How can you tell if you are having problems with the lens on your Playstation 3?  Typical symptoms include difficulty with reading discs that used to work perfectly well (assuming that the disc has not been damaged), frequent skipping or freezing, discs taking a long time to load, getting disc reading errors.  A lens can fail, especially under heavy use over a long period of time.  Fortunately, you CAN do something about it without spending a fortune, and without buying a new console.

Check the trouble-shooting section of your manual first for simple solutions.   Then use a lens-cleaning disc.  The lens can become dirty, particularly during the heating season when there’s more dust flying around or if you view a lot of rented movies without cleaning the discs first. It’s a good idea to clean rented or borrowed discs before using them – if you’ve ever bothered to look at a rented disc you’ll know that greasy fingerprints are normal, but it’s also common to find sticky residues that resemble peanut butter & jelly!  It only takes a couple of minutes to clean a disc and it can save a lot of wear & tear on your lens.

If  lens-cleaning doesn’t help, then you probably need to replace the lens.  It’s not as difficult as you might think, and replacement lenses ARE available.  Make sure you get the right lens for your console (some have a single eye, some have two).  If you’re lucky you’ll find info on the replacement part in your manual; otherwise, check the Sony website for a part number or description based on the model number and/or serial number of your console.  You will probably find different sources for the replacement lens; third-party providers will often be less expensive, but make sure you look for positive reviews by people who have used the particular lens you’re looking to buy.

Once you have your replacement lens, all you need is some time and patience.  Follow the directions carefully, and make sure you have a small container handy to put the screws & other parts in as you take the console apart.  Make note of how it comes apart; it makes it much easier to put the console together again!   Make sure you ground yourself before touching the interior of the console after you get the cover off; static electricity can wreak havoc on electronic equipment.  When disconnecting the lens from the console, be careful to ease the connectors off carefully.  They can be a tight fit and you don’t want to crack or break the ends.

Once you’ve got your new lens in and put the console together again, all you need to do is enjoy a lot more games & movies.  And congratulate yourself on saving the cost of a big repair bill, let alone the price of a new console!

Amazon carries various PS3 replacement lenses.