Flutterby™! : cheaper glasses 2006-12-13 06:17:13.522762+00

cheaper glasses

2006-12-13 06:17:13.522762+00 by Dan Lyke 5 comments

I'm still not sure if this is an attempt at viral marketing (my how cynical I've become), but I've long known that the eyeglass industry is one hellacious protectionist scam that's working against the consumer. And as someone who's used the $8 sunglasses from convenience stores, the fact that I can get a frame and an admittedly cheap but not that much worse than some of the prescription glasses I've seen and worn for at least an order of magnitude less than just the frames from other sources has made me wish they'd use just a little more lube when they screwed me. With that in mind, Glassy Eyes is a weblog about ordering glasses on-line or from other cheaper sources.

I'm due for a new pair of glasses in the new year, so I think I'm gonna give this a try. I could buy four pair of glasses from these guys for what I paid for my last pair, and it seems like that's probably a good thing. I'll let you know how it works out.

Its about the time I need to check my perscription. I've been ordering my contacts online already and gotten some savings, but was looking at replacing my frames soon. From my cursory look, I think this is a far better answer than paying through the nose at the opticians.

My mother used to cut lenses for an optometrist. Her "employee discount" let her buy frames "at-cost". There wasn't a single pair in the store that was more than $15 while the sticker prices ran as high as $500. Ironically, no one in my family wore glasses at the time.

My grandparents for decades would just go to the pharmacy and try on the "reading glasses" until they found something that worked. Much cheaper!

And about a decade ago, Consumers Report reviewed the eye-glass chains. Their conclusion was to only go to an opthamologist - something that I'm sure enraged the optometrists. Their findings were that opthamologists made far fewer mistakes in their prescriptions and worked with better eye-glass cutters. Furhter, they were able to diagnose more serious eye conditions. My wife, at the time, took this advice. The opthamologists office was also able to bill our insurance as medical treatment.

I had a favorite pair of glasses: -3.75 L/R. (Yeah, I'm blind) that was really good for computer work and allowed me to drive and such, although I used a pair of -4.00 L/R for real driving to see distances/road signs better. My frames finally busted on the -3.75's. The trip to the Optometrist got me a pair of -4's and a pair of -3.25s for PC work. I liked the -3.25's for close up work.. but had to carry two pair, and eventually lost the -3.25's. My heads been hurting for a week using my stronger glasses for looking at screens, it's just right on the edge of what feels good.

I just relocated my busted -3.75's, and paid $17 for a pair of reading glasses with frames that would mount my -3.75's.. and -POOF- I'm a happy productive camper again. Note: Looking VERY carefully, these $17 frames and lenses are as well made as any pair I've ever had. I'll wager they are all the same.

Now to get Nancy to make some measurements.. (Hmm.. should I let her get close to me with a ruler? Might be ego-deflating..) and try ordering some cheap glasses online.