Cracking or scratching your sunglasses has to be one of the number one ways to ruin your vacation. The pairs you find at resorts are always outrageously expensive, even if they’re hardly as nice as your poor debilitated pair. The good news is that you really don’t need to replace broken sunglasses, as long as you know how to fix sunglasses.
Under the “how to fix sunglasses” umbrella, there are a couple different questions that need answering. Here, we’ll look at how to fix scratched sunglasses and how to replace sunglass lenses that have cracked or fallen out.
How to Fix Sunglasses
How to Fix Scratched Sunglass Lenses
It’s really tempting to throw away a pair of sunglasses as soon as the lenses get a scratch. Resist the urge, though, because the fix is so much easier than you thought. Any of these products can be rubbed onto your sunglasses and wiped away with a clean, lint-free cloth (and maybe a little cool water) to fill in your scratch:
- Wood cleaner
- Brass polish
- CD/DVD cleaner
- Non-abrasive, non-whitening, non-minty toothpaste
- Baking soda and water
- Vehicle wax
- Windshield wash
How to Replace Sunglass Lenses
If your lens is cracked or missing, or even if you haven’t been able to buff out a deep gouge, replacing your sunglass lenses is much more economical than replacing your sunglasses entirely. Aftermarket lens providers sell new lenses at a fraction of the price of designer lenses without sacrificing quality. Installing them is pretty simple, as long as you know what you’re doing.
Replacing Lenses in Metal Frames
This is the easiest replacement to make. Loosen up the screws underneath the joint between the sunglass frames and arms. Pop out the old lenses, pop in the new ones, make sure they’re aligned correctly, and tighten the screws up again.
Replacing Lenses in Plastic Frames
Plastic frames complicate the installation a little bit, but you’re well up to the challenge. Start by soaking your sunglasses in warm, soapy water to give the frames some flexibility. After about 30 seconds, remove them from the water and pull outward on the lenses while pushing the lenses through the front of the glasses. If they’re really giving you trouble, use a small mallet to break the lenses. Pop the new lenses in from the back, making sure that they’re correctly aligned.
If you know how to fix sunglasses, you can spare yourself some of the heartache that comes with a broken pair. Before you resign yourself to laying down another $100 for new shades, see what you can do to rehabilitate your old ones. It’s really quite easy.