I figured we could end the week on a laugh. This was one of my patients’ glasses. She wore them like this for months until she could get new ones. we were laughing for 10 minutes together. (She was completely okay with me taking a picture). — Emma Schratt on Opticians on Facebook

A customer brought a hand-made “art frame” to me to ask if I could help him to put progressive lenses into it. It was actually one full piece of thick wire with no disconnection. It took me a good few days to build an idea of how to make them into real prescription eyeglasses.

Nikon 1.60 progressive lenses.

I used a round shape former from LINDBERG to edge the lenses. It was actually a very tricky job as I had to modify the size in every single direction to match the lenses size as close as possible for that frame. I used a LINDBERG drilling machine to drill 4 holes and proceeded to tie the lenses to the wired frame with very thin wires.

When the customer came to pick them up, he was completely ecstatic and shocked at the result. — Sang Weon Suh on Optician Owners on Facebook

Creative??? 🤔 — Matt Snow on Opticians on Facebook

“My friends, I present to you the ink-pen temple. It writes, better than the pen I had on my desk.” – Rebecca G’zilla on Opticians on Facebook

“Done by a 10-year-old boy.” – Bonnie Grieco on Opticians on Facebook

“I gave my 9-year-old patient demo lenses so she could design a frame with her 3D pen. She wasn’t thrilled with me taking a photo, since it was not done.” – Marcia Newberg Emerson on Opticians on Facebook

“Sooooooo … a patient came in with this today! So what do y’all think!?” – Tasha Wall on Opticians on Facebook

“Helped a guy with a screw job! Ha!” – Lisa Kidd on Opticians on Facebook

“Andrew and Leva Kidd were like a second set of parents to me when I really needed them and still are today! His glasses had been sitting all cattywumpus on his face but instead of a traditional adjustment, he MacGyvered them with aquarium tubing. I must say that had he not taken them off and shown me, I would never have known. They were that straight.”  – Angel Miller via email

A close up of the aquarium tubing fix shared by Angel Miller.

“Another use for a number 2 pencil.” – Wes Gibson on Opticians on Facebook

“When you just really don’t need that top portion of lens…. just take a hacksaw to it.” – Haley Kimball on Opticians on Facebook

And a slightly closer view.

“When you can’t see and need glasses but they’re broken, you can tape them to another frame. Make it a fashion statement.” – Jamal Harmon on Opticians on Facebook

“We all appreciate clever patient-fixes, right? So… not my patient, but a fella I know, a knife maker, made himself some titanium temples for his Ray-Bans because he was unhappy with the fit of the originals. I’m sure I, or another skilled optician, could have made the originals fit comfortably for him, but I’m glad he took it into his own hands because this is just too fun to see. A+” – Julie Barber on Opticians on Facebook

“Just had a patient who MADE his own frame out of mahogany. Took the flex hinges off another frame he had and attached them to the frame he made. And by made, I mean bowl turning quality. Has a bevel and everything. I really think he could sell these. There’s a certain population that would really appreciate the work that went into making these.” – Michelle Bouchard on Opticians on Facebook

“Another use for a number 2 pencil.” – Wes Gibson on Opticians on Facebook

“Safety glass repair by patient. Somehow I don’t think OSHA would approve! And yes, the patient purchased a new safety frame.” – Jalane Huffman Reed on Opticians on Facebook

“‘Can I put new lenses into my frame?’ A customer fixed his own glasses via 3D pen!”- Tia Pelucas‎ on Opticians on Facebook

“Checking lab orders in and I get this today. 😱 😱” – Joanna Alarcon‎ on Opticians on Facebook

(Editor’s Note: Yes. It came BACK from the lab with those new lenses in THAT frame.)

“Annnnnnd this happened … Patient put a tracker on her glasses. Then said she hated them so decided to paint them.” Lisel Succart on Opticians on Facebook.

“I was on vacation and had to sneak a picture of this guy’s aluminum foil glasses!” Mike Marohn‎ on Opticians on Facebook

“A customer told me about this product and I’ve been using it ever since. It’s called Bondic and is an amazing product for eyeglass repairs. Here’s a frame that snapped mid-eyewire. five minutes later good as new! 😮 It’s not a glue. You need to cut notches in the material to form a mechanical lock. Layer it on and cure with included UV light in less than ten seconds.” Bruce Rubin from Opticians on Facebook

“When your RX is -9.00 OU and your glasses break BUT you have a Bic lighter!” Kathy Wyatt Bentley on Opticians on Facebook

“First for everything! Plastic shopping bag temples!” Penny White Mazurski on Opticians on Facebook

“’Can you adjust these at all?’ Ouch.” Ashlee Nicole Ament on Opticians on Facebook

“Customer was tired of his goggles fogging up, so he drilled holes in the lenses. Then asked why he was having trouble seeing.” Calandra Bennett on Opticians on Facebook

“Patient came in today with broken glasses. She knitted a cozy cover around the frames to keep the lenses intact. How cute is that??” Lori Moore-Flynn on Opticians on Facebook

“So a guy walks into a bar … wearing these. The best/worst MacGyver job ever! (Romex cable, duct tape, and one wire temple)” Melodie Annis on Opticians on Facebook

“First time I’ve seen this. Love it.” Michelle Davidson on Opticians on Facebook

Talk about your light temples. The client of Michael Davis, OD, of Opti-Care in Eldersburg, MD used wires to keep his glasses connected to his ears.

“Introducing the mummy frames: A customer’s solution to an allergic reaction to plastic frames that she says melted a little while wearing them driving home (not our frame).” Debbie Helfet‎ from Opticians on Facebook

“My friend just informed me that her mom needs help with her frame. I honestly admire her dedication in finding a twig with those measurements.” ‎ Chelsey Pernesiglio‎ on Opticians on Facebook

“Can anyone top this?  #gauntletthrowndown …” Dave Beecher from Opticians on Facebook

“My friends, I present to you the ink-pen temple. It writes better than the pen I had on my desk.” Rebecca Mellema on Opticians on Facebook

“Patient 3D printed his own frame. I must say, it wasn’t half bad. Nose pads and all. Held together with some zip ties. He mounted his old lenses in it because he wanted to.” Trenton Southard‎ from Opticians on Facebook

“Patient 3D printed his own frame. I must say, it wasn’t half bad. Nose pads and all. Held together with some zip ties. He mounted his old lenses in it because he wanted to.” Trenton Southard‎ from Opticians on Facebook

“Yep… it’s a paint brush handle. I must admit, I’m pretty impressed by his adjustment.” Dena Swanson Nelson from Opticians on Facebook

“I’m all for encouraging your children’s creativity, just don’t expect a warranty if the frame breaks. Yes, that is papier-mâché on the glasses.” Stephanie Morrison from Opticians on Facebook

“Just when you think you’ve seen it all.” From Angela Sanchez Tawater‎ from Opticians on Facebook

“Someone brought this in for me to fix… gotta love the creativity in that temporary fix.” Donald Trumpet from Opticians on Facebook