Glasses: Lens replacement? - YouLookFab Forum

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Glasses: Lens replacement?

Kari

Veteran

So my dog grabbed my favorite pair of glasses-the green pair in my picture, which I wear daily-while I was washing my face and just trashed them. I could have cried. The lenses are ruined. The frames are salvageable but have one chip in front.

I need to replace the lenses. I have done this at Costco Optical in the past but heard rumors that perhaps they don't allow you to get lenses made for your own frames now, unless you have bought them there. I don't know if that's true or not, and maybe it varies between location.

Do any of you have tips for well made but reasonably priced providers who will replace lenses? I don't have bifocals or progressives or anything, but need high index lenses due to my heavy prescription, and anti-glare/anti-scratch coating, all of which really add up. I was hoping to use my vision insurance benefit this year towards sunglasses but looks like that's out now.

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20 replies

Latest reply was from JAileen

rachylou

Veteran

I take my $400 frames to Walmart!

Bijou

Veteran

I don't have any recommendations but did want to say that I love your green frames on you and hope that they can be salvaged. So sorry to hear that this has happened.

Vildy

Veteran

I'm impressed people can still do this. My son's expensive but not designer frames started disintegrating after 3 years. The eye doctor was amazed because he said he can't get more than a year out of his own frames!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

So sorry this happened, Kari. I hope you can find a replacement for the beautiful frames or fix them so it's unnoticeable.

As for the lenses, that's easy! Any optical place that sells the type of lenses you require (i.e. your prescription) should be able to fill it.

My goodness, if I had got new frames every time I needed new lenses throughout my life I would be bankrupt -- my prescription changed frequently and I kept my frames much longer. You give them your frames, your prescription, and they should fill it pronto!

Kari

Veteran

Thank you! Just to clarify, my understanding is that many places that sell glasses won't replace your frames unless you bought them there. I'm reluctant to go to the place I got my frames at for lenses alone because they are extremely expensive. I'm going to try to contact Costco Optical today to see if they can confirm their current policy.

Glory

Veteran

I would try Costco. You can call the optical department and ask them over the phone. I find them very customer service oriented and they might be willing to help. Good luck with the repair!

Sheila

Veteran

Within the past year I had Costco put lenses in my new Warby Parker frames. No problems except they did confirm the size of the fit so they could guarantee that it would work. Good luck.

Diana

Veteran

Let me know what you end up doing. I want to do the same thing and had also heard that about Costco. Around here most shops require it be one of their frames. My opticians office used to do it but they no longer sell glasses at all.

Anonymous

I've taken expensive frames to my local optometrist for lenses with no problems. That said, if the frames are acetate (plastic), the older they get the more susceptible to breaking when they put the lenses in and out. This happened to a pair my husband had worn for several years. At most places, if they break them they're not responsible for replacing them.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Gosh. I wonder if things are different in Canada.

I bought both my most recent frames in the US when we were on vacation in New York City.

I then took them to my local optician for lenses. This was absolutely not a problem.

I used to have new prescriptions every two years for a long time -- again, if I had to buy new frames every time I'd have been bankrupt! I'd simply say, please put in the new lenses, and that was that!

SW Ann

Veteran

I have had this done at Lencrafters--not necessarily the cheapest place where you are, but they will do it, and relatively quickly. I have recently found a new -place, but I don't know if it is a national store or just local, called "Lesco" that does it for a very reasonable price. Mostly, just find a place with its own lens cutting service. Explain the situation over the phone to a variety of places and see what kind of reception you get. Since you live in Seattle, other locals may have more suggestions.....Good luck! Those frames look terrific on you and hope they can be salvaged! PS you will need an up to date prescription....

Classically Casual

Veteran

My optometrist is connected to an optical shop as many are. They reluctantly filled my prescription in my sunglasses frames I love that I'd purchased elsewhere. I had to sign a release that if the frame broke in the process, they weren't responsible. It turned out fine. Good luck!

barbaraq

I was just quoted $160 plus tax by Costco here in Seattle to fabricate progressive bifocal sunglass lenses in my own frames. This seems like a reasonable price to me.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

I had group health eye center up on capitol hill replace lenses on frames I brought in. they were very nice & do charge a small fee ($25) or so to create the template. They did my sunglasses too!

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

So sorry to hear about your dog's taste for eyeglasses, Kari. I only wear readers and OTC magnifiers, but I do love eyebobs frame designs and uderstand they will insert lenses, but it's probably only in their frames. What about Lenscrafters? Or, Costco?

deb

Veteran

Bummer, my Costco has done lens replacements on two pair for me this year.

Kari

Veteran

Update:
Costco confirmed that they will replace lenses as long as the frames are in good condition. They charge $18 more if you didn't buy the frames there. Super reasonable. Costco is in network for me and is a lot cheaper than many other places that make lenses. They have done a good job for me in the past, So this makes me happy.
The place I got my specs at, which I love, is out of network and more expensive so I'd have to shoulder more of the lens replacement cost myself. But it sounds like they might be able to polish the chip so it's less noticeable.

Here's a visual of the damage. The chip on the frames is on the lower, inner left. Very small. The spots on the lenses are tooth marks. This dog has expensive taste. Good thing she's cute. I'm rather disgusted with her.

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

Naughty Lucy!!!

But the damage will not be too noticeable, thank goodness.

Kari

Veteran

Yes, thank goodness indeed. I would have sobbed if the frames broke irreparably. They are the best, the most "me", specs I've ever owned.

JAileen

Veteran

I hardly noticed the damage on the frames. My Jack Russell chewed up several pairs of glasses. Fortunately he's outgrown that naughty behaviour.

A few years ago I had some glasses made at Walmart's in house optical shop. The frames were really cool, but I've never had glasses that were actually unwearable. They made me sick to wear, and I gave them plenty of time. I finally took them in to be fixed. They gave me half my money back and promised to fix the lenses. When I picked them up, they hadn't done anything to them at all. Nada. I cannot emphasize enough: don't get glasses at Walmart!