How to Get the Lens Back Into a Pair of Semi-Rimless Glasses

You can replace the lens in your semi-rimless eyeglasses using something you would probably never think to use -- but it is the tool of choice for most opticians: a piece of ribbon. This will work only for the style of frame with a nylon eyewire that holds the lens in place. Other style semi-rimless frames use screws to hold the lenses. You can put your lens back in either type of frame in just a few steps.

Things You'll Need

• Ribbon
• Towel
• Jeweler's screwdriver

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Instructions

Replacing a Lens with an Eyewire

• 1

  Cut a piece of ribbon (the type you wrap around a gift package) to a length of 3 or 4 inches.

• 2

  Hold the frame in your left hand and place the piece of ribbon over the exposed eyewire, which is the part of the frame that holds your lens in place in the frame. The eyewire looks like a clear piece of fishing line. Your frame should be facing upward. Hold the lens you you are inserting in your right hand; you may need to keep it tucked in your palm while you place the ribbon over the eyewire.

• 3

  Insert the top of the lens into the grooved part of the frame. Line up the edge nearest the bridge and gently place the top of the lens into the top of the frame until it is snug. Keep the eyewire in front of the lens while you do this. It will be resting about one-half to two-thirds of the way down the front of the lens after you get the top part of the lens into the top of the frame. The ribbon should still be over the edge of the eyewire.

• 4

  Stretch the eyewire with the ribbon, starting at the bottom edge of the lens by the bridge. Pull the eyewire into the grooved edge that runs along the bottom of the lens. Keep holding the frame tightly with your left hand as you guide the eyewire into the groove with the ribbon. As you come around the bottom and toward the outside edge of the lens, the eyewire should pop into the groove and fit snugly. You may have to try several times to get it just right.

Replacing a Lens with a Screw

• 5

  Put the lens back in place over both the drilled hole and screw mount in the frame. Replace the screw through the lens.

• 6

  Cover the lens with a small towel to avoid scratching the lens, leaving the area around the screw open and clear enough to work.

• 7

  Tighten the screw with a small jeweler's screwdriver. Some frame styles have a screw and a nut system. If so, hold the nut with your other hand as you tighten the screw.