We characterized changes in the composition of subsurface layer of silver ion-exchanged soda-lime glass during annealing in hydrogen atmosphere. The formation of tens of nanometers distanced layers of silver nanoparticles in the glass at temperature of 300 degrees C has been revealed. Performed numerical modeling of the process demonstrates a good qualitative agreement with the experiment. This is of interest for simple formation of 3D-optoplasmonic structures, Bragg gratings or photonic crystals. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.