Outrageous cost of eyeware

[workmyfingerstothebone]

Went to optometrist today, insurance allows for $150 plus 20% off over the allowance for frames and progressive lenses run $80 to $160.

The eye exam has $20 copay and $25 to $50 copay for glasses.

I started looking at frames and yikes $250+. That doesn’t include lens.
The wife found a pair and the cost (frames & lens) would have been $170 after insurance.

My premiums are $240 a year.

This Prices strike me as unusually high. Maybe I’m cheap but what are others paying?
I’m thinking drop the insurance and use the savings to pay for exam and glasses. Year one the wife gets hers, year two I get mine and then repeat.

Don’t see a benefit to the insurance.

 

[flintnational]

I have never tried them, but Clark Howard recommends Zenni optical.

 

[MissMolly]

I think you will find a lot of us here use Zenni Optical or other on-line providers. Their glasses are great and prices amazing.

https://www.zennioptical.com


ETA: LOL - Flintnational beat me to it.

 

[pb4uski]

That's nothing... IIRC my last pair of frames and lenses were $600. Now to be fair, I have had those frames for about 10 years... since I retired 6 1/2 years ago, I have had annual eye exams but my prescription has changed much... I did change lenses about 5 years ago.

 

[Bamaman]

By the way, the person that escorts you through the optometrist's office is not a nurse. She's a high paid commission sales person.

Just try to get out the front door with your paper prescription for glasses. You might have to get nasty with her to get the script.

 

[OldShooter]

There is a fairly successful monopoly, Loxottica (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxottica) that has been holding prices up to ridiculous levels. Their dominance is starting to break down, however, due to suppliers in China who massively undercut them.

I have bought from several Chinese suppliers, typically single-vision prescription glasses for reading and computer. I easily get them on sale because I am not fussy about the frames. I have often paid $25 + shipping for two pair.

There also US vendors that have end-run Luxottica. Zenni is one and there are several others. I have used JEMOptical successfully. Costco and Walmart, too, appear to be avoiding Luxottica pricing.

One thing to watch is charges for extras like hard coatings and anti-reflective coatings. These are quite cheap to manufacture but some of the low cost suppliers are gouging for them in order to goose their margins.

GlassyEyes | Find Your Next Affordable Eyeglasses Online is not being maintained any more but many/most of the supplier names you find there still seem to be around. Check there.

 

[Conundrum]

Do you have a Costco in your area? I just got a pair of progressive lenses in a basic frame for about $180 all in.

The last pair was about $100 more because the most comfortable frame happened to be name brand (Mont Blanc). The frame is very well built though. I think I will be able to reuse the frame for a number of lens changes though.

They had a full titanium frame Kirkland house brand frame for $80
But they discontinued it. Real sturdy an super light.

 

[bclover]

so I'm going to be the outlier here. I've been wearing glasses since I was 10. they are the first thing a person will see on me. Most likely I will have the same pair for at least 5 years, many time it will be more like decades.

Yes I will spend a few extra bucks so that they are stylish and comfortable. Yes I will spend a few extra bucks so I don't have to get the same square silver framed rims that everybody and their mama has.

my latest pair I paid about 400 bucks for the frames. I love them and in fact got the new prescription put in.

 

[Go-NoGo]

There is a fairly successful monopoly, Loxottica (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxottica) that has been holding prices up to ridiculous levels. Their dominance is starting to break down, however, due to suppliers in China who massively undercut them.
Check there.

+1

There was a similar thread in ER a few months(?) where I posted a reply.
Here it is:


The market for eyeglasses and Lenses is mostly owned by one company - Luxottica. They have acquired most of their competitors and markups for lenses and frames run around 1000%

LA Times ran a story: "How badly are we being ripped off on eyewear? Former industry execs tell all"

https://www.latimes.com/business/la...afters-luxottica-monopoly-20190305-story.html

"..The company’s owned and licensed brands include Armani, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, Chanel, Coach, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana, Michael Kors, Oakley, Oliver Peoples, Persol, Polo Ralph Lauren, Ray-Ban, Tiffany, Valentino, Vogue and Versace.

Along with LensCrafters, Luxottica also runs Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Sunglass Hut and Target Optical, as well as the insurer EyeMed Vision Care"

it's an eye opener

 

[workmyfingerstothebone]

+1

There was a similar thread in ER a few months(?) where I posted a reply.
Here it is:


The market for eyeglasses and Lenses is mostly owned by one company - Luxottica. They have acquired most of their competitors and markups for lenses and frames run around 1000%

https://www.latimes.com/business/la...afters-luxottica-monopoly-20190305-story.html

"..The company’s owned and licensed brands include Armani, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, Chanel, Coach, DKNY, Dolce & Gabbana, Michael Kors, Oakley, Oliver Peoples, Persol, Polo Ralph Lauren, Ray-Ban, Tiffany, Valentino, Vogue and Versace.

Along with LensCrafters, Luxottica also runs Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, Sunglass Hut and Target Optical, as well as the insurer EyeMed Vision Care"

it's an eye opener

I thought monopolies were not allowed ........

 

[bingybear]

I've used eye buy direct for no line bifocals with no-name transitions. About $130 all in.

Glasses have been high for a very long time.

 

[Dawg52]

I have never tried them, but Clark Howard recommends Zenni optical.

I've used them on several pairs. Only one I did not like. Cost roughly $40-60 depending on specs.

 

[ziggy29]

In the past I had some really good employer-provided vision insurance that covered almost all of the cost of glasses. Now our standard medical insurance covers regular eye exams but not the eyewear itself. I have a slightly updated prescription from my last exam, and if I decide I need the small extra help from the changed prescription, I plan to go to Costco to see what they can do. It'll be interesting to see what the $500 glasses I'm wearing now will cost there with a replacement to roughly equivalent specs. Pretty sure it won't be $500.

 

[TrvlBug]

My problem is allergies that cause extreme facial pain from pressure of eyeglasses. Therefore, I had no choice except $$$ eyeglasses. Costco doesn't carry (or didn't) titanium frames. Fortunately I developed a very aggressive type of cataract that necessitated surgery in my 50s. I opted for monovision and was able to toss my glasses .

ETA: I think 60 Minutes did an expose on Luxottica about a year or so ago.

 

[Brat]

I agree that the price of glasses is excessive.

I need a rather complicated lens (with prism) and like to sleep in my glasses. The frames at Costco didn't thrill me (although I am over 75 I am still vain), Warby Parker has a shop a few blocks away but I went to Kaiser's Vision Essentials next (you don't need to be a Kaiser subscriber). There I found a frame I liked - Silhouette - probably the most expensive they offer. A bit poorer but happy with the result. By comparison, my health insurance offers a discount at specific glasses stores, the price they gave me for my lens alone was only a couple dollars cheaper than my Silhouette frames and lens at Vision Essentials.

Vision Essentials has periodic road shows (vendors offer discounts), look at their website to see if one is scheduled in your area.

It pays to shop around.

 

[Bestwifeever]

DH just received a $233 pair of glasses from 39dollarglasses.com . Clear frames, with no line progressive bifocal prescription, astigmatism correction, and transition lenses to up the price. With a simple prescription and the same frames, the cost would have been $59. He loves them.

Eye exam from Costco was $69, I think.

My cataract surgery a few years ago means I buy reading glasses at Costco, about $6 a pair.

 

[Amethyst]

Not Rx lenses, but I found this site which sells replacement lenses for higher-end sunglasses (I have Oakleys):

https://www.revantoptics.com/

I just replaced my scratched polarized lenses for $42, instead of a whole new pair of sunglasses for $200.00.

 

[Octogirl]

I use Zenni Optical and LOVE it. Very easy. I need progressive lens and have mods for astigmatism. No problem - Good quality. No eye fatigue.

 

[Buckeye]

Do you have a Costco in your area? I just got a pair of progressive lenses in a basic frame for about $180 all in.

The last pair was about $100 more because the most comfortable frame happened to be name brand (Mont Blanc). The frame is very well built though. I think I will be able to reuse the frame for a number of lens changes though.

They had a full titanium frame Kirkland house brand frame for $80
But they discontinued it. Real sturdy an super light.

I will second that Costco is the best value and quality for eyeglasses and contacts. I also use their in-house, independent optometrist who is awesome. DH and I buy no-line progressives with anti-glare and anti-scratch coating and Transitions (turn dark in the sun). The last pair I bought about 6 months ago cost $240 ($60 for frames, $180 for the souped up lenses). You also have 30 days to change to another set of frames which I had to do this time (too heavy). Salaried and experienced people staff the optical department who are happy to re-align or just clean your glasses for you for free!

My prior Costco pair had funky frames that kept cracking the corner of my right lens. I could have swapped the frame out for another style but I loved them and Costco replaced that lens 3 times for free.

 

[FreeBear]

DH just received a $233 pair of glasses from 39dollarglasses.com . Clear frames, with no line progressive bifocal prescription, astigmatism correction, and transition lenses to up the price. With a simple prescription and the same frames, the cost would have been $59. He loves them.

Eye exam from Costco was $69, I think.

My cataract surgery a few years ago means I buy reading glasses at Costco, about $6 a pair.

I use Zenni Optical and LOVE it. Very easy. I need progressive lens and have mods for astigmatism. No problem - Good quality. No eye fatigue.

Getting an exam at Costco sounds like a good idea. Did they give you a hard time if you just got the exam only and walked out with your script??

I love the idea of buying the hardware online but I've struggle with fit and comfort even with in-store expensive retailers. My last pair cost, I'm embarassed to say, $800, even after "insurance". They are absolutely wonderful though.

Now that I'm retired, I'm much more reluctant to drop that kind of dough. I'm more motivated and have for time to try alternatives.

This year, the theme has been unloading overpriced stuff that doesn't make me happy. First the rental cable box (bought my own), then ported by AT&T mobile to Consumer Cellular. Glasses may be next...

 

[gerntz]

Do you have a Costco in your area? I just got a pair of progressive lenses in a basic frame for about $180 all in.

The last pair was about $100 more because the most comfortable frame happened to be name brand (Mont Blanc). The frame is very well built though. I think I will be able to reuse the frame for a number of lens changes though.

They had a full titanium frame Kirkland house brand frame for $80
But they discontinued it. Real sturdy an super light.

Yes. Just bought progressive glasses & sunglasses at Costco. Approx $325 taking the $40 discount for 2nd pair. Got Ti frame for regular lenses - same frame as previous pair, different perscription. Suns frame is nice looking to me.

Net, not at all outrageous to me. OK, compared to $10 cheaters, outrageous.

 

[ransil]

I got tired of paying $200 on top of my insurance for glasses, i shop zenni now $60 submit it to insurance and i get $7 back. I get no more than 2 years out of my glasses, I'm a little ruff on them.

 

[audreyh1]

Getting an exam at Costco sounds like a good idea. Did they give you a hard time if you just got the exam only and walked out with your script??

They just give you the script to fill yourself.

 

[fh2000]

Getting an exam at Costco sounds like a good idea. Did they give you a hard time if you just got the exam only and walked out with your script??

Though Costco eye exam office and staff are right outside of eyewear station, they do not appear to be Costco employees. Once you receive the script, you will need to pull a number and wait for the eyewear station employees to call your number, while you browse all the eye glasses and pick one you like.

If you do not see any glasses to your liking, you can simply walk out or continue your costco shopping. No one will stop you.

 

[FreeBear]

They just give you the script to fill yourself.

Though Costco eye exam office and staff are right outside of eyewear station, they do not appear to be Costco employees. Once you receive the script, you will need to pull a number and wait for the eyewear station employees to call your number, while you browse all the eye glasses and pick one you like.

If you do not see any glasses to your liking, you can simply walk out or continue your costco shopping. No one will stop you.

Thanks, just what I was looking for! Been a Costco member for years. Sure beats the 1 hr drive to my old place to drop $ 600- 800 for my glasses and $300+ for DW's contacts!

How much do contacts run at Costco, mono-vision (one eye for near, other for far)?