How to Drill Eyeglass Lenses

Rimless eyeglass lenses are held in place with a piece of transparent nylon wire, similar to fishing string or by screws. The screw mount lens is made by drilling a hole in the lens and is also called a drill mount. These eyeglasses are made by attaching the two side pieces, or temples and the frame directly to the lenses through drilled hole. Opticians use computerized tools, robotics or special hand tools to drill holes in lenses. Learning to drill the lens holes by hand takes time and practice.

Things You'll Need

• Optical lens drill

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Instructions

Drilling by Hand

• 1

  Tape the template, the curved device that you lay on the front of the lens to position the drilling guide. According to Eyecare Business Magazine, drilling kits come with templates that are slightly curved, similar to a wing.

• 2

  Place the original lens pattern that was used to make the lens on top of the lens you are drilling in place of a template. Many times the lens pattern has small notches in the plastic where the drill hole is located. Mark through the notch with a pen or marker to dot where you will drill.

• 3

  Use fresh, sharp drill bits. Drilling with old bits causes the lens to heat and leads to cracking. 20/20 Magazine notes that common, basic hand drilling kits come with at least 10 different bits.

• 4

  Press the drill bit into the lens where you determine for placing the screw hole. Run the drill as fast as possible and push the drill bit into the lens slowly but firmly. Running the drill fast helps avoid overheating.

• 5

  Stop the drill as soon as you have drilled completely through the lens and pull the bit back slowly. Repeat with the other lens.