At Sercombe and Matheson Opticians we have all the machinery and parts required to repair most spectacles on site. We can do less complex repairs while you wait but we may have to have your spectacles for a few hours for more complex jobs.Sometimes miracles are possible! Our technician Ian is particularly good at tricky repairs.

Out-of-shape metal frames can generally be adjusted - it is amazing how mangled frames can be and still survive being bent back into shape.

Broken metal frames can usually be soldered.

Common parts for metal frames that may need replacing are:

We recommend you change your pads once every 12-18 months. They are not expensive (around $10 a pair) and replacing discoloured pads improves the appearance of your glasses enormously.Soft silicon-based pads are very comfortable but they absorb dirt and prespiration and discolour easily - look at the picture!Sometimes even the metal core goes green! We think wearers forget their nose-pads used to be clear. Scrubbing the pads won't help once they're discoloured. Usually we can  replace your nosepads while you wait.

The temple is the technical term for the "arm" of your glasses. The plastic cover over the end (which curves round your ear) is called the temple tip. Often these tipsrs get cracked, snapped or chewed! They are generally easy to replace, and certainly cost a lot less than buying a new side.

These can get lost, lose their thread or break off inside the frame. We can usually fix all of these problems - bring your glasses in! We need to see your glasses to choose the appropriate type of screw.

You may be surprised to learn that we don't charge for simple repairs!

Sadly, broken plastic can't be reliably repaired. Unlike metal frames, they can't be soldered and gluing doesn't last.

Out-of shape plastic frames can be adjusted but need to be heated before adjustments are attempted. This is a job best left to the professionals!

Frame adjustments are a free service whether you purchased your glasses from us or not. So if they are crooked, loose or uncomfortable come in and see us.

Generally it's is the lenses that break but if the frame breaks it can usually be soldered on site. The exception is Titanium, which needs to be sent away as only a few major repair companies in NZ have the mega-expensive equipment for the job.

This type of frame has a rim at the top but not at the bottom. The lenses are held in by fine nylon, running inside a groove in the bottom of the lenses. The nylon is secured by pressure of the lens edges against the frame. The nylon can break, but we can repair it for you. There is a small charge for this as it can be quite fiddly.

Remember: If your spectacles are broken or lost, check out your personal effects cover under your household contents insurance.If your spectacles are covered, then replacing or repairing them is less costly.