Being so frugal, low income, and recycling everything possible, I found a very good and handy idea for my poor vision, having only one pair of proper strength glasses. Every time I'm resting, I must take off my glasses, then should the phone ring, door knock, I scramble to find them. Same problem with books, phone, reading, Bible, magazines, and mail. I've got only one medium sized magnifier but I have to walk all the time to get it, then walk to return it beside the easy chair where I watch TV and sew or mend at same time.
While cleaning out my grandson's drawers as a surprise for him while he's on vacation, I found a pair of metal rimmed glasses broken in the exact middle. At first I was just upset that they'd gotten broken. Then I tried something:
I had been making bookmarks and decided to heavy-glue a 1" poly ribbon scrap about 12" long to one of the broken eyeglass halves. When it was dry, I decoraged the attached place with tiny beads/pearls placing them just inside the metal rim carefully with marine glue and a toothpick, then added a different 1" flat grosgain ribbon to the other half lens for a second one.
As they dried I had a handy decorated "Victorian" monocle magnifier for two books, with ribbons that could stay inside the book for convenient use when I needed extra magnification to read smaller print. The book also sits near my bathroom door for reading medicine labels and ingredient lists as well.
Before adding beads/pearls/ribbon, use wire cutter to remove nose piece connections/ear-piece arms, and metal file any metal sharp places down gently. Glue ribboon to the worst of the two places on each of the lens pieces, as well as an additional piece of ribbon on the back-side of the attachment of the ribbon, dry well, then add beads or pearls.
This is not the easiest craft, but if the eyeglasses are fairly round or only slightly oval, the remaining metal framing strong, and the lens not too thick, it can be made to work AND look attractive. The glue needs to be Marine or extra strong Household glue. Handle carefully so as not to nick fingers. I thought about bending the arm straight as a type of handle, but most glasses have arms too thin to hold, so I felt it best to remove them and embellish the rims well but thinly instead. The right kind of glue is critical to the success of this project. Don't make the embellishment too wide so as to reduce the visibility through the lens.
This wonderful frugal recycling craft serves not only as a lovely monocle, but also as a easy way to store it so it doesn't get lost too easily when needed, saving steps and frustration. I see no reason why all older unusuable broken eyeglasses still in a metal frame could not be used for this purpose. It's a good idea to attach the ribbon at the place it broke off, then glue another piece to the other side for reinforcement and protection from any sharp edge from the break. Check to see that the glass is secure in the frame before beginning.
Don't plan on holding it with your eyelids against your eye, as some of the men did in Teddy Roosevelt's time, before my time too, but rather just hold it gently when well dried, and it makes reading less frustrating to see the sweet handiwork of art. If one does this well enough, it could be sold or passed on to future generations.
I've already bought magnifying glasses at the dollar stores. -- careful it might be a dollar store but some are much more than a dollar.
When I found the ones for a dollar, I bought them for all around the house that I use them since I don't keep them on all the time. I even found a pair that had plain plastic above and magnified on the bottom.
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