will be able to double check the fitting of your frames and ensure your prescription is correct, as there may be an issue causing your discomfort.

With a little heat you can straighten up the bridge on plastic glasses.

1. Place your glasses down on the table and cover with a lens cloth
2. Heat the bridge with a hair dryer or warm water for 5 seconds
3. Hold the front of the frame and twist, but be careful: don’t apply too much pressure otherwise the bridge will snap
4. Cool the bridge in water once you’re finished adjusting
5. Try the glasses on and repeat the above steps if the bridge is still twisted

You can adjust the angle of the nose pads on your glasses.

1. Put your glasses on and check if the nose pads are sitting flat against your nose
2. If not, grip the nose pad and angle it gently so that it sits flat
3. Test your glasses to make sure they fit comfortably
4. Repeat the above steps if necessary
5. Clean your lenses

If spare pair not available, contact your local store

1. Take your glasses off and inspect the nose pad arm
2. Take off the old nose pads
3. Attach the new nose pad to the nose pad arm
4. Adjust the nose pad to fit firmly and flat on your nose
5. Test your glasses and repeat the above steps if necessary

You can tighten the screws on the arms of your glasses if you find they’re feeling loose.

1. Find a precision screwdriver, which you can order online from a hardware store if you if you don’t already have one
2. Place a cloth over the lens and find the loose screw
3. Rest the frames on a bench for support
4. Position the screwdriver vertically above the screw and tighten until resistance is firm
5. Clean your lenses

With a little manual adjustment, you can straighten a bent frame.

1. View the frame from the side
2. Identify which side needs adjusting
3. Apply gentle force and don’t try to adjust it all in one go
4. Place the glasses upside on a flat surface and make sure they lie flat
5. Try on your adjusted glasses