Skip to main content
eBay
Write a guide | My Guides |  
New! Learn all about eBay Guides

How to Buy Replacement Lenses for Your Sunglasses

How to Buy Replacement Lenses for Your Sunglasses

Having to replace an entire pair of sunglasses because of a scratched, cracked, or broken lens can be quite costly. Almost everyone who has purchased prescription eyeglasses realizes how expensive the frames alone can be. Moreover, sunglasses frame models are discontinued from time to time, so if one or both lenses come out of a pair of shades or become damaged, it could mean the end of a favorite style.

The good news is that many times, replacement lenses for sunglasses are available. Because drugstore and discount sunglasses are usually fairly inexpensive initially, these brands normally do not manufacture and sell compatible replacement lenses. High-quality sunglasses companies, luckily, generally have replacement lenses available. Replacing one or both lenses is an earth-friendly, budget-friendly alternative to buying new sunglasses.

Selecting replacement lenses for sunglasses is fairly straightforward. First, one should understand what materials lenses are made from and then learn how to determine the specs on the current lenses in order to match up replacements accurately. Then, one should also be familiar with possible changes to the lenses instead of simply buying an exact match. A few tips on putting new lenses in will help to save money, and general buying tips will help to finish the purchase.

Lens Replacement Options

In general, there are a few options for how to go about obtaining new lenses. The following chart explains the different ways of finding replacement lenses.

Replacement Type

Description

Authentic

Lenses that are made by the same company that produced the sunglasses in question

Generic

Lenses that are made by independent companies to fit certain brands and models of sunglasses

Custom

Lenses that are specially made to order

Lens Materials

Sunglasses lenses are almost always made of three basic materials. Some of the most costly do feature materials that are not commonly used. The following table names the most popular materials and gives their properties in relation to sunglasses.

Lens Material

Scratch Resistance

UV Protection

Other Properties

Glass

High

Low

Fragile, heavy

Plastic

Low

Moderate

Somewhat durable, light

Polycarbonate plastic

Low

High

Durable, Light

How to Determine What Replacement Lens Is Needed

Premium sunglasses have all of the pertinent information printed on the inside of the sunglasses.

Model Number

The model number should be printed on the inside of one of the temple pieces, which are the bars that extend from the edges of the frames back to the ears. On one side, some codes or series of letters and digits will be visible. The first set almost always indicates the model number. This might be something like "PR 3500" or "5076-H."

Color Codes

The color code is usually printed after the model number, on the temple. A color might be a simple number, such as "001," or a combination of numbers, such as "601/19," to indicate the color of the frame and the lens.

Classic aviator sunglasses, worn by actor John Stamos, are likely to be easy to find replacement lenses for. Finding them in an unusual color might be more of a challenge.
Size

In general, a specific model of sunglasses comes with one size of lenses; however, there are exceptions. If a lens size is specified, it may be on the bridge, which is the piece that fits over the nose and connects the two lenses. Sizes may also be stamped on the temple with the other identifying information. Sizes are given in millimeters, and many sunglasses indicate the width of the lens as well as the bridge and earpiece length. The first measurement should be the lens size, usually about 50 to 75 mm on average, although granny glasses and oversize shades will be sized outside of this range.

Switching to a Different Lens

In some cases, sunglasses owners want new lenses not because the old ones are damaged but because they are not performing in the desired manner. A wearer may love his or her frames but feel that the lenses are too heavy, too dark, or otherwise under par.

Changing the Color

One might find that the lens color is more important than it seems. An amber lens might look nice with a tortoiseshell frame, but amber and some brown lenses have a tendency to reduce color differentiation, which could be a safety hazard when viewing traffic lights. Gray or green lenses work best for driving. On the other hand, amber and yellow lenses will increase depth perception and contrast, so for outdoor sports such as archery where accuracy is important but color trueness is not, amber lenses will work well.

Many makers of top-quality sunglasses offer a choice of lens colors, so finding authentic replacement lenses may be an option. If it is not, custom lens replacements may make sense.

Going Polar

Polarized lenses cut down on glare, which is light reflecting off of surfaces such as snow, water, rocks, and pavement. Sunglass wearers who find that they are still squinting with dark lenses may benefit from polarization. Polarized lenses are also good for driving.

Mirrors

The surface of a mirrored lens does not do a great deal performance-wise but can cut down on some of the light entering the lens by reflecting it back out. Mirrored sunglasses are primarily useful for privacy and anonymity.

Resisting Scratches

While glass lenses are naturally resistant to scratches, plastic and polycarbonate lenses can show the signs of wear fairly soon. Sunglass wearers who opted out of the additional cost of a scratch-resistant coating may change their minds quickly. Luckily, the uncoated lenses can be swapped out for scratch-resistant lenses.

When All Else Fails

In the case that a replacement lens is not available for a particular pair of sunglasses, and a custom lens is out of one’s budget, it may be necessary to replace the sunglasses entirely. Now having more knowledge about lenses, a buyer can perhaps get the ideal pair of sunglasses the first time around. One might consider selecting a more classic style of frame if there is a concern about finding lens replacements in the future.

How to Replace Lenses

Once the proper sunglasses lenses have been obtained, putting them in is a fairly simple matter, although a professional can do this for people who do not want to attempt it. It is easier to work on one side at a time.

Screw-In Lenses

The steps for putting in screw-in lenses are as follows.

  1. Have the correct supplies: the replacement lenses and an eyeglass repair kit. The repair kit should contain a tiny screwdriver as well as extra screws.
  2. Use the screwdriver to remove the screw from the frames. Place the screw on a piece of fabric or foam to keep it from rolling away.
  3. Remove the old lens and insert the new lens. The lens should fit easily with no gaps.
  4. Replace the screw.
  5. Clean the lens to remove any fingerprints or smudges from working with the lens.

Pop-In Lenses

Here is a list of instructions for replacing lenses that pop in and out of the frames.

  1. Hold the sunglasses with the front facing you.
  2. Use your thumbs to gently push the lens out toward the back.
  3. Turn the sunglasses around. Place the new lens against the hole and use your thumbs to press the lens into place.
  4. Squeeze gently around the lens to ensure that the lens is fitting tightly in the frame.

Where to Find Sunglasses Replacement Lenses

Lenses for prescription sunglasses will have to be obtained at an optical department, ideally the one at which the sunglasses were originally purchased.

Replacement lenses for nonprescription sunglasses can sometimes be purchased from the store where the sunglasses were bought, whether it is a shopping mall kiosk, department store, sporting goods store, or other retailer. Many times, if the replacement lenses are not immediately available at these establishments, they can be ordered.

Buying Sunglasses Replacement Lenses on eBay

eBay is an ideal place to find replacement lenses for your favorite shades. Sellers from all over the world provide products you might never find in your hometown, such as the correct lenses for your sunglasses. To see what lenses are available, type "sunglass replacement lenses" into the Search box on eBay’s home page. You can sort the results by brand and further narrow down the selections by keying in the model number or reading the listing titles to find a match for your frames.

Conclusion

A damaged lens need not mean the end of a pair of sunglasses. Replacement lenses are available much of the time and can be inserted quite easily. Finding the correct lenses can be challenging, particularly for an older or more unique style of sunglasses, but these tips will facilitate the process. Remember that replacement lenses can be authentic, generic, or custom, offering the most possibilities for finding the right match. It is important to know the material of the original lenses, as generic replacements may be made of a less expensive plastic than was originally used. Finding the specs for a particular pair of sunglasses is easy and simply requires looking on the inside of the frames. Online shopping makes matching lenses to frames much easier. With all of these tips, finding good, inexpensive replacement lenses for a pair of sunglasses will be a snap.

Author information
eBay
Was this guide helpful?

Choose a template