How to Fix a Nose Stand on Eyeglasses

Nose pad mounts become worn over time.

Eyeglass frames are made from extremely durable materials, but the hardware, such as the nose stand, is made from soft plastic. The nose stand or nose pads are often the first fixtures to break making the glasses uncomfortable to wear. An optometrist can repair or replace the nose stand, but the cost can be high. Use a few basic repair techniques to fix the nose stand on a pair of eyeglasses.

Things You'll Need

• Serving tray
• Cotton rags
• Jeweler's screwdrivers
• Needle-nose pliers
• Cotton swabs
• Liquid dishwashing detergent
• Nose pads
• Epoxy glue

Instructions

1. Prepare the work area. Place a serving tray on a table. A serving tray has a lip surrounding the tray's surface that will prevent the eyeglass screws from falling off the table. Lay a clean white cotton rag on the tray's surface. Place the eyeglasses on the rag and the necessary tools within easy reach.

2. Remove the nose pads. Most glasses use nose pads that are held in place by a setscrew. The screw is located on the side of the pad's mount. Use a small standard jeweler's screwdriver to loosen the screws. Turn the screw counterclockwise until the old nose pad can be removed from its mount. Pull the pad out. Do not remove the screws because they are difficult to thread after they are out of their mounts.

3. 

   Clean the mounts as perspiration causes oily debris to collect over time.

   Inspect the nose pad mounts for damage. The mounts are normally made from pliable metal so they can be adjusted to fit the wearer's nose. Over time, they become bent out of alignment and sustain metal fatigue. Look for stress lines in the metal at the welded joint between the base of the mount and the glasses' frame.

4. Reposition the pad mounts. The longer the glasses are worn, the greater the degree of mount misalignment. Grasp the shaft of the mount with needle-nose pliers and bend until it matches the alignment of the opposite mount.

5. Clean the mounts. The wearer's perspiration causes grease and debris to collect on the mounts over time, eventually ending up on the rubber pads, discoloring and chemically breaking them down. Mix 4 tablespoons of liquid dishwashing detergent with 16 ounces of hot water. Dip a cotton swab into the soapy mixture. Clean the mounts by rubbing the tip of the swab across the surface.

6. Replace the nose pads. Most eyeglass repair kits come with replacement pads. Take the square base of the pad and place it into the pad's mounting hole at the top of the mount. Tighten the mounting screw with a jeweler's screwdriver until the pad is held firmly in place.

Tips & Warnings

• If the metal mounting post shows signs of metal fatigue, coat the outer surface with epoxy glue designed for use with metal. Use a small brush to apply the epoxy.

References

• World of Metaphysics: How to Fix a Pair of Eyeglasses?
• Chip Life: How to Fix a Pair of Eyeglasses?
• GlassesCrafter.com: How to Repair Glasses