Listen up if you need prescription eyeglasses!

[karadinart]

If you live in the US, you are subject to insane markups on these products. When I went to a chain store (Pearle Vision, Sears, LensCrafters) with my prescription I was charged $340 for a pair of eyeglasses, - my insurance only covering 40% of cost, most of the cost was in the lenses - not in the frames.

Most eyeglass frames in the US are made by Luxxotica, (Italy) all those brands you see are lisenced names, they all come from the same place, Luxxotica also owns LensCrafters, so they control manufacturing and distribution, do you think the customer would get a price break? No, LensCrafters is typically the most expensive place to buy eyeglasses, while quality is high, you pay through the nose, for pieces of plastic and wire that cost a few dollars to make.

Have you tried shopping online? All you need is a current prescription, online shops such as Zenni Optical even allow you to upload a picture of yourself to try on glasses - and what is most important to me - you can make returns! I just got my prescription no-line bifocals yesterday, with some great leopard print frames and non reflective coating for $74. They are sturdy, with crystal clear lenses, and I can still claim out-0f-network on my insurance to pay for them.

Zenni Optical is located in China (but I have no problem with that considering that most items are made there) if you need single-vision prescription lenses, there are some cool American online shops, including Warby Parker, (see more brands here) and some shops will even send you frames for free to try out, (send back free shipping) before ordering. I’m really happy with what I got, and never going back to a chain store again!

Comments

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

*makes a grateful note*

[bugeyedmonster.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this. I just found out I have to start wearing glasses. I have insurance that enables me to get glasses for about only a 1/4 of what the actual cost is, but I only get one pair a year. I'm terrible with sunglasses, and I'm scared I'll kill my glasses.

I'll definitely check these out. Now all I need is a copy of my prescription.

[karadin.livejournal.com]

to get a good fit you also need your pupilary distance, which means, how far your pupils are from the bridge of your nose. If you don't have this on your perscription, Zenni has a printable ruler you can use on site, and get a friend to help you, the site has lots of videos on how to do this, how to order and how to adjust your glasses once you get them.

[bugeyedmonster.livejournal.com]

Oh, I forgot that he checked my pupils. (It's why I had to go back another day, because my pupils were dilated.)


Thanks for the info.

First time in my life I have to wear glasses, and I'm wearing bifocals! (That's actually what made me go to the eye doc. I had some change in vision.)

[karadin.livejournal.com]

I have bifocals to, so search for frames under 'progressive' which are no line bifocals, you have to have a little bit of a longer lens for those, and I get the digital, I might go with the thinnest lenses next time, what is nice is that the site will recommend which type of lenses to get. They come with an antiscratch coating and uv, so I just clicked the 'no glare' option which was $4.00 to add, I think.