Why the Most Sustainable Frames are the Ones in Your Drawer

In a world of "fast" everything, we design Ballo frames for the long haul. But we know that life happens - prescriptions change, lenses get scratched and sometimes you just want to turn your favourite sunnies into your daily readers.

We believe that a change in your vision shouldn’t mean the end of your frames. Here is everything you need to know about getting prescriptions fitted into your Ballos.

1. The Full Service (We handle it)

If you want the easiest path to clear vision, let us do the heavy lifting. You can visit our Cape Town workshop in person with your prescription in hand. Alternatively, you can browse our collections online, find your perfect shape, and simply paste your prescription details into the order notes at checkout. Our partner optometrist will professionally fit your lenses before we ship them out or you collect them in-store.

Step 1: Pick your ballo frame at balloeyewear.com or in-store.

Step 2: Send us your frame pick and prescription.

Important: Make sure your script includes your Pupil Distance (PD) measurement. Also let us know your lens preference: everyday clear, a sun tint, polarised lenses, or read more about lens options here.

Step 3: We’ll get you a combined quote for both the frame and your custom lenses.

Step 4: We’ll send you a secure payment link to complete your order.

Step 5: After a few days in the lab, we’ll ship your glasses to your door (and plant a tree to offset the carbon footprint of the journey).

2. The DIY Route (Your local spot)

We know many of you have a long-standing relationship with your own local optometrist. Every single frame we make, from our bio-acetate silhouettes to our signature wood frames, is designed to be "prescription-lens-ready."

When you buy our standard off-the-shelf frames (online or in-store), they come already fitted with high-quality UV420 blue light lenses. You can wear them as-is for screen protection, or take them straight to your specialist of choice to have your custom optical lenses fitted.

3. The Re-Lens (The "Drawer" Philosophy)

This is the heart of our "Hardware for Life" philosophy. If you have an old pair of Ballos that you still love but no longer wear, don't let them gather dust.

Whether you need a new medical prescription or just a fresh set of sun lenses to replace scratched ones, we can re-lens them for you. You can drop them off at our shop or courier them to us from anywhere in the country. Once we have them, we’ll send you a checkout link for the lenses, fit them and courier them back to you (return courier charges apply).

The Bottom Line

Sustainability is about keeping things out of landfills and on faces. By offering a way to refresh and renew your eyewear, we’re ensuring that your Ballos stay in your "full uniform" for years to come.