Breaking your sunglasses or prescription glasses is not only annoying, it can also turn into a painfully expensive accident. I had a pair of prescription frames that cost over R$5,000, and I managed to snap them right where the arm attaches to the front of the frame.

After visiting three different optical shops that claimed to specialize in frame repairs, and each one told me the damage was “impossible” to fix, I finally ended up at Oficina dos Óculos, located in the Conjunto Nacional shopping center, near the central bus station in the heart of Brasília.

Oficina dos Óculos is literally a tiny hole-in-the-wall setup in the subsolo level, right across from the Casa Bahia appliance store. It’s easy to miss, so keep your eyes peeled.

The owner, William, took one look at the damage and told me he could fix it for R$90, and it would be ready in an hour. Since killing an hour in a shopping center is hardly a challenge, I stuck around, and picked up my glasses right on time.

The repair was flawless. You can barely spot it unless you’re purposely hunting for it. William saved me a small fortune, and my frames are as good as new.

Just a note: Oficina dos Óculos doesn’t have social media or a website. You have to go there in person and get a quote, but it’s absolutely worth it.