The ability to fix a patient's glasses on the spot — replacing a missing nosepad, tightening a loose screw, swapping a broken pad — is one of the most effective patient retention tools an optical practice has. It builds loyalty that no marketing campaign can replicate.
Stocking the right repair supplies requires understanding what frame types your patients typically wear, what breaks most often, and how to choose an assortment kit that covers the widest range of situations without requiring a degree in frame hardware.
Nosepads — what to know
Nosepads come in two main materials: silicone and hard plastic (acetate-style). Silicone pads are the modern standard — they're softer, grip better, and are less likely to cause skin reactions. Hard plastic pads are typically found on vintage or budget frames.
The critical sizing factors are pad size (measured in millimetres across the face of the pad), the mounting style (push-in screw-mount, or snap-in), and the arm style (different frame brands use different arm configurations).
- Silicone D-shaped pads (push-in mount) — the most common modern frame nosepad
- Silicone round/oval pads — common in Asian-fit frames and some European brands
- Hard plastic pads — for older frames and certain budget frame lines
- Assortment kits that cover 20+ nosepad styles are the most practical solution for most practices
Screws — what to stock
Frame screws are standardized across relatively few sizes and thread types, which means a well-chosen assortment kit will cover the vast majority of situations you'll encounter. The key variables are head type (flat or Phillips), diameter, and length.
Most practices find that a 100–200 piece assortment covering 10–15 screw sizes handles well over 90% of the repairs they see. For specific brand compatibility, some manufacturers have proprietary screws — if you carry a significant volume of one brand, a brand-specific top-up supply may be worth maintaining separately.
Assortment kits vs. individual SKUs
For most optical practices, a comprehensive assortment kit is the practical choice over sourcing individual SKUs. The assortment approach means you stock once, cover a wide range, and reorder the whole kit when it runs low rather than tracking 15 individual part numbers.
Individual SKU sourcing makes sense only if your frame mix is highly consistent (e.g., you carry primarily one brand) or if a specific part is so frequently needed that you'd run out of it in an assortment kit before the rest of the kit is depleted.
How often to reorder
Repair supply consumption is hard to predict precisely — it depends heavily on the age and condition of your patient base's frames. A general guideline: if you're regularly doing 5+ minor repairs per week, a quarterly assortment kit reorder is a reasonable cadence. If repairs are less frequent, semi-annually may be sufficient.
Track when your nosepad kit starts running low on one or two sizes — that's your reorder signal, not waiting until the kit is empty.
Sourcing repair supplies wholesale in Canada
Top Flight Canada carries nosepad and screw assortment kits in our Vaughan warehouse, shipping to all Canadian provinces and territories. Contact us for current wholesale pricing and available kit configurations.
Browse wholesale nosepads & screws
See the range, then request pricing tailored to your practice's volumes.