Don't want to get new glasses - reglazing

[BendingSpoons]

I've just been to the opticians and my prescription has changed. I really like my current frames and didn't see any today that I would happily swap for. I have Googled reglazing and been a bit put off. Has anyone successfully had new lenses put in an old frame? Have you done this at a physical store? How long did it take? I don't have a spare pair of glasses, so don't want to rely on contacts for too long. I'm wondering if it's best to approach an independent opticians? My motivation is liking my current frames more than cost, so not too worried about this, providing it's not extortionate.

Yes
Used Superdrug
Very east
Very quick
Cost about £40
Took about a week

Yes and it cost about £80 with special lenses, took about 2 weeks, at specsavers.

They were aghast, but it made no sense to me from an environmental perspective to change frames I was perfectly happy with!!

Your optician should have offered this, it’s pretty standard, although guess they want the money from new frames. I’ve done it successfully twice, don’t think it affected the frames in anyway.

I’ve had new lenses put in my glasses several times. I didn’t need to leave my glasses at the opticians, they just ordered lenses to fit my frames. It took about 10 minutes to get the new lenses fitted.

I paid £225 for Reactions lenses with an anti glare coating. I’m sure most places would be cheaper.

Loads of cheap online places do it, approx £25 goggles4U etc. had several pairs done really easy

I'm in my 50s and when I was young this was standard practice. We live in a far more 'throwaway' world now though and whenever I asked Specsavers to reglaze mine they tried to put me off.

Yes, they just expect to sell you frames each time you go

Thanks all, that's helpful. The opticians (Boots) was about to shut so I didn't have a proper discussion. I came home planning to go back in the week and then thought about how much I love my glasses!

Hungry that's a good point about the environmental impact.

Milly I saw Superdrug online and it looked good, so thanks for the recommendation. I don't know if I can manage without my glasses for a week though, will have to think about it.

It’s a completely normal and standard thing to do. The best thing to do is get it done somewhere where they have a glazing lab on-site. If they have the lenses in stock they should be able to do them within an hour so you don’t have to be without your glasses.
If they don’t have them in stock they should be able to order them in and when they come in you bring your glasses and get them done.
Some independent opticians have this facility as well as some large multiples.

I did it. I have a very complicated prescription so it wasn't cheap but it took around 3 days.

Specsavers did this for me last week. Gave me the spiel about how it was all "at my own risk" etc etc, and that they didn't recommend it. But I didn't want new frames!
I waited until the lenses had arrived in store, dropped my glasses off, went and got my hair cut (luckily I trust my hairdresser!) then went and collected them.

I've done it a couple of times with expensive titanium frames. It's been fine.

Both Vision Express and Specsavers have done this for me. One time with frames I bought from them, one time with frames I had bought online. Specsavers had to order in the lenses but I kept my current ones until they were in (about a week). Vision Express had the lenses in stock and did it while I wandered around town for 30 minutes.

Yes it's sad that we chuck the frames every few years.

Thanks for the online recommendation. I guess again it's just the time issue for me.

@Fe2O3Girl that sounds perfect. Was it an independent opticians you used?

Cross post with lots more recommendations. Thanks everyone! I have a Specsavers and Vision Express locally and will see if anywhere has a glazing lab.

Specsavers will do it, but I don't think there's a cost saving, and in my case they had to be sent away. I have two frames and intend to alternate between them now, because I hate choosing frames.

I've done this a couple of times at Specsavers.
They order the lenses and let me know when they have them. I then dropped my glasses into them and left them there for an hour.
I went and had a coffee so I wasn't wandering around too much without being able to see too clearly.
Go back an hour later and they're all ready.
Easy.

Specsavers told me this was easier to do with metal frames and they unscrew at the side usually, but more risky to do with plastic frames and they have to be heated. Not sure how true this is! But I get contact lenses from there and part of the deal is I get a new pair of glasses every 2 years so they’d actually be saving themselves money by reglazing my old ones…

I do this everytime. I go to Vision Express, have no issue using old frames.

Given that lenses pop in and out of frames anyway, it's really easy to do and just a case of ordering lenses in for that particular frame. When an optician orders lenses (depending on the frame type) they just get them sent, and will put them in themselves. Obviously that's not the case for rimless, but for a standard plastic or metal frame it's really simple.

www.lenses-in-glasses.co.uk/order-your-pack/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqfSy4bHa9QIVStTtCh2J6Q7aEAAYASAAEgLk0fD_BwE

This place is fabulous.

Mine are plastic frames unfortunately. I understand it's a risk, but seems worth it. I feel more confident now to ask and see what they say, so thanks everyone.

Thanks InconvenientPeg mine are a standard (large) plastic frame, so should be OK.

That does look good Blowingagail, just the time issue for me without a second pair of glasses.

I’ve had plastic frames re glazed, I’ve got five pairs of glasses and they’ve all been done 3 x at least £19 a pair at the link for standard lenses. Turnaround three or four days.

I've done this repeatedly, as a matter of fact I liked my frames so much I found the exact same pair on eBay second hand for about £15 and after I'd had mine reglazed had that pair done so I didn't have to be without my glasses iyswin. I've had the same frames in one way or another for 6 years now and it's probably cost me no more than £50. I used an online company, single vision with no coating, was about £19 off the top of my head.