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How to Fit Lenses Into Plastic Eyeglass Frames

Give your lenses new life with plastic frames.
eyeglasses image by Eldin Muratovic from Fotolia.com

If your eyeglass frames crack or break, you'll need to get new ones. However, this can be incredibly costly. If your lenses are fine, without any scrapes, scratches or cracks, they can be used again. All you need to do is fit them into plastic eyeglass frames. This is a cheap alternative to getting new frames, or at the very least, it will enable you to keep wearing your glasses while you save the cash for new wire frames.

Look at your lenses. Make sure they're usable and not damaged. Look for any cracks or chips, as the lenses can break more if they are inserted into a new frame.

Fill a microwaveable container with water and warm it in your microwave. This should only take a minute, depending on your microwave power. Your container should also be a bit larger then your plastic frames so they can be fully submerged.

Place your plastic frames into the warm water to soften the plastic and make them pliable. Again, this should take only a few minutes.

Hold one lens to one eye, with your other eye closed. Take note of their orientation and side they will be placed in the new plastic frames.

Remove the plastic frames from the warm water. Push one lens in through the back side of the correct side of the frame. Insert the side close to the nose rest first, then gently push along the lens until you push the outer edge of the lens into place close to the ear rest. The lens should snap in place.

Place the plastic frames back into the warm water. Re-warm the water, if needed. Once the frame is again pliable, remove it from the water and repeat Step 5, inserting the second lens into the correct side of the plastic frame. Allow the plastic frames to completely cool before trying them on.

Things You'll Need:

  • Lenses
  • Plastic frames
  • Microwavable container
  • Warm water
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