Short answer: yes. If your frame is in one piece and the hinges still hold, an optical lab can put brand-new prescription lenses in the frames you already own. It's ordinary lab work, and it usually costs far less than buying a whole new pair of glasses.
At LensOnUs it's $79 flat for a pair of new lenses in your frames, coatings included, with free shipping both ways. Start your order or read on for what qualifies and how it works.
Which old frames can take new lenses
Almost all of them. What matters is the frame's condition, not its age or price:
- Full-rim frames (plastic or metal) — the easiest case. The lens sits in a groove all the way around, so a new lens simply gets cut to that shape and snapped or screwed in.
- Semi-rimless — a nylon cord holds the bottom edge. Very doable; the lens needs a precise groove cut into its edge.
- Rimless — lenses are drilled and mounted to the bridge and temples. Also doable, but the lens material matters (we use polycarbonate or high-index, never brittle CR-39, on drill mounts).
- Vintage and designer frames — fine, as long as the plastic hasn't gone brittle. Older acetate can dry out over the decades and crack when heated for lens insertion.
Frames we'd steer you away from: anything with a crack in the rim, a snapped bridge that's been glued, badly warped metal, or acetate that's visibly chalky and dry. In those cases you're better off putting the $79 toward a frame that will last.
How the process works
- Build your order online. Pick your lens type — single vision, progressive, or bifocal — plus any options, and enter your prescription. Takes a couple of minutes.
- We email you a prepaid, insured shipping label. No box gets mailed to you and there's nothing to wait for. Pack your frames in any box you have with some padding and hand it to USPS.
- An optician inspects the frame on arrival. Before any work begins, we check the rim, hinges, and material condition. If something looks risky, we call you first.
- We trace and cut. The frame's actual shape is digitally traced, and your lenses are surfaced, coated, edged, and fitted to that exact outline in our Utah lab.
- Your glasses ship back to you — typically 5–7 business days in the lab, insured on the return trip too.
What it costs — and what's included
$79 per pair, flat. That price already includes what most retailers sell as upgrades:
- Anti-reflective coating
- Anti-scratch hard coat
- Anti-smudge (hydrophobic) finish
- 100% UV protection
- Free insured shipping both directions
For comparison, replacing lenses at an optical shop commonly runs $150–$400 once those same coatings are added back in. Strong prescriptions get automatically upgraded to a thinner high-index material at no extra charge, so your lenses stay proportional in the frame.
When replacing lenses isn't worth it
Being honest about it: new lenses don't fix a bad frame. If the frame no longer fits your face, slides down your nose constantly, has a repaired break, or you simply don't like wearing it, spending $79 on lenses is money spent to keep a problem. Lens replacement is the right call when you genuinely like the frame and only the prescription or the lens condition has changed.
It's also the obvious choice when the frame is discontinued, was expensive, or is a shape you've never been able to find again.
Getting started
If you want the step-by-step on our send-in service specifically, read New Lenses for My Frame. Not sure which lens type you need? The complete prescription lens guide walks through every option.
Otherwise, build your order — it takes about two minutes and you'll have your shipping label by email right after.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get new lenses in my old frames?
Yes. As long as the frame is structurally sound — no cracks in the rim, no stripped screws, hinges still tight — an optical lab can cut new prescription lenses to the exact shape of your existing frame. This is routine work. Most frames that people assume are 'too old' are perfectly fine.
Can you put new lenses in old frames of any brand?
Yes. Lens replacement is shape-based, not brand-based. Our lab traces the frame's actual groove and cuts lenses to match, so designer, boutique, vintage, and drugstore frames are all handled the same way. We're an independent lab and aren't affiliated with any eyewear brand.
How much are replacement lenses for glasses?
Ours are $79 flat per pair, including anti-reflective, anti-scratch, and anti-smudge coatings, 100% UV protection, and free shipping both ways. Optical shops typically charge $150–$400 for the same job because coatings are sold as upgrades.
Where can I get replacement lenses for my glasses?
You have three options: your original optical shop, a chain retailer, or a direct-to-consumer lab like LensOnUs. The lab route is usually the cheapest because you're skipping the retail markup. You mail your frames in and get them back with new lenses.
Will new lenses damage my old frames?
It's very unlikely. Every frame is inspected by an optician when it arrives, before any work starts. If we think a frame is too brittle or warped to survive lens insertion, we call you before touching it and refund you if you'd rather not proceed.
How long does it take?
About 5–7 business days in the lab once your frames arrive, plus shipping each way. Single vision runs on the faster end; progressives take slightly longer.
