Affordable eyeglasses?

[Swank]

Thanks for this thread. I'm definitely going to give Zenni a try. I just started needing glasses a couple of years ago (over-40 eyes) and I bought my last pair from Walmart. They lasted about three months before screw came loose and lens popped out.

I did notice that my local Target has an optical center now so I was thinking of trying them out. I generally find that customer service and quality of product are much better at Target than at Walmart.

Doesn't Walmart do free replacements?

 

[USAND3KIDS]

WALMART WALMART WALMART

Where we can get everything cheap...........gotta love that place

 

[Wall-E1]

My son and I just got 3 new pairs of glasses from the Target optical center. We paid $750 total, which included the 3 pairs of glasses, the eye exams for both of us and extended 15 month warranties. They have a couple of promotions going on right now. One is specifically for kids - I think it was $150 for a complete set of prescription frames and lenses. They also have a deal where the pair of sunglasses is 50% off if you also buy a regular set of glasses. They also have various other discounts depending on the type of insurance you may have.

 

[Nik's Mom]

So will most eye doctors just give you the prescription without forcing you to buy your glasses through them?

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

So what do you need to ask your eye doctor for in order to get glasses online, besides the prescription? Anything else?

I am going to the eye doctor in a few weeks and I would like to get some spares for my dd and I.

Pupillary Distance

So will most eye doctors just give you the prescription without forcing you to buy your glasses through them?

I have never had an eye doctor refuse to give me my prescription but I did have one refuse to give me my pupillary distance. He said he didn't measure it and I would have to come back in for him to do it Fortunately, it is not something that changes and my old eye doctor at Costco optical had no issue giving it to me.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

ETA- You will need your child's pupil distance and temple distance. The temple distance is really the length of the arm of the glasses. You don't input that number, but it is a guide so you won't have a overhang of arm behind the ear.

*** The temple distance is actually on a lot of glasses. There are numbers embedded on the side of one of the arms. My temple distance is 140. It's usually the last 3 digits on glasses closer to the lens.

HTH.

Pupillary Distance



I have never had an eye doctor refuse to give me my prescription but I did have one refuse to give me my pupillary distance. He said he didn't measure it and I would have to come back in for him to do it Fortunately, it is not something that changes and my old eye doctor at Costco optical had no issue giving it to me.

Thanks for the info.

 

[SandrA9810]

No doctor can withhold your medical information. If you ask for it, they'll give it to you.

I had a horrible experience at Wal-mart a few years ago. And I went there as a kid, without a hitch. So I refuse to go back there.

I did get glasses from DOC but now they're part of Pearle Vision and I don't know anything about them or how good they are. You might want to go over your insurance policy and find out how much they actually cover. For the frames and lenses. Often times they won't always cover polycarbonate lenses, and there's a small fee to upgrade for that. Some coatings they cover a 100% and others only a portion.

The last eye doctor I went to dealt with A LOT of CMs from Disney, so they know the insurance policies Disney offers for vision. So they were always helpful in making sure we stayed within the policy and what would go over.

 

[daisax]

Costco has a great selection of frames (name brands). I got bifocal (no line) glare-resistant prescription glasses AND prescription sunglasses for just under $400, combined. I spent $400 on my last pair of lenses only from my ophthalmologist! I might have been sucked in again except I really didn't like any of his selection of frames. Costco was both a better deal and had glasses I liked better.

The optometrist was very friendly and knowledgeable and I was extremely happy with how everything fit and I'll definitely go back.

 

[Lassie Lynne]

I got my glasses at Walmart, it worked out good. I usually wear contacts, so I just needed glasses for around the house and quick trips when I don't want to wear contacts. I got some decent rimless frames (which are a national name brand and were cheaper than anywhere else - $80) and the really thin lenses with glare coating and it all came to a little less than $200. I have a pretty thick prescription....I could have saved $50 if I didn't need the really thin ones, just the medium thin ones. I was suprised to see frames as cheap as $9.00, and even some that were decent looking for around $50.

All in all, I was happy. They were ready in 4 days, no pressure and they fit and look good.

 

[Lassie Lynne]

So will most eye doctors just give you the prescription without forcing you to buy your glasses through them?

Yep.....if you pay for an eye exam (or use insurance) then you are entitled to your prescription - contacts or glasses...or both if you get a contacts exam. If your doctor does not give you one, the place you purchase glasses from will sometimes call and get it or have it faxed over.

My guy just writes them both out and gives them to me, then puts me in a pair of lenses to see how the look. I usually do not purchases lenses because I can get such better deals on-line.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

So this thread reminded me I needed to order some new glasses while I had extra money this month.

Went to Zenni optical and one pair of Rx glassses and one pair of Rx sunglasses came to a grand total, including shipping, of $30

I really like the new feature where you upload a picture of yourself and get to "try on" the frames. This wasn't there the last time we ordered.

 

[vicb]

This thread has been so helpful. I had wondered about Walmart, I'm not a Walmart shopper but there is one in a nearby town. I never though to check at Target!

 

[kirstenb1]

My eye doctor is in a wealthy area of town, so he carries a ton of designer frames. But I wear contacts, and explained to his optometrist, I just needed glasses for backup, and needed them on a budget. He put me in 100 dollar glasses, and then I paid extra for non-glare and thinner lenses (I have very bad vision so think coke bottle lenses).

Anyway, my total was 140.00. They were really nice tortoise shell frames, fitted to my face, and I was very pleased. My point is, try to give your eye doctor first shot. If he/she tries to upsell you too much, ask for the scrip and move on. But to me its worth it to have someone who is in the field help you through the process. I know if I were displeased I could go back and have them made right.

 

[Jennychew]

I AM A TRUE ZENNIOPTICAL ADDICT! I change nothing else about my appearance as the trends come and go, but I always have a different pair of specs on. Zenni Optical has a variety of specs with high quality starting at $6.95., so I always buy several pairs in one order, and only pay for one shipping charge at $4.95.