eyeglasses

[kennyd]

It is time to replace my glasses.  The last were titanium bendable frames.  This time I went shopping to see what was available.  The things I found were that square lenses and heavyt temples  are "in".  No one had light wire frames.


I was trying to find out what a real pair costs; there lots of ads for % off, or $200 or more off, or 2 pairs for $99.  Not a clue as to what quality frames, polycarbonate, scratch coating, anti glare, and progressives add.


The wife just got new ones at Target, it took 3 pairs to get it right.  They have two grades of lenses made, a good, and a better; the better works best for my wifes problems, but cost $30 extra.  They also didn't tell her that they could not grind a usable transition in a small lens--the area is not large enough to work well.


It looks like I will have to spend $300 to $500 no matter what, and that doesn't include making a second pair of sunglasses, or replacing safety glasses at work.  I have never had sunglasses; anyone ever use the photo darkening things?


Any ideas on how to really find out what the cost and quality would be?  I looked at Sears, Penneys, Pearle, Lens Crafters., and Target; haven't looked at Walmart yet.  Someone must still have oval wire frames.  I also know that the opticians can be different, even in the same chain of stores.  The one thing going os that Colorado will let you fill a prescription at a different optical store than where you got it.

[Cuts Crooked]

Wally world locally has oval wire frame here.

$500 is CHEAP for good vision!

[oldandslow]

I got my last pair at Sears Optical but it was over a year ago. Titanium wire frames, progressive bifocals, best polycarbonate lenses with transition darkening and anti-glare coating. $430 plus Governor Perry's 8 1/4 % tithe. I like the darkening and it changes quickly going inside to outside or vise versa. I really can't stand the bright sunlight here without shades and I don't have two pair of glasses to keep up with. The only downside is they won't darken in a car where the UV light is filtered out.

I believe after adding a two year warranty and tax the total was about $ 490 but I've already warranty the lenses once and will do so again just before the warranty is up.

[blind ear]

I guess that is the price we pay to be able to see and have lenses that will be clear for more than six weeks. ear

[jhm]

     I just had to get some new lenses $210 to get me to Oct. when I may need surgery the $210 was on top of a new pair of bendable frames as the last pr. was olver 12 yrs old and they just wore out the new frames were $150 so there is $360 to do me abt 6 mo. but I need them as I have 3 proscriptions in ea. lense and the photo gray lenses work but it took too long for them to go back to clear to suit me so I had them leave them off these lenses.   Jim

[Empty Quiver]

I have the Transition lenses. They are an odd thing.


They do not work in the car period (well maybe if you drive a 50's model Desoto) . They darken pretty fast, they lighten up when they get good and damn ready. In the cold they darken to about cutting torch level (when sunny of course) , which sucks when ice fishing, or doing anything which involves lots of contrast in the light levels, like deer hunting (peering into shadows while the sun happens to be shining on your face). Speaking of which, if the sun shines on half of one lens because of standing in shadows, that portion will darken the rest of the glass will not. Can make for awkward viewing especially if you are also doing the progressive lens thing.


Here is my deal, I'm on my second pair. I don't think I'll do a third. I end up carrying my sunglasses much of the time because the oddities can be too much. However I will not say I hate them, and many times I'm grateful to have them doing what they do. When seeing things gets important they are a crappy compromise, for general knocking around they are great.

[blind ear]

I have clip on shades with polarized lenses. They last a couple of years and cut glare when fishing or faceing the glare when driveing. ear

[Swampman]

It is time to replace my glasses.  The last were titanium bendable frames.  This time I went shopping to see what was available.  The things I found were that square lenses and heavyt temples  are "in".  No one had light wire frames.


I was trying to find out what a real pair costs; there lots of ads for % off, or $200 or more off, or 2 pairs for $99.  Not a clue as to what quality frames, polycarbonate, scratch coating, anti glare, and progressives add.


The wife just got new ones at Target, it took 3 pairs to get it right.  They have two grades of lenses made, a good, and a better; the better works best for my wifes problems, but cost $30 extra.  They also didn't tell her that they could not grind a usable transition in a small lens--the area is not large enough to work well.


It looks like I will have to spend $300 to $500 no matter what, and that doesn't include making a second pair of sunglasses, or replacing safety glasses at work.  I have never had sunglasses; anyone ever use the photo darkening things?


Any ideas on how to really find out what the cost and quality would be?  I looked at Sears, Penneys, Pearle, Lens Crafters., and Target; haven't looked at Walmart yet.  Someone must still have oval wire frames.  I also know that the opticians can be different, even in the same chain of stores.  The one thing going os that Colorado will let you fill a prescription at a different optical store than where you got it.

I just got 2 pairs for $89.00 at LensCrafters.  They are progressive lenses.  I didn't want wire frames because they make you look older by about 10 years.

[blind ear]

Swamp did you get plastic lenses? ear

[Swampman]

Yes I did and no coatings.  They kept pushing but I kept telling them I just want the deal on the window.
 

[blind ear]

I usually wear a pair of glasses 3 or 4 years so I guess I am OK on the average. Plastic lenses won't last long enough for me, I wipe them on my shirt tail or the cleanest paper or cloth I can grab. ear

[ratdog]

if you have scratched plastic lenses try some pledge furniture polish on them. really makes a difference and they won't get scratched more as easy.my little trick.

[Empty Quiver]

IMHO the Crizal is worth the money. It repels dust and water just falls away.
 
I keep the microfibre washcloths stashed all over the place for lens cleaning. They are cheap enough and are nice and big allowing for a clean spot for months between washing. Every vehicle I drive, as well as kitchen, shop, daypack, briefcase and range bag. They do a tremendous job removing oils dust and any smudge easily. I never use any solvent solution, maybe I should, but I don't seem to need it.

[gypsyman]

Even the wally world glass's arn't that cheap. Had a new pair made last year, and it was over $300 with the exaime and all. I keep my old pair for working in the shop, and if they get scratched up, not so terrible. gypsyman

[Rex in OTZ]

The last time I'd gotten eyeglasses was 6 years ago in one them 1 hour optic's places in a Anchorage Ak, Mall (travel on business), I'd gotten 2 pairs one being shop saftey, the other frameless with scratch coat, neither was comfortable to wear and they were fuzzy to use.
 My oldest 2 pair are my best +10yro, as I'd actually gone to the local eye clinic when it was still in business (now closed due Govt to budget cuts*indian health care*), Im non native, I'd just bought my my kid some and even the cheapest with eye exam, and basic eyeglasses with polycarbinate lenses, the delux scratch coating and medium photo gray was $420
 During the town's monthly vision clinic (traveling eye Clinic) one basicly mail orders your glasses in the bush,
I'd discoverd that Deep Woods Off will etch the scratch coat on the 1Hr optics glasses, the erroded coating makes them look like they have heavy dust or dandruff specks on them, I absolutely despise the current style eye glasses.
I like the open frameless ones, least you can use 2 pliars to bend them back in shape and use fishing line to repair them.

[powderman]

I have WM glasses and they are the pits. No line bifocals and I still have to take them off to read the paper. Never again. POWDERMAN. 

[windfarmer]

you know you can order prescription eyeglasses online i get mine from zenni optical. I would give a link but this is my first post here and i do not think it proper. i mostly lurk on this board but could not help but comment to this thread.

anyway if you go with a cheap frame and your prescription is not real heavy like mine is you can get a functional pair of glasses for $10 plus shipping. plastic lenses basic antiscratch coating only. if you have a real heavy prescription like me they charge an extra $9

the cheapest place here n town wants $55 for basic glasses and then they charge me $5 a Doppler for my lenses do to my heavy prescription and it comes out to almost $150 with tax and everything.

you still have to get an eye exam locally but just ask the eye doctor for a written prescription for your glasses and ask him to measure and write your pupallary distance (pd) on the script if he won't play along and give you your pd then you can measure it yourself with a metric ruler and a mirror there are instructions online.