New lenses old frames?

So have been for my delayed (about a year) eye test and it seems that my prescription has changed quite a lot since the last test. I wear varifocals and I have noticed the change over the last year or so.
I need new glasses, well new lenses. A quick google search and it seems there are many companies that will add new lenses to my old frames for a fraction of the price that my optician wants to charge.
Does anyone have any experience of using this companies that will our new lenses in old frames?

Depends on the state of the frames, sometimes they’re so bashed up it can’t be done- especially if they’re plastic

I had some Oakleys done at Specsavers a couple of years ago. Was around £40 if I remember correctly.

They did say that some frames aren’t up to being reglazed. Basically, they might break.

I’ve just had delivery of new glasses from ciliary blue – now called something else
Spot on – about £140 in stead of around £350+ from the opticians.
I was prepared to pay extra from a local optician but 250% is a lot extra.

New lenses in old frames I should add

Varifocals differ a lot in quality, so you really need to make sure they are quoting like for like, including any thinning and coatings. If they are your only pair what would you do if they do a bad job? If you have a decent spare it might not be too risky. Do they offer a rock solid money back guarantee?
What happens if your frame breaks the week or month after you get them back? The frame won’t be covered.

It is important to get the varifocal correct isn’t it, i.e. where it starts in line with your sight and something I would think was better done by an optician or is the online place using your existing lenses as a guide?

Opticians stores are always going to cost way more more for lenses and frames as that is where their money comes from to pay staff and rent etc,. as they sure ain’t making any money from eye tests but they are one of the few shops I see some value in as they can measure, advise, fit, correct etc,. which most people can’t do themselves.

Also interested.

Specsavers wouldn’t redo my Oakley’s

Kept saying I had to buy new frames.

I left without buying anything.

I had my Oakleys reglazed last year. £47.50 from Direct Sight (inc £5 P&P). That was for ‘Gold’ lens package (thin, coated etc.). Only complaint is they billed me twice, but that was quickly resolved with an email.

Thanks for all the comments so far.

@ross980 I’ll take a look at Direct sight.

Yes I believe getting the veri bit is quite important, but I’m skint. This has come at the wrong time for me, just had a large bill for the car. The last pair from memory came out at around £500, and even the the cheapest frames that fit me with the new lenses it’s going to be around £350.

Clearly there is a market out there or there wouldn’t be so many hits from a google search. If anyone has any experiences I would like to hear about it. If nothing comes up, then I guess I’ll have to bite the bullet.

Thanks anyway.

My frames are on their fourth set of lenses, always just get my optician to sort it though, haven’t made the jump to distance buying yet… I’m not convinced they can offer the same level of service. My wallet would like evidence to the contrary though.

I’ve used ciliary blue several times – now called reglaze glasses direct. Would recommend.

Another good cheapstake option – but for new glasses rather than a reglaze – is selectspecs.

@kelvin what evidence do you want. beyond doing the job correctly, what service are you wary about losing out on?

I had some Reykjavik Eyes ti frames done by Reglaze Glasses Direct. I have a reasonably complex varifocal prescription and those were never right. The prescription was ok, it was the angle at which my eyes looked through them that was wrong. I think that is something that is much easier to get right face to face (mask to mask).

I went back to Specsavers for my more recent pair.

Whenever I’ve looked into this it’s always been near the same price to get a whole new set. Usually from an online company (glasses direct last time, twice). However my lense requirements are not as extreme as varifocals. Last time the quote was around £100 for reglaze against £120 for a complete set. Means I have a spare old set and gain the warranty of new frames.

I’ve just had my Yellows Plus frames reglazed by my optician with progressive lenses.
I suspect that there’s not an online provider that would do this for me.
And I like my optician.

Did this several times with the kids, may not be as easy with varifocals

Just go find a local independent and ask them.. got all my glasses re-done locally, because I could afford to have three pairs reglazed (main/spare and sunglasses), for less than a new set of glasses from Vision express and the like.

I’ve used ciliary blue several times – now called reglaze glasses direct. Would recommend.

Another good cheapstake option – but for new glasses rather than a reglaze – is selectspecs.

I’d echo this used both Ciliary blue for a couple of reglazings and Selectspecs for cheap glasses and sunglasses. Not had a bad pair yet. Although it’s worth noting my prescription is probably a bit simpler.

what evidence do you want. beyond doing the job correctly, what service are you wary about losing out on?

As I said earlier, the optician will be able to measure exactly where the vari-focal starts (i.e. when your eyes are looking down below a certain level) Get that wrong and looking straight through lenses at a distance could be messed up.
If the optician gets it wrong and the lenses feel odd it is their fault as they measured it – if you get it wrong, guess what…

The only catch with reglaze places (like ciliary blue, which I’ve used several times) is that you need to know your pupil distance. Measuring it yourself isn’t exactly trivial: I did my wifes, and got numbers that varied by over five mm. There is a proper way so read the instructions carefully. You can ask your optician when you get a test but they know the only reason you’ll ask is for online lenses, so they don’t do it normally. I managed to convince mine by saying I was going to order some custom goggles that they wouldn’t be able to do.

Just had my frames reglazed by my local optician, I’ve also ordered new lenses online for my Flak Jackets (Grey Transition) they sent some measuring glasses out to get my PD measurement before confirming the order. Just waiting for those to arrive in the post.

As I said earlier, the optician will be able to force a new set of frames on you that you probably don’t want/need

All for giving business to the optician but if they are going to be shysters well that can gtf

Trail_rat, when the optician refuses to reglaze a frame it’s normally because of the ballache. If the screws are over tightened and the head snaps off, or if the plastic material is something we don’t know, it can fall apart with some cleaning solutions, or they can snap at anytime. They probably won’t break but if they do it’s a massive headache. We had a guy three times try and get us to reglaze a Cartier frame, (£800) we refused, he looked dodgy, sure enough on googling he’d just come out of jail for defrauding old people.
If we supplied the frame and it’s in decent condition we always do it.

OP if you are near oxford, come and see me and I’ll match the online place.

” can’t change them brake pads mate those avids are shite to work on you need new brakes/bike ”

Equally a ball ache – invariably never just a pad swap.

Just cheeses me off that’s all. Used to get my glasses reglazed twice before changing them. Works changed opticians because the building the old one was in got removed. New ones won’t do it.

I have used ciliary blue (think they are now reglaze direct) a few times, once to put prescription lenses into a pair of oakley riding glasses, once to replace a scratched prescription glasses lenses and once to put in non prescription lenses in my sunglasses after having laser eye surgery.

Service was top notch both times, they even send a box out for you to send the glasses to them. would recommend them highly.

Never had varifocals so cant comment on that front, but might be worth ringing them.

I’ve just been back to Vision express (for a specific make only they sell) and was told I wouldn’t need to pay the re-glazing surcharge of £69, when they need reglazing… a surcharge before they actual cost of the lenses, ffs they are just robbing bastards.

If you’re near Bristol and want it done properly instead of by remote guesswork, hit me up and I’ll do it for what it costs me.
Honestly, the difference between a good varifocal that is measured correctly and a less good varifocal that isn’t measured at all is night and day.

@jkomo @thrycallmejerry

Thank you both for the kind offer, unfortunately for me I’m nowhere near either place.

Back at work this week after a week off, had a chat with my manager. I might be able to get the company to contribute something to them. Or at the very least pay for something suitable for me to do my job. That’ll give more time to decide what to do about a proper pair.

Thanks again.

I had opticals put into my Wayfarers. Poor eyesight made them redundant years ago.

I have in the past had old frames reglazed. Can you do without them while they get done?

Just to pick up on the recommendation above for Direct Sight.. I sent a pair in for new lenses last week.. they arrived with them on Friday and were back with me on Monday!

Interesting and timely thread. I’ve also just had my eyes tested for the first time in about 3 years. Prescription has changed and I now need varifocals, Vision Express wanted £280 to put new (Oakley) lenses in my old frames, PLUS £70 reglazing fee. Cheeky blighters.

I contacted RX Sports and they said they can’t reglaze my old frames as they are no longer sold by Oakley, instead I ordered a new pair of Oakleys for less than VE wanted just to reglaze.

I’ve still got a £75 voucher from work so I might go and get a cheap cheap pair from VE for monitor use. Also have prescription sunglasses which will need reglazing, that’s going to hurt.