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Current fav for online eye glaases? — Parallax Forums

Current fav for online eye glaases?

prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
edited 2014-04-23 18:23 in General Discussion
What is you current favorite online location for getting eyeglasses? I "lost" my glasses, and had to go to LensCrafter to get a new pair "in about an hour" and they completely blew it. $400. Time to try other options.

Assume we are equipped with:
- Correct Glasses prescription, Bifocals

* Must have: light weight, anti scratch
* Optional: sun light darkening, sun glasses accessory, anti fog, etc

Any stories of good experience or bad experience you can share?

Thanks!

Comments

  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2013-04-15 09:51
    My daughter has myopia and wears single vision lenses. We've bought her several pairs of glasses from Zenni Optical and they've worked well. She likes chunky plastic frames where they have a good selection.

    I have myopia (-6), presbyopia (+1.75) and astigmatism, so my prescription is pretty complicated. I did buy a pair of reading glasses for use while soldering from Zenni and they're fine. My everyday glasses are progressives which I've been wary about buying online. But my recent pair were insanely expensive and I'm getting tempted to risk buying a pair for $100 just to see how they compare to optical shop glasses.
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2013-04-15 09:55
    Good grief, in Helsinki you can go to the Specsavers store in the local shopping center and get good specs for 50euros.
    It's the kind of thing I would never dream to buy on line.
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2013-04-15 10:00
    In the US Luxottica has a near monopoly on eyeglass manufacture and distribution. Most of the major retail chains (e.g. LensCrafters, Pearle Vision) are owned by them and pricing is not competitive.
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2013-04-15 10:04
    At 56 my eyes are not as good as they used to be. I've been getting by with weak reading glasses to see the computer screen and a bit stronger for working on electronic stuff, but I think I'm going to visit the local Walmart soon. The last time I looked they were offering single vision glasses at under $50 including the exam.
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2013-04-15 10:23
    Martin_H wrote: »
    In the US Luxottica has a near monopoly on eyeglass manufacture and distribution. Most of the major retail chains (e.g. LensCrafters, Pearle Vision) are owned by them and pricing is not competitive.

    That is an interestingly depressing fact about how things really work.


    EDIT: Explains a lot about who's considered "in plan" with my vision care insurance!! From Wiki:

    [h=3]Retail[/h] Luxottica Retail has more than 7,000 retail locations in the United States, South America, Canada, China, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel, the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates.[11] The headquarters of the retail division is in Mason, Ohio.[11] Their retail banners include:






    • Optical Shop of Aspen
    • Surfeyes
    • Laubman & Pank
    • ICON
    • Grand Optics LLC





    [h=2]Medical managed care[/h] Luxottica also owns EyeMed Vision Care, a managed vision care organization in the United States.[20] As of 2012, it is the second largest vision benefits company in the United States.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-04-15 10:40
    $400 USD for eyeglasses! Ouch. Taiwan is a major center of plastics production, including opitcal plastic. So I just go to the eyeglass store around the corner that is open 24/7 (to me, this is very very odd) and get a complete pair for about $100USD with Taiwanese lenses, not bifocal. If I need an eye exam, I go to the university medical hospital and see an opthamologist the same day for less than $10 USD.

    Frames can cost anything in Taiwan.. it just depends on what you desire.. cheapo or style. My sympathies.. medical and dental expenses are way to high in the US.

    The only hazard is that the sales person will sell you just about any frames regardless of how ill fitting they are. So it is import to show slow and find a good pair.
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2013-04-15 10:41
    mindrobots wrote: »
    That is an interestingly depressing fact about how things really work.

    Yes, that list of chains is why two pieces of plastic and some metal costs me more than an iPad every two years. The plastic in the lenses is incredibly scratch prone and yellows as it ages. After a year the lenses are on borrowed time, within three years the plastic starts losing transparency. Most of the chains also have a bait and switch where they advertise a cheap glasses, but forget about that if you have anything but mild myopia.
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2013-04-15 12:26
    I get mine from Lidl £3.99

    Prescription ones I got from Tesco for £49 using a £50 eye voucher from work as we do a lot of VDU work.
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2013-04-15 15:20
    I would NEVER get my glasses online!

    not just because I prefer to use the shops to get an updated prescription, but...
    I need the lenses to be fitted to a specific frame, and that fitting can only be done at the store.
    (I bought titanium frames many years ago, and since they're almost indestructible... why waste money on new frames? Besides, they're bound to be fashionable again in a decade or two)
    I don't think I've ever paid more than $200 for a new set of lenses.
    (I have graded colourisation on the upper half because I'm a bit too sensitive to bright light, that adds a bit of cost. anti-scratch also adds to the bill)
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2013-04-15 18:03
    Gadgetman, at Luxottica owned chains they charge an exorbitant amount for lenses. However, if you buy new frames they give you a discount on the lenses. The net result is that the cost ends up being the same to buy all new versus reusing frames. Since Luxottica controls so much of the US market the smaller chains and independent opticians follow their prices. I've heard Walmart is cheaper, but I don't live near one.
  • NWCCTVNWCCTV Posts: 3,629
    edited 2013-04-15 19:49
    Although I do not wear them (yet) my wife, son and daughter all do. We have Shopped at Americas Best since my son was 7 and he is now 23. Have never had issues with them and they always have reasonable prices. 2 Pair for $70.00 sale with exam going on now. I know you can not get the exam on line but if you have one in your area give them a try.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2013-04-15 20:06
    I'm puzzled that eyeglasses can even be sold online. The reason is that the lens axes, relative to the frame, have to be aligned to the pupil of each eye. And this goes beyond the refraction prescription that you get from your optometrist. Once a frame is selected and adjusted to fit, the pupilary axes requires an in-house measurement. It can't be done online. Getting it wrong can cause optical distortion and, in the worst cases, headaches. I know this because I have a pair of misaligned eyeglasses (old lenses in a new frame) that I can't wear because of the headaches they cause. Not wanting to spend another $600 for new lenses from the local optical place, I'm consigned to wearing glasses that are about 20 years old and a bit weak for my myopia.

    As an aside, when ordering new glasses, always opt for the UV filtering -- especially for sunglasses, since your pupils will be open wider when wearing them. Doing so could prevent, or at least postpone, the onset of cataracts.

    -Phil
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-04-16 00:12
    I wonder if one could give their prescription to a friend and the a pair of glasses to order at a local military PX for less.

    Since you are in Chicago, a visit to Canada might be a savings.
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2013-04-16 04:08
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) wrote: »
    I'm puzzled that eyeglasses can even be sold online. The reason is that the lens axes, relative to the frame, have to be aligned to the pupil of each eye. And this goes beyond the refraction prescription that you get from your optometrist. Once a frame is selected and adjusted to fit, the pupilary axes requires an in-house measurement. It can't be done online. Getting it wrong can cause optical distortion and, in the worst cases, headaches. I know this because I have a pair of misaligned eyeglasses (old lenses in a new frame) that I can't wear because of the headaches they cause. Not wanting to spend another $600 for new lenses from the local optical place, I'm consigned to wearing glasses that are about 20 years old and a bit weak for my myopia.

    The online opticians need the pupilary distance (PD) to align the lenses with the eyes. It can be measured by an ophthalmologist during the exam or at home using a ruler. Some sites even sell the PD meter used by opticians for a $100 as you'll make up the cost in short order. Visio-rx claims that they can measure PD from a photo and has the user submit several mug shot like photos. Although this sounds suspect that is how my local optical shop does it as well.
  • mojorizingmojorizing Posts: 249
    edited 2014-04-23 18:23
    I'm happy with http://www.warbyparker.com/

    They offer a Home Try-On of five glasses. Unfortunately, Hawaii is not in that program, but I'm very happy with my "AMES" model polarized,
    progressive prescription eye wear from them.
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