Prescription Eyeglasses

[Ole Anderson]

My ophthalmologist has a nice selection of glasses in his shop, but typically about $500 for bifocals, scratch resistant, reflective coated. My local optometrist has two convenient locations, typically about $100 less than my ophthalmologist. But much better service with long term employees that are very helpful. Just last week I needed to get one lens changed out due to getting cataract surgery on my right eye. (Other eye three years ago). She offered to replace the left lens at the same time under the scratch warranty that was due to expire in 4 days (lens was not scratched). At the same time she changed the anti-reflective coating to one that was less prone to smudging. And they were able to replace the lens in my prescription bifocal sunglasses I got from Sams for about $150. I just couldn't justify another $400 for sunglasses so I tried Sam's Club which had a wrap style the optometrist didn't have. But they didn't do a good job of fitting the lens to the frames and they had a few gaps which were annoying, particularly with sunglasses. I know I can stop in there anytime for free adjustments and a thorough cleaning including changing out the nose pads. My glasses are important to me, I have been wearing them since I was three years old. So what I am saying is that I am willing to pay a premium for good service.

[Steve Peterson]

I've bought several glasses from Zenni optical online and have been happy with the quality and price can't be beat. They are not the most stylish though so if you are looking for designer frames look elsewhere. I have gone with standard bifocals, not progressives. They seem to offer all the standard options. I will buy from them again in the future.

My first pair of glasses were from LensCrafters and cost around $400. I tried ordering a really cheap backup pair from Zenni and was really disappointed. Maybe I should have spent more than $10 for the frame.

Then I went to Costco and got a backup pair plus sunglasses for around $200. I really like them. It is nice to be able to actually try on the frames.

Steve

[Erik Loza]

I had lasik about 8 years ago and can fucntion fine most of the time without corrective eyewear but in the last couple of years, driving at night strains my eyes, so I went in and got some eyeglasses at the local place. My wife made a suggestion to me. Get a pair of really nice frames for business meetings, formal events, etc., then a cheap pair to keep in the car. I might try that Zenni site when I need another cheap pair.

Erik

[Dick Thomas]

WOW! You just never know where you'll pick up a useful tip! I checked the Off Topic forum just for grins, and look what I find.

A question for the Zenni recommenders - & other on-line options: ?? What about FIT?
How do you get your glasses adjusted for your face - or is that a do-it-yourself function????

[George Bokros]

Question about how do they tje correct placement for the bifocal when you buy on line? That is usually done by a measurement

[Kev Williams]

Based on what I'm reading, guess my last glasses from Sears @ $440 wasn't too bad-- Polycarb, scratch resistant (that's a laugh), darkening (and these get SO dark that after snowblowing when the sun's out, when I go down to my basement shop, they're literally too dark to see with), and transitional, which was some new type that actually does eliminate the side-to-side distortion. Other than the focus issues (below), they're very much like not even wearing transitionals...

Issues-- they're scratched up BADLY, and any attempt to buff or polish them out is of no help. I've been told they don't even 'do' glass lenses any more. Not sure how true, but I never scratched glass like I have these...

And my favorite pet peeve: No matter how well I try to explain to the hired help WHERE on the lenses I want the close-range transition to start, that never happens. It's like there's some industry standard I have to suffer with. This is my 4th set of transition lenses and they've all been the same: The far-sight grind goes well below the lens centerline which is WAY too far down--I have to tilt my head UP to see my computer monitor that I'm looking DOWN at. Or the food I'm eating, or the work I'm doing. Or the speedometer in the car. And the close-close focus range is so far down that it's useless-- I have to pull my glasses up just to get my eyes lined up with that final 1/8" of lens to read fine print, etc..

I would much rather tilt my head down a bit (or slide my glassed down my nose a snick) to see far away than have to raise my head to focus on 90% of everything I look at every day. All they have to do is start the close-transition at 30% down the lens. I always ask for this, even draw lines on the test glasses. It's never happened...

Never heard of Zenni, I'll be checking into them...

[Jerome Stanek]

I checked Sears just this past year and they do glass. Walmart also does glass they had 3 levels of bifocal lenses.

[Paul F Franklin]

Yes, it's DIY as I mentioned. Its a little trial and error, but I usually just make them look like my old pair and tweak from there. I had also found myself tweaking the fit of new glasses anyway, even when adjusted by the optician; after a few days of wearing them something would hurt or be loose and it was easier to tweak them then go back to have them adjusted.

The trickiest part is the nose pad on wire frames since you have to do the angle, up/down position, and spacing all correct and it's especially important with multi-focal lenses to get the up down position right. That's where comparing to existing good fitting pair is especially useful.

[roger wiegand]

Extremely happy with our local Costco, price is about 1/4 what the local "good" optometrist charges for an indistinguishable product. Our place seems to have very well-trained, experienced techs who do the fitting and measurements.

[Mike Null]

I've bought my last several pairs of tri-focals at Pearl for $400 plus. I get a good fit they are quick to fix anything and I can't tell you if one price is better than another. I am resigned to paying over $400 and that's it.

The "insurance" we get with our Medicare supplement is probably a phony to direct business to certain suppliers.

[Jerome Stanek]

what gets me is the same company owns most of the places Luxottica owns all these places

Sunglass hut
LensCrafters
Pearle Vision
Sears Optical
Target Opticl
OPSM

• ILORI
• EyeMed Vision Care
• Optical Shop of Aspen
• Laubman & Pank
• GMO
• Oliver Peoples
• Alain Mikli
• Oakley
• David Clulow
• Glasses.com
• Econópticas

[Matt Meiser]

I wouldn't buy anything at Sears you might want serviced or warrantied more than a few months out. Analysts are not very rosy on Sears's future.

[Julie Moriarty]

what gets me is the same company owns most of the places Luxottica owns all these places

There's an interesting article about them in Forbes. From the article:

Meet the four-eyed, eight-tentacled monopoly that is making your eyeglasses so darned expensive. Luxottica estimates that at least half a billion people around the world are currently wearing their glasses. I don’t know about you, but I am pushing them up my nose right now.

Luxottica controls 80% of the major brands in the $28 billion global eyeglasses industry. This monopolistic structure of the market leads to profits that are “relatively obscene,” says Tim Wu, a professor of law at Columbia University and the author of The Master Switch. In a speech given at this year’s annual conference for New America, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, Wu remarks that products in some industries seem to only get better and cheaper — laptops, for example — while other products, like eyeglasses, remain strangely pricey, with only superficial innovation.

I am far-sighted with a slight astigmatism. I wear contacts and use store-bought cheaters for up close. Last eye doctor visit I decided to get a pair of bi-focal prescription glasses. They would have cost me around $250 but my insurance covered all but $12. I couldn't get used to them and they now sit in their case. Contacts cost me about $100/yr. Luxottica will have to wait.

[Mel Fulks]

I wouldn't buy anything at Sears you might want serviced or warrantied more than a few months out. Analysts are not very rosy on Sears's future.

Sounds like the analysts have myopic vision of Sears .....but refuse to buy their glasses.

[Harry Hagan]

I saved enough at Costco on my first pair of eyeglasses to pay my membership fee for 1.5 years. The lady in the optical shop said Costco sold eyeglasses for less than her previous employer could buy them.