How to Replace Nose Pads on Glasses and Sunglasses

The nose pads on glasses are small soft plastic cushions on the frame, under the bridge. They rest on your nose and help your glasses fit more comfortably and securely. Repairing or adjusting the nose pads is often an easy repair you can do at home.

Times when you may need to adjust, add, remove, or replace the nose pads on your glasses or sunglasses include:

• The glasses are uncomfortable or seem crooked
• The nose pads are too loose or too tight, causing your glasses to sit too high or too low on your face
• One or both nose pads have fallen off
• The nose pads are dirty, worn, or have yellowed

It can be helpful to have an eyeglass repair kit as these kits usually have small screwdrivers, spare screws, and a magnifying glass. Some also have spare nose pads. You can buy an eyeglass repair kit online or in a pharmacy or optical store.

Before adjusting or replacing the nose pads, make sure you have a cloth on hand to wrap around the lenses. This will help prevent any damage or scratches to the lenses. Follow these steps to safely adjust your nose pads:

• Wrap the lens with the cloth
• Hold your glasses by the bridge, which is the piece in the middle of the frame that rests on your nose
• Grasp a nose pad with your thumb and index finger
• If your glasses are tight or sit too high on your nose, gently push a nose pad away from the center and slightly towards the temple, which is the arm of the frame. Repeat with the other nose pad
• If your glasses slide down your face, move a nose pad towards the center of the frame. Repeat with the other nose pad. You can also use nose pad pliers to move the nose pads
• After moving them, check that both nose pads are in the same position. You can do this by holding your glasses at eye level. Make any necessary adjustments
• Put on your glasses to see how they feel. Make sure the nose pads sit flat on your nose
• Make any necessary adjustments to achieve a comfortable fit

Remember to be gentle so as not to break the mounting brackets that hold the nose pads in place.

How to Replace Nose Pads on Glasses

Replacing nose pads on glasses is also something you can do at home. Make sure you have spare nose pads before you begin. You can purchase nose pads from your optometrist, optical store, pharmacy, or online. Choose replacements that match the size, shape, and style of the pads currently on your glasses.

• Measure the length of the pad in millimeters. Typically, nose pads measure between 6 mm and 24 mm
• Note the shape of the nose pads on your glasses. They come in various shapes, such as circular, teardrop, rectangular, oval, square, and D-shaped. Purchase replacements of the same shape
• Determine what material your nose pads are made of. They can be plastic, rubber, silicone, glass, or ceramic
• Make sure to buy new nose pads that attach to your frames in the same way as the current ones. Most styles screw in, clip on (also called push-on or click-on), or slide on

Here's how to change screw-on nose pads:

• Gather your small screwdriver, spare screw, cloth, and new nose pad
• Wrap the lens with the cloth
• Hold your glasses by the bridge
• Unscrew the nose pad you're replacing and remove it
• Place the new nose pad onto the pad arm. The hole in the nose pad should align with the hole in the pad arm. If your nose pads are D-shaped, the curved side faces towards you and the flat side faces outward
• Insert the screw into the pad arm and into the nose pad. You may need tweezers for this
• Turn the screwdriver clockwise to tighten the screw enough for the nose pad to stay in place

Here's what to do if your glasses have clip-on nose pads:

• Just like with screw-on nose pads, you need to measure the current nose pads and choose the same size and shape
• Hold your glasses and tilt them so the nose pads are facing upwards
• Put your thumb behind the pad arm of the nose pad you're removing
• Take something flat, like a butter knife, and gently slide it between the old nose pad and your thumb
• Gently twist the knife to detach the nose pad
• Clip the new nose pad onto the pad arm