Your glasses fit perfectly when you first put them on. A few months later, they may start sliding down your nose, sitting slightly crooked or feeling uncomfortable behind your ears.

The good news is that a basic glasses adjustment is often free.

Many optical retailers provide complimentary adjustments as part of their customer service. Costco Optical, for example, lists free adjustments as one of the benefits of purchasing eyewear through Costco. Other national retailers, including LensCrafters and America’s Best, also advertise free frame adjustments at their stores.

However, whether an adjustment is free may depend on where you go, whether you purchased the glasses there and how much work the frames require. A quick screw tightening may cost nothing, while replacing broken components or repairing structural damage may come with a fee.

Here is what you should know before taking your glasses in for an adjustment or attempting a minor fix at home.

How Much Does a Glasses Adjustment Usually Cost?

A basic glasses adjustment often costs $0.

Retailers and optical shops may provide free adjustments because the service usually takes only a few minutes and helps customers get more comfortable wear from their glasses.

Complimentary adjustments commonly include:

• Tightening loose hinge screws
• Straightening slightly crooked frames
• Adjusting movable nose pads
• Changing the angle of the temple arms
• Improving how the temples fit behind the ears
• Making minor changes to prevent slipping
• Cleaning the lenses and frames

If you return to the retailer where you purchased your glasses, there is a good chance that the adjustment will be included as part of the store’s aftercare service.

You may have to pay when you visit a different optical shop, particularly when the frames were purchased online or from another retailer. Some opticians will still provide a quick adjustment as a courtesy, while others may charge a small service fee.

Call ahead and ask:

• Do you adjust glasses purchased elsewhere?
• Is there a fee for a basic frame adjustment?
• Will you adjust frames purchased online?
• Do I need an appointment?
• Is the adjustment performed at the customer’s risk?

The final cost will depend on whether you need a simple fitting change or an actual repair.

Does Costco Adjust Glasses for Free?

Costco Optical advertises free adjustments as one of its eyewear services. Costco also directs customers who experience prescription problems or need an adjustment or repair to visit the Optical Department inside their local warehouse.

Costco Optical primarily serves Costco members for optical purchases. Although free adjustments are promoted as an eyewear benefit, individual warehouse policies may differ when the glasses were purchased somewhere else.

Before bringing in glasses from another company, contact your local Costco Optical Department and ask whether it will adjust outside frames. An optician may also need to inspect the condition and material of the frames before agreeing to work on them.

Older, brittle or previously damaged frames may be adjusted only at the customer’s risk because even a careful adjustment can cause a weakened frame to crack.

What Other Stores Offer Free Glasses Adjustments?

Costco is not the only retailer that offers complimentary adjustments.

LensCrafters advertises free fittings and adjustments at its stores, including for glasses purchased online or at another LensCrafters location. America’s Best also says customers can visit a local store for free frame adjustments as often as needed.

Warby Parker offers complimentary adjustments for its frames at retail locations. It also provides free nose-pad and screw replacements for Warby Parker glasses after the initial return period.

Other possible places to ask include:

• A local independent optician
• An optometrist’s optical department
• A vision center inside a warehouse or department store
• The retailer where you originally purchased the glasses
• A specialty eyeglass repair shop

Even when a company generally offers free adjustments, services can vary by location. Contacting the store before visiting is especially important when your glasses were purchased from a different retailer.

Can Glasses Purchased Online Be Adjusted Locally?

Yes. Glasses purchased online can usually be adjusted by a local optician or optical retailer.

This is useful for customers who buy glasses from an eCommerce store such as EyeCandys. Because EyeCandys operates online and does not have physical optical locations, customers who need an in-person fitting can contact a local optical shop, optometrist’s office or participating retailer.

Some optical stores will adjust online glasses for free. Others may charge a small fee because they did not sell the original frames.

The optician may also ask you to acknowledge that they cannot guarantee the frame will not break during the adjustment. This is more common with:

• Older frames
• Very thin frames
• Frames with existing cracks
• Brittle plastic
• Rimless or semi-rimless glasses
• Frames containing electronics
• Specialty materials that resist bending

A professional optician can examine the frames and determine whether they can be safely adjusted.

What Can Be Easily Adjusted on Glasses?

Not every fit issue requires major repair work. Many common problems can be corrected with a relatively simple adjustment.

Loose Hinge Screws

The screws connecting the temples to the frame can gradually loosen with everyday wear. This can make the arms feel wobbly or cause the glasses to sit unevenly.

An optician can usually tighten the screws within a few minutes. You may also be able to tighten them at home using an eyeglass repair kit.

Adjustable Nose Pads

Many metal frames have small nose pads attached to movable metal arms. These pads can be repositioned to change how high or low the glasses sit.

Bringing the nose pads slightly closer together can help glasses sit higher and more securely. Moving them slightly farther apart can lower the glasses or relieve pressure on the nose.

Nose-pad arms are delicate, so all movements should be small and gentle.

Temple Arms

The temples are the arms that extend from the front of the glasses and rest over or behind the ears.

They may be adjusted when glasses:

• Slide forward
• Feel too tight at the sides
• Create pressure behind the ears
• Sit farther from one eye than the other
• Feel uneven when worn

Plastic or acetate temple tips may need to be warmed before they are reshaped. An optician has the proper tools and experience to control the heat and avoid damaging the frame.

Crooked Frames

A pair of glasses may appear crooked because one temple sits higher than the other, one arm has been bent or the wearer’s ears are naturally positioned at slightly different heights.

A professional fitting is performed while the glasses are on your face. This is important because glasses that look perfectly level on a table may not sit level when worn.

Worn or Missing Nose Pads

Some screw-in and snap-on nose pads can be replaced without replacing the entire frame. Replacement pads must match the size, shape and attachment style of the originals.

An optical shop may replace basic pads as a courtesy or charge for the replacement parts.

Can You Adjust Glasses at Home?

You can make some small glasses adjustments at home, but proceed carefully.

A minor DIY fix may be reasonable when the problem is easy to identify and does not require force, extensive bending or structural repair.

More complicated fit issues should be handled by an optician.

Easy DIY Glasses Adjustments

Tighten a Loose Screw

Loose hinge screws are among the easiest glasses problems to address at home.

Use a small screwdriver from an eyeglass repair kit that fits the screw correctly. Place the glasses on a clean, well-lit surface and turn the screw clockwise in small increments.

Stop when the screw feels secure. Overtightening can strip the screw or damage the hinge.

Do not use a kitchen knife, scissors or an oversized screwdriver. These tools can slip, scratch the lenses or damage the screwhead.

When a screw is missing, the temple is detached or the hinge appears bent, take the glasses to an optician instead of forcing a replacement into place.

Clean Around the Hinges and Nose Pads

Oil, makeup and debris can collect around nose pads and hinges. This buildup may make the glasses feel slippery or uncomfortable.

Use lukewarm water, a small amount of lotion-free dish soap and a clean microfiber cloth. Avoid household glass cleaner, acetone, alcohol-based cleaners and paper towels unless the frame or lens manufacturer specifically says they are safe.

Cleaning the nose pads may improve grip without requiring an adjustment.

Make a Tiny Nose-Pad Adjustment

When metal frames have movable nose pads, you may be able to reposition them gently with clean fingers.

Move both pads in very small increments and try the glasses on after each change. The entire surface of each pad should rest comfortably against the nose.

Stop immediately if:

• The nose-pad arm feels stiff
• The metal begins to twist
• A pad is loose or cracked
• The glasses sit more unevenly
• You need significant force

The pad arms can snap, particularly when they have already been bent multiple times.

Replace a Simple Screw-In Nose Pad

Replacing a screw-in nose pad may be possible with a compatible replacement pad, a small screwdriver, tweezers and a clean cloth to protect the lens.

The new nose pad should match the original pad’s size, shape and attachment method. Tighten the screw only enough to hold the pad securely.

A local optician may be a better choice when the screws are extremely small, the attachment arm is bent or the replacement pad does not line up easily.

Try Temporary Anti-Slip Accessories

When glasses slide but the frames do not appear bent, temporary accessories may improve the fit.

Options include:

• Silicone temple grips
• Ear hooks
• Adhesive nose pads
• Eyewear bands
• Glasses retainers

These accessories do not replace a proper adjustment, but they can provide additional grip while you arrange a professional fitting.

Should You Bend Plastic Glasses at Home?

Some online tutorials recommend warming acetate temple tips in hot tap water before making a slight adjustment. Warby Parker, EyeBuyDirect and Zenni publish instructions for carefully adjusting certain frames at home.

However, not every plastic frame is made from the same material.

Some materials soften with controlled heat, while others resist adjustment, warp unpredictably or contain internal components that can be damaged. Excessive heat can also affect lenses and lens coatings.

Professional adjustment is the safer option when:

• You do not know the frame material
• The frame needs significant bending
• The front of the frame is crooked
• The lenses must be removed
• The glasses have progressive or multifocal lenses
• The frame is rimless or semi-rimless
• The glasses contain electronics
• The frame is expensive, vintage or difficult to replace

Never use boiling water, an open flame, a heat gun or a hair dryer held directly against the lenses.

When Is It More Than a Basic Adjustment?

An adjustment changes the fit or alignment of an intact frame. A repair addresses something that is broken, missing or structurally damaged.

You may need a repair when:

• A hinge is broken
• The bridge is cracked
• A temple arm has snapped
• The frame is split
• A lens repeatedly falls out
• A screw will no longer stay in place
• A nose-pad arm has broken off
• The frame requires soldering or welding

These services are less likely to be free.

Simple eyeglass repairs may cost up to approximately $50, although the final price depends on the problem, frame material, replacement parts and whether the lenses or entire frame must be replaced.

Ask for a price before authorizing the repair. For inexpensive or heavily worn frames, replacing the glasses may be more practical than paying for extensive work.

How Do You Know Your Glasses Need an Adjustment?

Your glasses may need professional attention when they:

• Constantly slide down your nose
• Sit noticeably crooked
• Pinch the bridge of your nose
• Leave persistent red marks
• Press uncomfortably behind your ears
• Touch your eyelashes or cheeks
• Sit closer to one eye
• Feel loose when you look down
• Shift whenever you turn your head
• Develop wobbly temples

A poor fit can be uncomfortable and may affect how you look through your lenses. This is particularly noticeable with progressive and multifocal lenses because their viewing zones need to remain properly positioned in front of the eyes.

An adjustment does not change your prescription. If you continue to experience blurry vision, eyestrain, headaches, dizziness or difficulty focusing after the frame has been adjusted, contact your eye doctor or the company that made your prescription lenses.

How Long Does a Glasses Adjustment Take?

A routine glasses adjustment often takes only a few minutes.

The optician will usually inspect the frame, place it on a flat surface and then evaluate how it sits on your face. They may make several small changes, asking you to try the glasses on between each adjustment.

More complicated alignments may take longer, particularly when the frame has been dropped, twisted or exposed to heat.

Repairs that require replacement components, soldering or specialized equipment may need to be left with the repair provider.

How Often Should Glasses Be Adjusted?

There is no set schedule for getting glasses adjusted.

Some people wear the same pair for years with minimal changes. Others need occasional tune-ups because they wear their glasses every day, remove them with one hand or frequently push them onto the top of their head.

Get your glasses adjusted whenever the fit becomes noticeably different.

You can help frames maintain their shape by:

• Removing glasses with both hands
• Storing them in a protective case
• Avoiding the top of your head
• Keeping them away from hot cars
• Cleaning them with lens-safe products
• Checking the hinge screws occasionally
• Avoiding unnecessary bending
• Choosing the correct frame size from the beginning

Can an Adjustment Fix Glasses That Are the Wrong Size?

An adjustment can improve the fit, but it cannot completely correct a frame that is significantly too large or too small.

For example, an optician may be able to reduce slipping by adjusting the temples or nose pads. However, adjustments may not solve the problem when:

• The frame is much wider than your face
• The bridge is the wrong shape
• The temples are too short
• The lenses rest on your cheeks
• Your eyes are poorly positioned within the lenses
• The frame causes pressure across the temples

Choosing the right size is especially important when ordering glasses online. Compare the frame measurements with a pair you already own and find comfortable.

Common measurements include:

• Lens width
• Bridge width
• Temple length
• Overall frame width
• Lens height

The better the initial size and bridge fit, the fewer adjustments you are likely to need later.

So, How Much Does It Cost to Get Glasses Adjusted?

In many cases, a basic glasses adjustment costs nothing.

Costco Optical advertises free adjustments, while retailers such as LensCrafters and America’s Best also offer complimentary adjustment services. Policies may vary for glasses purchased from another company, so contact the individual location before visiting.

When you purchase glasses online from a retailer such as EyeCandys, you can ask a local optician, optical department or eyewear retailer to adjust them. The service may be free, or the provider may charge a small fee for outside frames.

Loose screws, cleaning and very minor nose-pad changes can sometimes be handled at home. Bent hinges, cracked frames, major alignment issues and unfamiliar frame materials are better left to a professional.

Most importantly, do not ignore glasses that pinch, slide or sit unevenly. A quick adjustment can make your favorite frames feel far more comfortable and help you enjoy wearing them every day.

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