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I was able to slash my eyeglasses expenditures in both the exams and the frames: eye exams: I used to pay the optometrist $153 ($117 refraction + $36 dilation
by jasode 8y ago
I was able to slash my eyeglasses expenditures in both the exams and the frames:
eye exams: I used to pay the optometrist $153 ($117 refraction + $36 dilation). I later found out that Costco often has an optometrist on site in a tiny office and will charge just $59 (and add +$20 for dilation). That's less than half the cost of most other optometrists.
frames: switched to Zenni online to avoid the LensCrafters/Pearle/Eyemasters and their heavy markups.
Yes, some people don't like ordering online frames because they can't "try them on". If that's a deal breaker, consider going to Costco and see if you like any of their frames.
Costco's total price will be about half of the dedicated eyewear chains. If you can't find anything among Costco's selection of frames, I'm afraid you'll be stuck with the Luxoticca monopoly and pay high prices.
I know some folks recommend Warby Parker but last time I checked, they cost more than Costco.
- beering 8y agoI ended up with Warby Parker after decent experiences with Zenni. Warby Parker offers a home try-on service for free, where they ship you a pack of frames for you to try on (without prescription lenses). They also have a few retail stores. They still came out to be cheaper than Luxottica, and for something that I use for years, it ended up being worth it.
- spyspy 8y agoI've also had good experiences with WP and have referred several friends to them when they mentioned needing new glasses.
- tylermac1 8y agoI wore the same pair of Warby Parker glasses daily for 6 years before my son broke them. They are very good for the price.
- Someone1234 8y ago> Warby Parker offers a home try-on service for free, where they ship you a pack of frames for you to try on (without prescription lenses). That's a really fantastic idea. Honestly that's a "missing piece" with a lot of online shopping (glasses, clothing, etc) or anything else you wear on your body.
- gcbw2 8y agoit does have room for some pain if you end up not liking any of the frames in their agreement. i ended up passing because of this.
- ssully 8y agoI've heard people dump on Warby Parker for being cheaply made, but honestly their stuff doesn't seem any worse then what my insurance covered at my optometrist. Also as a side note, my first pair from Warby Parker had the lenses go bad (they looked like they had dried water blotches on them, but it would never wash out. I assume some coating went bad) and they sent me a new pair for free. That was maybe 2 years ago and I still use the pair.
- nyolfen 8y agothe warby parker glasses i tried felt so cheap they seemed like costume glasses or something. i got a pair from zenni in the mail yesterday, and while they’re not as nice feeling as the pair i paid 10x for at my optometrist, they feel well made and look higher quality than what i got from wp.
- ssully 8y agoSounds like I might not be a good judge of quality frames then! Might have to give Zenni a shot next time I need a new pair.
- vl 8y agoWarby Parkers are cheaply designed: nose pads are not affixed with screws, and thus are prone to being lost. Most (all?) hinges are rigid, without spring suspension. It’s kind of ridiculous for these prices (compare with Zenni and Costco).
- standerman 8y agoI have been very happy with my 1 year old pair of WP glasses. There aren't any nose pads or spring hinges but I haven't noticed any negative effects from those design choices. For $110 with anti-glare coating I have no complaints.
- werber 8y agoWarby Parker does an amazing job with their retail experience. They fit your glasses to your face and are generally a joy to work with. I had an extremely low opinion of them from one bad experience years ago with the online try on model and walked into their retail store just out curiosity and got hooked.
- newnewpdro 8y agoI bought a pair of Zennis after reading good things in another HN thread on this subject, and have been quite happy with the results for $32.90 shipped.
- ams6110 8y agoI ordered Zenni frames and lenses last time I bought glasses. Optically, no complaints, but the frames broke in less than a year and the anti-glare coating developed a cracked/crazed spot in the middle of one lens. Probably won't be a repeat customer.
- mindslight 8y agoZenni requires you to do a bit of your own research, like every other new-economy self-service approach. But it's worth it. Switching to Zenni has allowed me to move to cheap CR-39 lenses rather than expensive high index material. CR-39 is soft, and if I'm paying a lot for frames then the lenses getting scratched is a Big Deal. Then pile on further costs for coatings etc. But if the frames and lenses are both inexpensive, then needing to get a new pair sooner is not really a big deal. (polycarb is right out due to its horrible chromatic aberration. If you don't know what that is, and you're perfectly content with the clarify of things you're seeing, don't look it up lest you sensitize yourself to it!) I still need to find a decent sunglass frame on Zenni. Their basic aviators are way too small.
- ukyrgf 8y agoMy first order with Zenni I got probably 5 different frames, using a coupon code, and that helped me figure out what kinds of frames I liked and what didn't work. With that, I was able to dial in on what frames fit me best, and over the years I've mostly settled on one very-uncool but so-comfortable-I-forget-I-wear-glasses frame that goes in and out of stock. I order two every time and have extras at work, in my car, at my parents' house, etc. Years ago I got some huge aviator sunglasses from them, but they aren't in stock anymore. I just have one of my aforementioned extras in my car with the nerdy clip-on.
- rootusrootus 8y agoWhat you mention about polycarbonate is interesting. I just got my first pair of glasses (well, the first in about 35 years) and I can't quite put my finger on it but they bother me. Clarity is better, but there's something about the colors of things, especially where things contrast, that is bothersome. I end up taking them off (they are only really for computer use at this point, my vision isn't all that bad yet) just to see normally, if less clear. Off to do some research...
- 1996 8y agoAlso got my first pair of glasses a few week ago when visiting home! I love them, everything is so clear, it's almost like switching to 4k! But something is off when I read my computer screen. Also they cause eye strain after a while if I am reading. Several people mentioned having separate pair of glasses. I have started reading about lenses and all that, very interesting. I'm considering getting extra pairs for cheap to test if I can get something better to use with a computer. I've seen many recommendations about regular glass (non polycarbonate): heavier, but harder to scratch, and with fewer aberrations. Also, I've been reading about how some lens maker can go with very precise steps in dioptry, also for the angular degrees of astigmatism instead of rounding. Maybe that would help too?
- ourmandave 8y agoThis same discussion on HN a couple months ago convinced me to try Zenni. I replaced my $300 walmart progressives with better for $80 and that includes shipping. That's less than my monthly cell phone bill. It's like my glasses went from sacred to disposable.
- newnewpdro 8y agoI had no idea you could spend $300 on glasses at walmart.
- Technetium_Hat 8y agoprogressive lenses are expensive.
- igivanov 8y agoIs it in the US? In Canada Costco prescription glasses are horribly expensive.
- oscar_wong67 8y agoCheaper than a regular eyewear store though
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- danpalmer 8y agoU.K. tips, along similar lines... Most high street stores do free eye tests to get you in the door. The price will be around £20, but free vouchers in papers, leaflets, in store, online, etc, are very available. You could probably just ask for a free one. Alternatively, if you use a computer enough in your work, I believe your company is required to cover eye tests. Lastly, but online. Get your prescription from the store and don’t buy in store. Go to somewhere like Glasses Direct, a Warburg Parker equivalent for the U.K., and buy from their own brand ranges if you can. They are typically £25-100 for frames, and almost always buy one get one free. Between these tips, I tend to get a new pair of glasses and prescription sunglasses, with good lens coatings on both, and going for more fashionable frames, for about £120 all in (2 pairs). As a student I did this and was spending about £60, and that’s every 2 years or so as my eyes change and glasses break. Conversely I have family who spend £250+ a pop on the high street.