Tighten Loose Hinge Screws

  1. 1

    Locate the screw on the hinge

    The hinge connects the temple (arm) to the front of the frame. A tiny screw holds this connection. On most frames there is one screw per hinge — visible as a small cross-head or flat-head screw.

  2. 2

    Tighten with a glasses screwdriver

    Use the small screwdriver from a glasses repair kit (available from any chemist/pharmacy for $3–8, or as part of an eyeglass repair kit). Turn clockwise to tighten. Be gentle — do not overtighten or the screw head will strip. If the screw spins without tightening, the thread is stripped and the screw needs replacing (most repair kits include spare screws of common sizes).

If the Screw Is Lost

Use a replacement screw from a glasses repair kit. Or temporarily: thread a small piece of dental floss through the hinge hole and tie tightly — this holds the hinge together until you can replace the screw. Some people use a tiny drop of clear nail polish on the screw thread to prevent it coming loose again.

Adjust Loose or Bent Temples

If the frames sit crooked or the temples do not hold the glasses snugly: gently bend the temples by hand. Plastic frames can be warmed slightly (hold over a cup of hot water or use a hairdryer briefly on low) to make them more pliable before bending. Metal frames can be gently adjusted cold. Bend in small increments, test the fit, and adjust further if needed.

When to Go to an Optician

An optician adjusts glasses for free or a small fee (most stores adjust frames you bought from them for free indefinitely). Go to an optician for: frames that are severely bent, nose pads that need replacing, lenses that have popped out of the frame, or if home adjustment has not resolved the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Adjust the nose pads (on metal frames) inward by gently squeezing them closer together — this grips the nose more firmly. On plastic frames without adjustable nose pads: the temples (arms) may need to be bent slightly closer together at the hinge for a tighter fit, or the temples bent slightly downward behind the ears. Alternatively, stick-on silicone nose pads (available cheaply at chemists) can be added to smooth nose bridges to prevent sliding.
For plastic frames: hold the bent area over a cup of very hot water or use a hairdryer on low for 15–20 seconds to warm the plastic. Once slightly warm and pliable, gently bend back to the correct shape. Work slowly — heated plastic bends easily and can be bent too far. For metal frames: bend gently and gradually at room temperature. For rimless or semi-rimless frames with a bent drill-mount: take to an optician as these are fragile and easy to crack if handled incorrectly.