Frame Repair & Adjustment - What Can Be Fixed and What Cannot

Updated: 17 July 2026 - by the Eye-Shop optical team

Good glasses are an investment that lasts for years - as long as they are looked after. Yet many people walk around with crooked, loose or slippery glasses simply because they don't realise how simple (and cheap) the fix is. Here is what can be fixed, what cannot, and where the line of "don't try this yourself" lies.

What is fixed easily (and fast)

• Loose screws: the classic - tightened in seconds with a precision screwdriver; the optician also adds a drop of thread-lock so they don't work loose again.
• Crooked temples / an "opened-up" frame: if the glasses sit askew or slip, the temples are realigned and their bend (the "hug" behind the ear) is adjusted. On acetate this is done with controlled heating in a dedicated device.
• Nose pads: they bend, yellow, get lost - they are replaced with new ones in a minute and the glasses sit correctly again.
• Temple tips: worn or peeling rubber tips are swapped, especially on sports models.

What is borderline - and what "time to replace" means

Borderline repairs: a hinge broken inside the front, a solder on a metal frame (needs a specialist workshop), a deep scratch on the lenses (coatings cannot be "polished out" - the lens is replaced). Signs it is time to replace: a crack in the acetate (it will spread), coating "peeling" on the lenses, a frame that has permanently lost its shape and holds no adjustment. Good news: many branded models have genuine spare parts (temples, pads, even lenses) through the official distributors - ask before you say goodbye to your favourite pair.

DIY: what is allowed and what is not

Allowed	Avoid
Tightening a screw with a precision screwdriver	Bending "by eye" - it breaks hinges and frames
Cleaning with lukewarm water & dish soap	Hairdryer, flame, radiator - they destroy coatings & acetate
Changing ready-made snap-on nose pads	Super glue - it ruins a proper professional repair

Golden rule: take glasses off and put them on with both hands - pulling with one hand is the number-one reason temples open up. And always a hard case in the bag; most breakages happen off the face. More on proper care: how to clean your glasses.

Or is size the real culprit?

If your glasses need adjusting every month, the problem is often not the frame - it is the fit. A frame one size too big will slip whatever you do. Check the right size in the dimensions of each product before your next purchase - and browse the eyeglass frames or sunglasses with full dimensions on every product.