DC · MD · VACall Now
Repair & Adjustments

Eyeglass repair while you wait. Walk-ins welcome.

A bent temple from your bag. A screw that won't stay. Nose pads that finally gave up. Bring them to your local Voorthuis location instead, where most repairs are finished while you wait. Minor adjustments on frames you bought here are free for life.

Find your nearest VoorthuisHow a walk-in works ↓
A Voorthuis optician adjusting a frame at the in-store workbench.
From our patients
Andre and Cindy both have a great sense of style and expertise in vision correction. Andre’s adjustment of my frames lets me see perfectly today with my trifocal progressive lenses. No small feat - I am an artist and photographer, and very sensitive about my vision.
Bradford S.Old Town Alexandria
Best of Bethesda award
Best place to buy eyeglassesEvery year since 2018!
8Neighborhood locations
53Years serving the DMV
35+High-end designs
Why people choose Voorthuis for repairs

Walk in with a problem. Walk out with a solution.

Most chains route repairs to a regional lab, charge for adjustments, or quietly push you toward a new pair. We treat after-care as part of the service we sold you the first time.

i.

Free lifetime adjustments on Voorthuis frames

Every frame purchased at Voorthuis comes with free adjustments for as long as you wear it. Bring it in monthly, yearly, or only when something feels off - no clock, no charge.

ii.

A full repair bench on site

We keep the tools and an experienced optician on hand. No mailing your glasses to a regional repair center, no two-week wait. Most repairs happen while you stand at the counter.

iii.

Frames bought elsewhere? Bring them anyway

Bought online, inherited, or picked up while traveling, we adjust and repair frames regardless of origin. A transparent flat service fee applies to non-Voorthuis frames.

iv.

Every era and material

Our opticians have soldered, reglazed, and refitted frames in titanium, acetate, vintage gold-filled, and screwless Lindberg. The harder materials are the ones our bench likes.

What we fix at the bench

The repairs that come across the counter every day.

From a loose hinge to a full reglaze, our bench is here for you.

01.

Frame adjustments

Temple bend, pantoscopic tilt (the angle the lens sits at), vertex distance, and bridge alignment, so the lenses sit exactly where your prescription is designed to perform.

02.

Screws & nose pads

Stripped or missing screws across standard, micro, and Lindberg-format threads, plus silicone, push-in, screw-in, and titanium nose pads, swapped at the counter in a couple of minutes.

03.

Hinges & soldering

We tighten loose hinges, service spring hinges, and solder snapped metal hinges or bridges, a high-heat repair that holds where glue cannot.

04.

Lens replacement & reglazing

New prescription lenses fitted into a frame you already love, including frames bought elsewhere, wherever the frame is structurally sound. Keep the frame, change the lenses.

05.

Ultrasonic cleaning

A high-frequency bath that lifts skin oils, hair-product residue, and grit a microfiber cloth cannot reach. Free with any visit on Voorthuis frames.

06.

Rimless & specialty rebuilds

The tricky frame types most shops turn away: rimless, titanium, and delicate vintage metal. The trickier the material and the harder the fix, the more our bench likes it.

A complete guide

Repair or replace? When a frame is worth fixing.

The question we hear most at the counter: is this frame worth fixing? Here is how we think about it, and when it makes more sense to re-glaze than start over.

Find your nearest Voorthuis
Adjusting a cat-eye frame by hand at the Voorthuis bench

When a frame is worth repairing

Most are. A loose hinge, a stripped screw, a snapped temple (the arm of the frame), and worn nose pads are all routine and far cheaper than starting over. A well-made acetate or titanium frame is built to outlast several prescriptions, so re-glazing it with new lenses often makes more sense than buying a whole new pair.

Some frames are genuinely beyond saving: a structural crack through an acetate bridge, a fully broken titanium hinge, or a discontinued model whose maker no longer supplies parts. In those cases we tell you plainly rather than invent a fix that will not hold.

Keep the frame, change the lenses

If your prescription has changed but you still love the frame, we can re-glaze it. We fit new prescription lenses, in the right material and coatings, into the frame you already own. That includes frames you bought elsewhere, as long as the frame is sound. For lens options, see our prescription lens guide. If the frame is past saving, our designer eyewear collection is the next stop.

No appointment needed. The bench is open whenever the door is open. Walk in, and we will look at the frame at no charge and quote any work before we start.
A patient story

Smushed frames, a visitor from out of town, and no bill.

Mark was visiting Bethesda from New York when his "very expensive and fragile" eyeglass frames got smushed. Far from home, that kind of accident usually means a ruined trip or an overnight shipping bill. He walked into our Wildwood location on the chance someone could help.

The frames hadn't been bought from us. It didn't matter. The optician fixed them quickly and "would not accept any payment," Mark wrote. "They just want to provide great service to the community." He left wearing his own glasses again, the same afternoon.

"The world would be a better place," he added, "if there were more businesses like Voorthuis."

Mark S. · Wildwood, Bethesda

In-store vs. mail-in repair

Why we don't ask you to mail your glasses away.

What mattersIn-store at VoorthuisNational mail-in service
Turnaround on a minor repairSame day, usually under 15 minutesAbout 1-2 weeks, shipping each way
Re-adjusted to your faceYes, fitted before you leaveNo, returns fixed but not fitted
Who handles the frameA named optician at the benchAn unseen, remote technician
Frame risk in transitNoneTwo trips through the postal system
Minor adjustmentsFree for life on Voorthuis framesBilled, plus shipping
Walk-in welcomeAny business hour, no appointmentMail only

Adjustments and most minor repairs on Voorthuis frames are free for the life of the frame. For frames purchased elsewhere we quote a flat service fee before we begin, with no surprises and no upselling toward a new pair.

What to expect

A walk-in repair, step by step.

Most adjustments and minor repairs are finished in under fifteen minutes. Here is how the visit usually goes.

Find your nearest Voorthuis
A Voorthuis optician adjusting a pair of glasses at the repair bench
  1. 01

    Walk in, no appointment

    Stop by any location during business hours. Hand the frames to the optician at the counter and describe what feels wrong: slipping down your nose, pressing behind the ear, tilted, or loose at the temple.

  2. 02

    Bench assessment

    Your optician inspects the hinges, screws, nose pads, temple tips, lens seating, and bridge alignment to pinpoint exactly what is wrong, then explains the fix and what it costs before any work begins.

  3. 03

    Repaired at our bench

    Most adjustments, screw and nose-pad swaps, and temple-tip changes happen while you wait, using heat, hand tools, and tension gauges matched to your frame. Soldering, refinishing, and complex hinge or rimless rebuilds are handled in-house too, and we give you the timing first.

  4. 04

    Re-fit & finish

    Once the repair is done, we adjust the frame on your face, clean it ultrasonically, and confirm the prescription sits where it should, so it leaves fitting your face correctly.

Cost & insurance

Mostly free. The rest, plainly priced.

Adjustments and most minor repairs on Voorthuis frames are free for the life of the frame, with no clock running, no membership, and no fine print. That includes ultrasonic cleaning, screw replacement, nose pad refresh, and on-the-spot tuning at any location.

For frames purchased elsewhere, we quote a flat service fee before we begin. Lens replacement, soldering, and other bench work are priced separately by the job and confirmed in writing before work is done.

We accept FSA and HSA, and provide itemized receipts for out-of-network reimbursement on prescription lens work. (Adjustment fees themselves are not normally eligible.)

In their own words

What patients say about the bench.

My glasses kept falling off my face while I was traveling for work, so I stopped in. Angela fixed me right up - now they are nice and snug for the rest of my meetings.
Julie T. · Connecticut Avenue
A gentleman named Kash went out of his way to repair a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, saving me $200. Super nice, and he did not charge a thing.
Robert T. · Montgomery Mall
A pair of glasses I had bought elsewhere years ago broke, and the repair was quick. I ended up booking an exam and getting new lenses and a second pair. Great service and deep knowledge.
Thomas V. · Westbard Square
Frequently asked

Repair & adjustment questions, plainly answered.

Do I need an appointment to get my glasses adjusted or repaired?
No. Walk-ins are welcome any business hour at any Voorthuis location. Most adjustments and minor repairs are finished while you wait, usually under fifteen minutes. Eye exams and contact lens fittings should be scheduled, but the bench is open whenever the door is open.
Do you adjust frames that were not purchased at Voorthuis?
Yes. We adjust and repair frames regardless of where they came from, whether online retailers, other practices, or frames you inherited or bought while traveling. A transparent flat service fee applies, quoted before we touch the frame.
How much does an eyeglass adjustment or repair cost?
Adjustments and most minor repairs on Voorthuis frames are free for the life of the frame, including screw replacement, nose pad swaps, temple-tip changes, and ultrasonic cleaning. For frames purchased elsewhere we quote a flat service fee before we begin. Specialty lab work like soldering or refinishing is priced separately and confirmed in writing.
Can you fix a broken hinge or a stripped screw?
Yes. Stripped or missing screws are replaced at the counter, where we stock standard, micro, and Lindberg-format threads. Loose hinges are tightened while you wait. Snapped metal hinges and broken solder joints are repaired in-house at our bench with precision soldering. We give you the cost and timing first.
Do you replace nose pads?
Yes. Silicone, push-in, screw-in, and titanium nose pads are stocked in matching styles. The swap takes about two minutes and is free on Voorthuis frames.
What if my frame is too damaged to repair?
Some frames are beyond repair: structural cracks at the bridge of an acetate, fully broken titanium hinges, or frames whose maker no longer supplies parts. When that happens we say so plainly, return the frame, and help you decide what to do next. We will not invent a fix that will not hold.
Do you do free lifetime adjustments on Voorthuis frames?
Yes. Every frame purchased at Voorthuis comes with free adjustments for as long as you wear it. There is no clock, no membership, and no fine print. Bring it in monthly, yearly, or only when something feels off.
How long does a typical adjustment take?
Most walk-in adjustments are finished in under fifteen minutes. A screw replacement is closer to five. Lens replacement and specialty lab repairs take longer and are quoted in writing before any work begins.
Can you put new lenses in a frame I already own?
Yes, where the frame is structurally sound, including frames purchased elsewhere. We measure the prescription, fit lenses with the right material and coatings, and re-glaze the frame on-site. A detailed itemized quote is provided before you commit.
Our Services

Meticulous attention for every vision need.

A 45-minute appointment.

Eye Exams →

Comprehensive, unhurried exams with an on-site optometrist - the time your eyes actually need.

Fitted by hand.

Prescription Lenses →

Progressive, single vision, computer, and specialty lenses - measured, selected, and verified by an experienced optician.

Fitted to your eyes.

Contact Lenses →

Soft, hard, multifocal, and toric contact lens fittings. Trial lenses, insertion training, and follow-up included.

Designer & prescription.

Sunglasses →

Maui Jim, Oliver Peoples, Robert Marc, Brunello Cucinelli and more - in clear, polarized, photochromic, and prescription.

Specialty care, not just drops.

Dry Eyes Treatment →

Doctor-led tear-film evaluation, meibomian gland assessment, prescription therapy, IPL, and RF treatments - built around a real diagnosis.

Walk-in repair & care.

Repair & Adjustments

Eyeglass repair, free lifetime adjustments on Voorthuis frames, screw and nose pad replacement, and ultrasonic cleaning - usually while you wait.

DC · MD · VA

Find your Voorthuis.

Full-time opticians on site. Walk in any time for an adjustment, repair, or quick fix. No appointment required.

Foxhall Square
3301 New Mexico Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 363-5087Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Connecticut Avenue
1035 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 833-9455Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Old Town Alexandria
530 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 683-3822Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Wildwood
10231 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 530-6266Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Bradley
6912 Arlington Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 718-9300Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Montgomery Mall
7101 Democracy Boulevard
Bethesda, MD 20817
(301) 469-9058Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Chevy Chase
5454 Wisconsin Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(301) 656-2453Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Westbard Square
5372 Westbard Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20816
(301) 652-6490Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →