Stuck in Level 4 Lockdown we fielded a number of calls from people stranded when their glasses were broken. In some cases we were able to find a creative temporary fix. But this is not always possible, and often less than ideal. Here’s a check list we recommend you consider:

Review how much you rely on your glasses. Take a moment to imagine starting a day without your glasses, how long would you be able to manage.
Do you have a back up pair of glasses? These may be an older pair of glasses in an previous strength. Locate these and try using them for a few hours to see if they still suit you.

Here’s another Lockdown observation. If your prescription is not up to date this may not cause you any eyestrain in normal conditions, but it can be different if you suddenly start reading more, or spending more time on a screen.

Often the outcome of an eye examination is a change to your ideal glasses prescription. This prompts the question: “Is it worth getting new lenses?” A ‘small’ change in prescription which we find at an eye examination may not seem worth an update at the time - but that can change when you increase your time reading and on a screen.

The final consideration is whether you update just your lenses, or get a complete new pair of glasses. This is the ideal time to consider how you would manage without your glasses. Consider a complete new pair of glasses and you will have a back up.