So how much does a pair of glasses cost?

Next time I buy glasses, I'm gonna buy from here: http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php

If you're ordering online, you need to know your pupillary distance (PD) measurement.

I don't care much about the frame source, but I'm very particular about who prepares the lenses for my glasses. I am not willing to go the online route, or anywhere I can not easily return the glasses if my specialist says they have not been prepared properly. If I don't have them made at my opthamologist's clinic, I always take them in to have them assessed before I wear them.

I think that you are smart about having the prescription checked. I once had a pair of expensive bi-focals. I could not figure out why I was prone to tripping over curbs. Apparently, on one of the lenses, the bi-focal was just a tiny bit "off".

I feel the same way about online frames. The only exception would be if I had tried the frame in the store, knew that it fit and flattered me, and was sure that
the online frame was the exact same size and model.

A timely thread for me. I'm getting my eyes examined in a couple of weeks. Last time I was on the cusp of needing glasses for reading. No problems with distance or driving and really no problems with reading provided I can hold the book far enough away Recently I picked up those 1.50+ magnifying glasses for the small print at work. If I basically just need that sort of thing, any reason I shouldn't just order them on-line? (A question I'll ask the Dr. of course.)

Yeah, I didn't get that and the nose pieces rusted out after only a year.

Do you think if I called the vision center that is in the building where my doctor works they would give me an estimate?

I used those kinds of glasses for years for reading. Used to get them in the drugstore for $15- . Then I developed astigmatism in one eye, so they did not work for me.

Tai Chi - if all you need are those cheaters for reading, you can certainly buy them online. They're not perscription, just magnifying glasses. There's some really attractive ones, and some are cheap enough to have them suit your mood.

Those glasses that are real small where you can put them into something that looks like a long lipstick tube are cool. I bought Wally a couple of them on line, one silver, one gold, for a really good price, and he's very happy.



I've gotten several pairs online over the years, and they are in various parts of the house.

I asked my opthomologist about them after getting lasik, and he said they are fine for reading if that's all you need.

Hmmm, so maybe I don't need "real" glasses. It will be interesting to see what he says.

Maybe, for the lenses. The cost of frames vary tremendously.

Thanks Chai. I'll definitely ask if that's all I need.

I don't know if I'll have the opportunity to go down there before I need to put in all my benefit info - maybe I'll just make a good guess.

Go to a major chain to get a feel for their prices.
Then go to an independent and negotiate.
The frames are incredibly marked-up and the lenses are ground with highly
automated machinery.
I'll bet you can get a really good deal if you like to bargain.

Well according to a link at the bottom of this page - Sears has a two for $99 glasses.

When I wore glasses, I had a strong perscription, so I needed the special grinding, non glare, treatments, all that stuff....plus since I wore them all the time I really didn't want those "get 2 for the price of 1" deals.

The costs would just start adding up so quickly, and before you knew it, they would say, "the total for that will be 5, 6, $700"



That's when I'd have to say, "wait a minute, let's go over this item by item, where am I spending all this money?"

Depressing.

Not to scare you, especially since your strength is low, and you'll only wear them for driving.
If no one is ever going to see you in them, get the cheap ones, because the one's on sale are always weird looking, or ugly.

I'm thinking they use that as a sales tactic. You go over to the bargin frames and realize none of them will do if you want to look attractive. They look like this....



so you immediately distance yourself from them, realizing you're going to have to shell out some cash to look even ok.

I wear +150s from the dollar store. But then, I don't need a script. Yet.

Damn right, Sears!

Re Sears
I just looked on their site, and saw the coupon for the 2 for $99 deal.

Yeah....go to Sears and look at the selection they are offering for that deal. I'd bet my paycheck they are the butt ugly frames you wouldn't wear to take the trash out.



There's also a coupon for a pair of single vision glasses with ANY frame for $199.
That's the one I would look at.

Do you honestly think I will go for the 2 for $99 deal (or the $199 coupon) - I mean I spend $60 for face cream and crap like that - I bet I will be taken to the cleaners on glasses too.