How to Take Out Lenses from Your Sunglasses

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: August 10, 2021

Sunglasses, especially prescription versions, sometimes have removable lenses. If you have a need to remove one or both of the lenses, then there are steps you can take to do so without damaging the frame or lens. Most sunglass lenses are some form of plastic, which is inherently flexible and gives you a greater margin of safety than with standard glass lenses. Remember, though, that removal of lenses should never be attempted with sunglasses that are one solid piece of plastic--where the frame and lens are integrated.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Unscrewing the Hinge

1
Set the glasses with the wings open on a flat surface. Look, then, at the corners and see what, if anything, is fastening the wings (ear pieces) to the rims around the lenses. If you have trouble seeing this area, use a magnifying glass and more lighting.^{[1]
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- Some plastic frames have the wings (ear pieces) attached by a hinge embedded in the frame, so you will not be able to remove it easily, nor should you try to force it. If this is the case, skip the next step.
- Some sunglasses have only the wings (ear pieces) fastened on by screws to the hinge, with the hinge and lens framing portions as one solid piece of plastic. In this event, you should skip to the next method.
- If you see the hinge fastened by screws to the frame holding the lens, you can proceed with the next step.
2
Unscrew the screw-fastener from the hinge. You are removing the screw closest to the frame, not the wing (ear piece). Use the screw-driver from an eye glass repair kit. You should only have to do this for the side on the lens you are removing--unless you are doing both.
- These frames are very light, so you may want to brace the frame with something, even your free hand or the hand of a helper while you do this.
- Most of the screws you encounter will be right-handed—that is, turning the screw counter-clockwise should loosen it and clockwise should tighten it.
- Once the screw is out, carefully set it aside. The screws are usually very tiny and easy to lose. It might help to affix the screw to a piece of fairly sticky packing tape. Many eye glass kits come with containers that are handy for storing the screws temporarily.
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3
Press on the lens lightly. At this point the frame and hinge should be separated. If the lens does not pop out on its own, give it an extra push.^{[2]
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- If you had to skip the step regarding screw-removal from the hinge, keep in mind that you will be putting extra stress on the hinge, so try to avoid grabbing on the wings themselves for the removal process.
- Hold the frame so only a couple of fingers are pushing on the frame from the back--perhaps two thumbs.
- Make sure the sunglasses are not high off the surface you are working on, and you don't accidentally lift them as you push with slow but gradually increasing pressure on the back of the lens until it falls forward.
- Once the lens is out, have a soft-lined, but hard cased container ready to carry them until you determine what you will do with them next.
4
Screw the hinge back together. Do this until you have a replacement lens ready to install into the frame. This will help avoid the frames getting damaged, and make it less likely you will lose the original fastener.
- Make sure the hinge where the frame and wing meet is lined up properly.
- Many eye glass kit screwdrivers are magnetic at the tips, so this can assist in keeping the screw lined up at the hinge's opening.
- Standard technique should mean a clockwise motion will tighten the screw.
- Hold the frame and wing together at the hinge with one hand or assistance while you use the kit screwdriver to complete the process.
5
Acquire a replacement lens. You will need to consult with your optometrist if a new prescription lens is necessary. Proper fitting of a replacement lens may require the services of an eyeglass shop.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Directly Popping Out the Lens

1
Lay down the glasses on a flat surface. Make sure they are propped so the wings (ear pieces) are open and pointing towards you. It is better if the glasses are upside down in this case, so the top bar is laying on the surface, and facing away from you.
- You will want to ensure there is no chance the sunglasses' wings will have extra stress put on them at the hinges, so check that you are not inadvertently going to be pressing down or outward on them.
- Have some lens cleaner, or warm water and soap and clean lint-free cloths handy since you will be exposing the lens to more contact than in the other method.
2
Use pressure around the sun-glass lens to pop it out. Since you have not loosened the frame, you will need to gradually do the separation by pushing the lens away from it.
- Hold the frame, not the wings, so you can put two fingers on the lens and work them around the edge of the lens where it meets the frame.
- Push the lens forward, away from you and the wings (ear pieces) with gradually increasing pressure along and around the frame until it comes out. This will avoid you pushing them over the nose-guards.
- There are some sun-glass models where the lenses are sunken into the frame, so that there is significant frame material or a rim around each lens ahead of them--making a push-forward of the lens impractical. Only in these cases should you go ahead and turn the sun-glasses around so the wings (ear pieces) are pointed away from you so you can use the same gradual-pressure methods to push the lenses from front-to-back to get them out.
- In the the case of the front-to-back lens motion, try to push the outer edges (wing-facing) of the lenses through first so you can pull them away from the nose-guards.
3
Clean the sun-glass lenses. This is more of a step if you plan to reuse the lens.^{[4]
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- If you use a lens cleaner--it needs to be suitable for anti-reflective and coated surfaces.
- Spray the lens with the cleaner or dampen it with running warm water.
- If you are using soap and water, add a small dab of soap at this point. Then rinse with more warm water.
- For either cleaning technique, finish up by drying the lens with a lint-free cloth.
4
Acquire a replacement lens. If you need a replacement prescription lens, consult an optometrist. You may need to consult an eyeglass shop for proper fitting of a new lens for your frame.^{[5]
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- This method has a high risk of damaging your frames, so you may want to inspect them for damage, especially small cracks in the plastic version of sun-glass models before you proceed.
5
Finished.

Warnings

Never attempt this with single-piece sunglasses, ones with lenses integrated into the frames.

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There is always a risk that removing the lens will damage the lens and/or frame.

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