Whether you’re trying to save a few bucks or you’re in a pinch and don’t have an eyeglass screwdriver on hand, there are several ways to tighten glasses without one. With a little creativity and some common household items, you can easily tighten your glasses so they fit snugly and comfortably again.
Ways To Tighten Your Glasses Without A Screwdriver
Use A Paperclip
Paperclips aren’t just useful for picking locks (though show me someone who’s actually done that outside of the movies!). They also come in handy for lots of little fixes, including tightening glasses.
Just straighten out a paperclip and insert the end into the tiny screw holes on your glasses. If the paperclip isn’t thin enough to fit into the screw head, you can hammer the end so it’s more like a flathead screwdriver.
Twist the paperclip until the screws are tight. Be careful not to over-tighten, as this can strip the screws or damage your frames.
Use A Staple
Similar to using a paperclip, you can also use the end of a staple to tighten your glasses. Most standard staples should be thin enough to fit, but you won’t have as much leverage to twist due to the short length.
You can also try bending the staple slightly to give yourself a little more space to grip and twist.
This will generally only work to tighten screws that are pretty loose, however, so you’ll still want to re-tighten them more securely when you can.
Use A Knife or Letter Opener
If you’re in a pinch and don’t have any other tools on hand, you can use the tip of a knife or letter opener to tighten your glasses. Be very careful when using a knife, as you don’t want to damage the screws or your glasses. Gently insert the tip of the knife into the screw and turn until it’s tight.
A thin serrated knife will help grip the slot in the screw head better than a smooth-edged knife.
Use a Safety Pin or Straight Pin
If you’re really in a bind, you can even use a safety pin or straight pin to tighten your glasses. Just open up the pin so that the sharp end is sticking out, then insert it into the screw head and twist.
Take the Screw Out
Many glasses screws are unique to the specific frame, so instead of trying to tighten it yourself, take it out of the frame entirely and save it. Bring your glasses and loose screw to an optician or optical store and have them do it for you. They’ll have the right tools and know exactly how much to tighten the screw so that your glasses fit snugly without being too tight.
To hold your glasses together in the meantime, thread a piece of string or thread through the screw hole and tie it into a knot. It won’t look too great, but it’ll keep your glasses on your face until you can get to a professional.