Purchasing new glasses..

[Cheshire Figment]

I buy lenses only and always reuse my frames.

I have six pair of glasses just as a precaution. I have two pair of bifocals, two pair of bifocal sunglasses, and two pair of reading glasses. That way if I happen to misplace or break a pair I have a spare.

I use Costco for the bifocals. Because they will not work with nylon frames I use Lenscrafters for the reading glasses. I pay less at Costco for two sets of bifocals than Lenscrafters charges for a set of reading glass lenses, and this is even after the AAA discount.

I consider the prices of decent quality frames to be outrageous anywhere.

 

[debknight]

I just got new glasses last week. My prescription hadn't changed for four years so I wore the same glasses for that time.

My new frames were about $200. The lenses were just over $400. These are a new lens material only available since January that is second only to glass for image quality. In addition they have progressive bifocals and light sensitive lenses (automatically darkening).

I had a several problems with lenses from Pearle Vision and only get glasses from two small optical labs. The quality has been far superior to any I had before.

Do you know the name of that new lens material? I'd like to look into that. Thanks.

 

[C.Ann]

Okay - you people are really scaring me with quotes of $700+ !!

The only thing I'm looking for is lined bifocals, scratch resistant, and that's it - no "transition" lenses or anything of that nature..

Someone please tell me I am not going to have to shell out $700+!!!!

I'm going to start making phone calls on Monday - at least for the exam - and take it from there..

Thanks for all of the replies!

 

[Disney Doll]

For me, it's generally my lenses that are more expensive. I don't have bifocals, but I have very, very bad eyesight. I make it a point to look at frames are reasonable in cost. I go to Lenscrafters, so they have some of the designer frames that could be upwards of $300...that's not's happening! I usually end up spending $200 or less on frames.

 

[C.Ann]

For me, it's generally my lenses that are more expensive. I don't have bifocals, but I have very, very bad eyesight. I make it a point to look at frames are reasonable in cost. I go to Lenscrafters, so they have some of the designer frames that could be upwards of $300...that's not's happening! I usually end up spending $200 or less on frames.

-----------------------------
Lenscrafters is where I got the glasses I have now - which I have been very satisfied with for the past 4 years.. It was their web site that I was looking at and I saw a pair of frames - very similar to what I have - for $139.. The ones I have now have held up well (and I didn't go "designer" either) - so I'm assuming the $139 ones would be fine..

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I bought my glasses at Pearle a year ago and got all the bells and whistles -progressives lenses ("no line" trifocals), extra-thin lenses, and the coating that helps with glare/night vision, and they were right around $375. It happened that my favorite frames were the least expensive I tried on ($99) so the rest of the price was for the lenses.

To the person who asked about wearing contact lenses to a water park--I regularly wear my contacts in the ocean, kayaking, etc. and have never had a problem. I don't even wear goggles since I don't open my eyes under water. Same with DH--no problem at all.