where to get lenses made?

[skamikaze]

I have a pair of period specs but, as of now, cannot find anyone who will make prescription lenses for them. Lenscrafters and Hour Eyes both said no. Any suggestions?

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

I've had good experiences in the past with both LensCrafters and WalMart of all places when filling prescriptions lenses for period glasses. I've had over a dozen pairs done between these two places with great results each time. Your best results are when you have a pair of period specs in good shape. The rougher they are, the less willing a place is to do the work since they won't want to be responsible for damage.

[andysmith1989]

My local eye doctor filled my period frames.

[reddcorp]

You may wish to check with a smaller non-chain, local eyeglass shop, if there are still any in your area.
There are a couple in my area (Montgomery,Al) who are willing to take the time to do the work. I found the work to be good and reasonably priced.

A.W.Redd

[Swag]

If you live any where near Bethlehem, PA I know a guy that does work for me, everything is done by hand so you know he takes extra care of your glasses, especially if they are originals. I have taken two sets of frames to him already and have had lenses put in both with no problems. PM me if this may help you out.

[Gregg Hensley]

I've been a wearer of glasses for 40 yrs. ANY optical shop should have no problems fitting your prescription to a pair of period frames. Think about it...look at the modern frames on display. My current modern frames look similar to the period frames, except for the flexible parts and nosepiece. An oval frame is an oval frame.

The ironic part is, you can buy 150 yr. old frames in good condition for a fraction of the cost of the modern Versace/Bill Blass (insert designer name here) frames.

1st Sgt. Gregg Hensley
22nd NCST Co. K (not to be confused with 22nd NC Co. B...different unit, different standards)

[90thOHCoG]

How are the earpieces attached to the front of the frame of your specs? Do they use screws or are they clamped on? The screws are easy, and the clamps are hard to deal with without damaging the frames.

Although I've heard people recommend WalMart, when I took a pair of spectacles (with screws) to my local WalMart, they said they couldn't work with them. So I took them to my regular optician, and they said sure, fine, come pick them up in a week.

[10TN]

Two problems routinly pop up-
1-many chains, as well as individual optometrist have policies prohibiting work on antique frames due to liability issues.
2-access to glass lenses is somewhat limited today due to the prevalence and general public preference for the lighter, easier to work plastic lenses. The chains usually only keep pre-made plastic in stock. These are already formed for the common range of perscriptions and only need to be cut to fit the frames. If you're willing to accept the use of polycarbonate instead of glass, it should be easier to find someone to do the work. (poly also has the advantage of providing a limited amount of impact protection to the eyes, much like modern shooting glasses).Ask your regular optometrist for reccomendations on anyone local who can do the work.

[Abrams]

I got my lenses at Wal-Mart. I had polycarbonate lenses, untinted, made and they look great, and have gotten many compliments on them. I did tell them I would not hold them responsible for the frames if something broke while trying to fit them, since they were about 150 years old. The technician actually called me back in the shop to show me how rust powder fell out as they removed the screws to remove the old tinted glass lenses that came in them. But they took good care, and it worked out well. I have since lightly oiled the screws and frames.

Polycarbonate is much safer for your eyes than glass, (in case of impact) and I believe only a real optometrist could tell the difference.

[skamikaze]

my last pair had screws, and my old eye place back in chicago said no problem. however, the new pair are folded tin clamps and no one will touch them. i wonder if i could just get the lenses made and put them in myself.

[RedkepiWA]

my glasses are the Jas Townsend brand. Got the lenses from Wal-Mart....no problem

[TheSignalCorpsGuy]

I have a pair of period specs but, as of now, cannot find anyone who will make prescription lenses for them. Lenscrafters and Hour Eyes both said no. Any suggestions?



....you want progressive lenses placed in your period specs. Today's lenses are much much larger. Progressives require these larger lenses to give you the range you're looking for. If you had ROUND period lenses - then progressives would work. The typical repro reenacting frames (with the wrap-around ear pieces) are too small. blockaderunner.com sells some other types of period frames and they are WAY too small for progressives!


Just my two cents......... (inflated value = 1/128 a penny)

[skamikaze]

....you want progressive lenses placed in your period specs. Today's lenses are much much larger. Progressives require these larger lenses to give you the range you're looking for. If you had ROUND period lenses - then progressives would work. The typical repro reenacting frames (with the wrap-around ear pieces) are too small. blockaderunner.com sells some other types of period frames and they are WAY too small for progressives!


Just my two cents......... (inflated value = 1/128 a penny)


Indeed. I have very poor eyesight and require rather thick lenses even in my modern frames. My new pair are originals and have VERY small lenses. there is no way i could get real glass put in.

[bill watson]

I've had the great good luck to find originals with magnification perfect for me, but I'm lucky: All I really require is reading glasses.

If you want to invest some time, estate sales and whatnot sometimes turn up old glasses from our era that you can pick up for next to nothing. Eventually one has the magnification you need, if your needs are simple, and if not you have the resources to trade someone if they have what you need.

Mine came down from my wife's family. But I see these all the time at flea markets and whatnot. Somebody will have a bunch of them, and out of a pile of 20, one or two will be "ours". Ditto old straight razors.

Mention this now because the way gas prices are going, some of us are going to be spending weekends closer to home with greater frequency this year, and if you can't reenact, looking for old good stuff is high on my list of alternatives. And around here flea market season is up and running now.

[Rob]

If you use progressive lenses, as I do, the solution is easy. Get two pairs - one with your distance vision, and one with your reading vision. The only time I use the reading glasses is when doing paperwork or reading drill manuals.

[7thNJcoA]

My fiance is a tech for an opthamologist and said that anything bigger that a +3 or +4 perscription is hard to cut to that size. It is possible ut all depends on your exact prescription. Anything over a +4 is going to cost a pretty penny to be done and last as long as any other pair of eyeglasses. A +1 +2 are pretty easy to do she said.

[Tarheel57]

My local eye doctor filled my period frames.

Same here. I just walked in with my frames and they did the lenses while I waited. Took about 10 minutes.

[Drygoods]

Frankly, I'd try another mall with the lens shops. We've had about 5 pairs done over the years, and all were done by those discount places at the mall. When someone tells me that the job can't be done because of a stigmatism, I always ask, "Oh is this something new?" Bad eyesight has been around forever, dealing with it and finding the right weight frames are the only difficulty. Don't give up.

The only kind that cannot be done are those that are pined/riveted together, screwd is just fine for replacement.

I also know that Reenactors Eyewear does period lenses with flint glass (unavailable here in CA) You could always try them. I think they are located in Michigan/Maryland?

[toptimlrd]

I have had lense made at both Wal*Mart and Lens Crafters. Both were hesitant to do the work but once I explained I would not hold them liable for breakage they did it. The one time they would not touch the frames I asked them if I brought them the lenses separate would they make them? They would. I sat don at one of their tables, pulled out a precision screwdriver I had and voila, handed them the loose lenses and my prescription.

I too recomend the polcarbonite lenses today sue to safety. Glass shards in the eye are no fun and it is nearly impossible to tell the difference by just looking (feeling yes).

My wife has some beauiful sterling frames that have a clamp style frame (no screw) so they are a little ore difficult. Fortunately I found a manager at a LensCrafters wo was willing to do them (his employees were eluctant but did send him to me). He simply broke the original lenses and was able to pop in the new ones.

[Rob]

I too recomend the polycarbonate lenses today due to safety. Glass shards in the eye are no fun...

Amen to that, from someone with first-hand experience.

[skamikaze]

well pards, i'm gonna have to put the cw frames on the backburner because my real glasses broke at work today. I wont get reimbursed by my vision benefits till the start of fiscal year '09 so there goes some cash down the drain.

thank you for the input though. I will be trying a few new places i've found.

[1stTexas]

I have a pair of period specs but, as of now, cannot find anyone who will make prescription lenses for them. Lenscrafters and Hour Eyes both said no. Any suggestions?

After a technician at LensCrafters examined the frames I purchased from Blockade Runner, they fitted my prescription bi-focal lenses in them and they are a excellent fit. I had a diabetic eye exam at a optometrist and took the prescription to LensCrafters and they made the lenses and fitted them to my Blockade Runner frames in two days. I can see better through the Victorian era frames and lenses made by LenbsCrafters than I can with my regular glasses which were also made at LensCrafter four years ago. That is normal because eyesight will change over time.

Lenscrafters busted me for $300 to make and fit their lenses in my frames because they did not make any money off the frames. That is like taking a half-dozen eggs to a resturant and then ask them scramble them for you. Anyway, the only thing I don't like about them is that they are not photochromatic like my regular glasses. As you know, sunglasses are taboo in reenactments.


LensCrafters may not be able to fit their lenses in the frames you have. A LensCrafters technician must eximine your frames and approve them before you can have them fit the lenses. I know the lenses provided by LensCrafters will fit Blockade Runner's frames.