New lenses in 10-year-old frames at 007 Optical, a Jung-gu optician

Hi everyone, it's Labjjang :) My husband has been wearing the same glasses and sunglasses for almost 10 years now. During a recent health checkup, we noticed his vision had changed a bit from before. The frames were still in great shape, so we decided to just replace the lenses to match his current prescription.

It was raining, so somewhere easy to reach by car with the kids seemed best. We ended up going to 007 Optical in Namdaemun, an area with lots of eyewear shops, since it let us compare lens options and had parking available.

What 007 Optical feels like inside on a rainy day

The 007 Optical store was bright and clean. It stretched back quite far, and the walls and display shelves were packed with glasses and sunglasses.

Even though it was raining when we visited, there were quite a few customers browsing frames or getting consultations.

Every frame at 007 Optical has a price tag on it

At 007 Optical, every frame had its price displayed. Since our goal this time was just replacing lenses, we didn't buy a new frame.

Having a price on every frame meant we could just look and check prices without having to ask about each one — very convenient.

Kids' frames get their own section

One side of the 007 Optical store had a separate display of frames for kids. There were plenty of options, from small sizes to various colors and designs, so it seemed like a good place to bring a child in for glasses. There was also a sign showing the store participates in Seoul's children's eye-health care program, which made me think a lot of parents come here for their kids' glasses.

Can sports glasses take prescription lenses?

007 Optical had several kinds of sports glasses on display, not just regular frames.

My husband had recently bought a pair of non-prescription sports glasses for running, so I asked the staff whether prescription lenses could go into sports frames. They explained that depending on the frame shape, some sports glasses can take prescription lenses and some can't.

If you need prescription glasses for running or cycling, it's worth checking whether the lenses can actually be made before picking the frame.

The eye exam before any lens is replaced

Before replacing the lenses, we got an eye exam at 007 Optical. Since my husband had worn the same glasses and sunglasses for nearly 10 years, and his vision had changed according to the recent health checkup, we decided to get the prescription properly re-measured this time.

The person doing the exam used several pieces of equipment to check his vision and explained each result along the way. There was a separate area in the store for testing, and it had more equipment than I expected — plus they walked us through each result, which made it easy to see exactly how his vision had changed.

After the exam, we got a consultation on what prescription strength and lens type would work best based on his current vision.

Why 007 Optical said the 10-year-old frames were fine to keep

The staff at 007 Optical said it was fine to keep using the 10-year-old frames as they were. Since both the glasses and sunglasses had been used for almost a decade, we wondered if we should replace the frames too while swapping the lenses. When we asked, they checked the frames directly and said there were no particular issues, so we could keep using them.

I half expected them to recommend new frames since these had been used for so long, but I appreciated that they were honest and said there was no real need to change them. While replacing the lenses, they also swapped out the old, worn nose pads for new ones. With the same frame but new lenses and nose pads, the old glasses ended up looking (almost) like new.

How much does a glasses and sunglasses lens replacement cost?

Replacing the lenses on both the regular glasses and sunglasses at 007 Optical came to about ₩100,000 total. The regular glasses lens, based on double-compressed lenses, was around ₩40,000.

Since the sunglasses frame had a curve to it, it couldn't be finished right away like the regular glasses — it needed about a day or two. We were told the sunglasses lens price runs around ₩60,000–80,000 depending on the compression level. Prices can vary by lens type and prescription, so it's best to check with the staff in person for the most accurate quote.

What to know before visiting 007 Optical

Seats and free drinks while you wait

Inside 007 Optical there were plenty of seats to wait in, along with coffee and simple drinks available. Since we came with the kids, it was nice to have somewhere to sit while my husband went through the exam.

One hour of free parking at 007 Optical

At 007 Optical, giving them your car number gets you 1 hour of free parking registered. The store is just one floor up from the parking lot, which made moving around with the kids easy even on a rainy day.

Driving a larger car? Ask the parking attendant

There was a sign at the parking lot entrance saying SUVs weren't allowed in, so we were worried since we drive a Honda Odyssey. Luckily, the parking attendant guided us to a spot that worked. Once parked, there was almost no clearance between the roof of the car and the parking lot ceiling. If you're driving something tall like an SUV or minivan, it's better to check with the attendant first rather than just driving in on your own.

Getting to 007 Optical by subway from Hoehyeon Station

We came by car, but there's a subway station right in front of the store, so it's also easy to reach by public transit.

007 Optical Namdaemun: hours, address and prices

• Address: 1F Sangdong Church, 30 Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Mon–Sat 09:00–19:00 / Sunday 11:00–19:00
• Parking: 1 hour free