It’s been coming. For a long time.
Today, I finally screwed up my courage and went to the optometrist. I’d been putting it off because, well… I knew it was going to be bad.
The last time I’d had an eye exam was around the time Isabelle came home. In 2005. And since then, things have changed. Significantly. My old glasses barely made a dent in my nearsightedness any more.
And it turns out, I was right.
So, now I’ve got my new and improved prescription.
I just need new glasses.
And I know things have changed since I got my last pair of glasses.
If you are optically challenged, where do you get your glasses?
CostCo. I’ve only had them about a month and I love them. I’m like you-waited about 7 years between new glasses (but wear contacts mostly). They also have a great eyeglass program for kids–my youngest (age 5) got a very hip pair there and I have no trouble getting her to put them on everyday.
I hear good things about http://www.bonlook.com... but I haven’t actually used them.
I’ve been getting my glasses and contacts at Costco for over 10 years now. They have cute frames in all price ranges.
I got a nice pair from Coastal.com. They have this awesome deal right now where your first pair of glasses is free. 🙂 You just have to pay shipping.
Just ordered them today from a local optomitrists shop. Yes, I had waited 2 years and my doc was asking what was up. My eyes are still good, my vision still terrible, but the contacts still are good – needed a new alternate non-contact emergency pair and a pair of prescription reading glasses. Mom suggested costco – says consumer reports recommends them. I don’t like dealing with their dangerous parking lot, so i skipped it and went to the shop next to the occupational therapist our daughter sees.
I used to be an optician before becoming a mom. Back then I used to be able to get all the cool glasses at wholesale price…..but no more! We’ve actually had really good success at Walmart. I hear you can get a great deal at Costco too. If you want to try and find some online to order I would highly recommend at least going into an optical shop and trying on several pair to find the style that looks and fits best. You could even write down all the frame info and then try and order them online. Or just call around in your area and compare prices–ask how much they charge for lenses and “scratch coat”. If you like extras–like anti-reflective coating–ask what they charge for that too as the prices can vary greatly! Good luck!
I get my eyeglasses at Costco. I used to buy them at a franchised eye store, but Costo was cheaper, at least for my wacky prescription. I have one near-sighted and one far-sighted eye, as well as an astigmatism in both. It stinks getting old! lol
One of my friends recently recommended zennioptical.com to me…you will not believe how cheap their frames are!
We actually have great eye insurance, so frames are pretty much free every two years for us. I do have to pay for transition lenses, and a $5 co-pay for the actual exam, but that’s it. So we get frames at the actual doctor’s office. Now, if the Tongginator loses or breaks her nifty new frames, we’ll be heading to Wal-Mart. Around here it’s not the best place to shop (often dirty and way overcrowded, unhelpful staff, etc), but I hear great things about their vision centers.
I have been wearing glasses for at least 10 years. I used to buy them at the eye Doctor, but they are so expensive. I now know what styles look good on me and I go to http://www.zennioptical.com/
I just bought 2 pairs of glasses for $20 which included shipping. You can upload a picture to the website and “try on” glasses to see what styles you like. They have a ton of glasses starting at $6 and they are actually pretty trendy. My whole family shops there now due to the prices 🙂
Hope this helps!
‘Back in the day’ I had really good insurance and could get glasses from my Dr. in his shop for about $40. But now I work for a different government agency….Sam’s Club is where I go now!! I got all the bells and whistles and still only spent about $40. I would have used on-line outlets – but this way I have a ‘place’ I can go while they are under warranty.
On the topic of ‘kind of glasses’ – I had tungsten frames and LOVED THEM – but way pricey. I also had the spring loaded hinges – they were my second fav. I currently have the “180” frames – the ear pieces on are double hinges and can be opened flat or closed like normal….HATE THEM! We had our exchange student to one of those ‘one hour optical’ joints (covered under her insurance) and she got what she needed and had a positive experience – my glasses would have been about $40. there.
We have great insurance, too. One of the perks of working for a hospital system 🙂 The kids and I go to Walmart Optical, as the hours and selection are super convenient. The Boss is actually becoming a Walmart convert too. Plus, our doc there is sweet and great with the kids and really loves what he does. Which makes the whole visit much more palatable, Even when he is looking me in the eye and telling me that my inability to read at night is because I’m getting old. No small feat on his part 🙂
I typically get mine from Costco but last military move, I didn’t have time to wait. I went into one of the one hour places, it was end of the year and they had a huge clearance. I took advantage.
I got mine at lenscrafters, they have a wide selection.
I’m optically challenged too (sigh)–I finally got a new pair of glasses after 12 years (ack!) last year. (my two year old broke them … twice … so I had no choice after the bow finally totally broke off. I do wear contacts, so that’s how I hopped along for so long without an update.)
Anyway, the pair I got 12 years ago at Pearl Vision were EXCELLENT! (Spendy, but excellent in quality.) This time around I went to Lens Crafters in the mall. They’re okay … but the pair I picked out are smaller and I can see below and above my frames. It drives me NUTS since I’m so blind without them. So yes, try on many, many before you commit.
Valerie
A couple folks already mentioned it, but http://www.zennioptical.com. My vision insurance is pretty good, but only covers frames every two years. So when my 13-yr-old leaves her glasses…say…lying in the driveway where any number and type of motorized vehicles are bound to crush them (repeatedly), in between that two-year period…well, zenni’s been a lifesaver! About a month ago I ordered her (another!) new pair, and the hubby wanted a spare pair while I was ordering. Since they arrived, he’s worn the zenni pair almost daily, favoring them over the rather expensive pair he picked out at the doc’s office. We’ve been incredibly pleased with the quality (though the low prices orginally had me worried – “you get what you pay for” and all that jazz). Prices start at $6.95, and you can add-on almost any option you can think of at nominal pricing. I highly recommend them.
http://www.coastal.com/glasses/cCouponEligibleGlasses.html?cmp=internal&src=justeyewear
Free glasses here, too…I got two pairs here about three…or four years ago.
Don’t go to some “cheap” place, ’cause that’s what you’ll get: cheap. There’s a reason those places can have stuff so priced so low. Plus, many of those places pressure you in to getting “upgrades,” and their prices on those tend to be higher than the going rate. Go to a good local private optometry practice. Doesn’t your doctor have an optical? Make sure that they will offer a warranty FREE OF CHARGE on your frames and lenses; if they don’t, go somewhere else. A one year warranty should be automatic. Make sure they are very clear on what your insurance offers (if you have vision coverage.) And if you’re ever near Harrisburg, PA, stop in and check our Murphy Eye Care. It’s the best! (if I do say so myself!)
zennioptical.com
Big selection, great price. I’ve used them for a few years now and love them.
I’ve heard good things about Zenni Optical online. And we will consider using them for our son’s glasses but right now I’m just getting mine at the Optometrists office. Good quality and they use an approved lab so we don’t worry that the prescription might not be correct. I would avoid Wal*Mart, seriously, having worked there for 5 yrs and knowing the ins/outs of even the Optical world. I would honestly avoid the cheap places like that. Your eyes will thank you!
Now, lets talk about lasic, that is what I want done in a few years!
I wear contacts 24/7 (love, love, love my Night & Day lenses!) – last year when I went in for my yearly check-up, I had a tear in my retina. I had a minor laser surgery which fixed it right up – but I had to wear glasses for a week after. My glasses had been bought in 2001 right after my son was born – outdated would be a nice word. I found a great pair that I love at LensCrafters.
Our little wears glasses – we had a really hard time finding frames to fit her face. Even for an Asian child, she has a super flat nasal bridge (her Chinese ENT comments on it every time we see him) – also, she has small low set ears. She sees a pediatric opthamologist who we love but the only frames they had that would stay on her face were wire frames – she’s quite the fashionista (at 4) & she hated them. At her last appt, they mentioned to me that they had gotten in some new frames – low & behold, the little walked out with a pair of super cute frames that she loves! It’s a Gailey’s – I think they are a chain?
I’ve gotten glasses from both BonLook and Spex Club online, and can’t recommend them both highly enough. Spex has a online try on, but I don’t feel it was as helpful as it should be. Both companies offer free shipping and returns so if something doesn’t quite work out you can return and try again. All Spex prescriptions are $88 and BonLook are $99.
We have ordered from Zenni before and been very happy, but we LOVE Costco, because they do free (weekly, if you are my 10 year old) adjustments and their frame warranty is unbeatable, especially for kids (or Moms with lots of kids who touch glasses!).
My Husband was an optician for years and he said to stay far far away from lenscrafters because it’s the cheap stuff. if you don’t have insurance and your eye doctors office is expensive then Costco is the way to go. There are online shops out there that offer great prices but if you want to see/try on/talk to someone head over to Costco. I hope you have one near you!
My best advice? Wait for your next trip to China! 🙂 They’re SUPER cheap there and super cute…and ready in a few days flat. Useful advice, right?
so glad you posted this b/c i just got my first pair of glasses a little over a year ago (at over $500 at my doctor’s office) and my prescription has already changed!!!
We love America’s Best… not sure if they are nationwide though.
another vote for Costco. Really nice frames for really nice prices. We heart Costco!! Here in the NorthEast vision insurance and dental insurance are unheard of. It’s all out of pocket. Awesome. Why do we live here again? *SIGH* I bet you look fabulous in your glasses!!!