second-hand sunglasses now on the market, no frames yet for prescription glasses

The 2023 world optics show (Silmo) began on Friday September 29 in Villepinte, near Paris. Until October 3, the meeting aims to “build and deploy the optics of tomorrow“. In the context of inflation and concerns about purchasing power, reconditioned sunglasses are now sold by some opticians, while 100 million old pairs are sleeping in our drawers.

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Sunglasses called “second life“, this is what the Optic 2000 store in the Beaugrenelle center in Paris offers. Théo, a salesman, explains the principle: “These are glasses that we collect, which pass through our workshops, and which are then remarketed at completely attractive prices. An example: our Ray-Bans are 59 euros.“Unbranded or luxury sunglasses, from 39 to 89 euros maximum, two to three times cheaper than new ones: the test began this summer.

“We planned to collect a ton of frames per month, and we are at more than two tons today.”

Benoît Jaubert, general director of the Optic 2000 group

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Benoît Jaubert explains the process: a sorting is carried out, “because we can’t get all the frames on the market. We changed a branch, redid a weld, in some cases changed the lenses. We cannot have the same guarantee as on new glasses: we have an adapted guarantee, with slightly more restrictive conditions.“

An expected framework for optics

The professional adds that the demand also concerns prescription glasses: “We are told “and when is optics?” ; in the current economic context, it is more than justified“, estimates Benoit Jaubert. The market is estimated at 17 million pairs for vision. But here, it is not a question of fashion or comfort accessories: these are medical devices, which changes everything for reconditioning.

At Ecouter Voir, patience is essential, as Arthur Havisse, general director of this mutual network, explains: “We are ready for an offer of frames restored to good used condition, with corrective lenses, at an affordable price.'” He believes that an identical framework for all manufacturers must above all be established, in order to have “equivalent levels of qualitative standards. We are just waiting for the green light. As long as we do not have a normative framework in place, there can be no reimbursement by Social Security and complementary health insurance, as for a classic frame“.

The decree is expected, in the best case scenario, for the end of 2023.