Adjusting Vintage Horned-Rim Glasses
Vintage horn-rimmed glasses are a quintessential retro accessory. Whether you find your horn-rimmed glasses at a flea market, thrift store or vintage shop, you will need to adjust them to fit your face. Whether your horned-rim glasses are made of horn or plastic, they can warp and become brittle over time. To prevent breakage, take your vintage horn-rimmed glasses to an optical shop and have them adjusted by a professional. If the shop is also placing new lenses in your horn-rimmed frames, the adjustment is usually free. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Assess the necessary repairs by placing your glasses flat on a table. If one side comes up higher than the other or if one edge sticks out farther than the other, they will need to be adjusted.
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Adjust the nose pads by hanging onto the lens with one hand while gripping the corresponding nose pad with the other. Push the bottom of each pad toward its lens to widen them. This adjustment is necessary if the glasses sit too high on your nose.
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Adjust glasses that sit too low on your face by pushing the pads away from the lenses, or inward toward the nose.
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Tighten the screws holding the eyepieces using a small screwdriver from an eyeglass repair kit. Be careful when making this adjustment because vintage glasses are often brittle and prone to snapping.
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Take your glasses to an optician for professional adjustments if they are warped. They will need to be softened and rebent using a tool called a hotbox.
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Tips & Warnings
The chances of breaking a pair of vintage glasses when attempting to adjust them yourself are high. Always take your glasses to a professional for adjustment unless you have no other choice.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Siri Stafford/Digital Vision/Getty Images
