Spectacles and sunglasses can go through a lot with regular wear and tear. Frames can be dropped, bent and knocked out of shape quite easily. Apart from scratched lenses, the most common problems with glasses and sunglasses are work temples and broken or bent arms. Misshaped arms make for ill-fitting frames that feel uncomfortable and can damage your eyesight, too, and the lenses may no longer sit properly on your face.
The temples or arms are the part of the glasses frame that keeps your glasses straight and secure on your face. Most will hook behind the ears, which helps keep them secure (Oakley is an exception to this with their patented three-way grip), and they will often sport rubberised temple tips for added comfort and grip.
One of the most common problems is glasses that become too loose. The arms widen over time, usually caused by users propping the glasses on top of the head while not in use. Another is glasses that become crooked when one arm has been bent out of shape and are no longer symmetrical.
Glasses temples are usually fitted to the frame with a barrel hinge so that they open and close. Screws that hold the hinges in place can become work, loose or even break. With experts, bent or broken arms can be realigned or replaced so well that your glasses can look and feel new. Plenty of DIY fixes on the web give owners top tips on carrying out repairs at home; we outline some of them below. Our top tip is to let the experts do it properly. Your repaired glasses can be returned within 48 hours with guaranteed work at a very reasonable price.
Temporary fix for a broken temple
When a sunglasses arm becomes detached from the frame, there are various ways to use a temporary DIY fix, depending on the reason for the break. If the screw is lost, you can utilise the wire from a twist tie instead. Just thread the tie through the holes, twist until tight and trim off any excess wire. A wooden toothpick will also do the job, provided it forms a tight fit in the holes. Trim off the extra wood. Neither repair will look pretty, and you won't be able to close the arms, but the glasses will at least be wearable for a short period. For a permanent repair, you will need some professional work by experts at AlphaOmega repair workshops.
Ill-fitting glasses
When temples get bent or twisted, they will not sit properly on the face. If the temples are bowed inwards, they can be too tight; if outwards, they may be loose and slip around. Both metal and plastic temple arms can be reshaped when gentle heat is applied. You can use a hairdryer or a bowl of hot water to heat the frame, but take great care not to overdo it. Excessive heat can affect lens coatings. A hairdryer should not be used for more than a few seconds, and if the water is too hot to touch, it is too hot for the repair work. When gently heated, the material will soften slightly, allowing you to bend it back into shape. Finding the right body can be problematic as both arms should be bent into the same position if the glasses sit correctly and comfortably. Repair experts at AlphaOmega have precision moulds to ensure the components are perfectly aligned.
Crooked temple arms
The glasses' temples should extend around the skull and only touch the side of your head just before the ears. If the arms are bent inwards, it will tend to push the frames downwards on the nose. If bent outwards, the frames slide around the face. If the arms are crooked, one side of the frame will sit higher. Everyone's face is different, and glasses 'adjust' to the owner's shape over time. The adjustment is minimal and not noticeable to the naked eye. You can help glasses keep their shape by using both hands to remove them from your face. Glasses taken off with one hand only are more likely to become misaligned. It is also not a good idea to push glasses on top of your head when not using them.
Replacing lost hinge screws
Repair kits are available online for those who prefer to carry out DIY repairs themselves. These kits usually contain several dozen small screws, some pincers, and a small screwdriver, and some have a magnifier, too, so you can see what you are doing. It is a relatively easy job to insert a new screw into the hole and tighten it if you have the glasses parts. The problem is ensuring the repaired arm is aligned correctly with the other temple arm when you carry out the repair. Take care not to overtighten the screw, as you can easily 'strip' the thread and ruin the repair.
Replacement temple arms
If a temple arm has been broken, cracked or lost, it will be necessary to get a replacement arm. The need to match both arms of the glasses makes it better, in many cases, to replace both arms to ensure a perfect match. Our expert staff can mend damaged glasses frames of almost any material, including metals, plastic, wood and more. Our expert staff can also fix or replace broken lenses, bridges, temple arms, and more using the latest precision equipment.
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