Replacing broken arms on glasses

Replacing a broken arm on designer glasses

Spectacles and sunglasses can undergo a lot of wear and tear with regular use. 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 weak temples and broken or bent arms.

Misshapen arms can lead to ill-fitting frames that feel uncomfortable and may also damage your eyesight, as the lenses may no longer sit properly on your face. The temples or arms are the part of the glasses frame that keep 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). Arms 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, typically caused by users propping the glasses on top of their heads 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, allowing them to open and close. Screws that hold the hinges in place can work loose or even break. With the help of experts, bent or broken arms can be realigned or replaced so well that your glasses can look and feel like new.

Numerous DIY fixes on the web offer owners top tips for home repairs; 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 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 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 they bow outward, 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. 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 must 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 than the other. 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. Pushing glasses on your head when not using them is also not a good idea.

Replacing lost hinge screws

Repair kits are available online for those who prefer to carry out DIY repairs themselves. These kits typically contain several dozen small screws, some pincers, and a small screwdriver. Some also include a magnifier, allowing you to see what you are doing more clearly.

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 that the repaired arm is aligned correctly with the other arm during the repair process. 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 repair damaged glasses frames of almost any material, including metals, plastics, wood, and more. They can also fix or replace broken lenses, bridges, temple arms, and more using the latest precision equipment.