Prescription Glasses

[Rustic23]

My Zinni frames are of the $7-$12 range. I have broken the center brace on two pair. (I have ordered 6 pair over the years with multiple rx) I use the same frames, so I ordered new frames with clear glass. I think they charged me $3 a frame! That was four years ago, so things may have changed.

DW got glasses at Costco. When they measured her pupillary distance I ask them to check mine. It was the same distance I had come up with using Zinni's methods. By the way, my new glasses come with case, cleaning cloth, and device to measure pupillary distance.

This is the frame I use. It is Half Rim Bridge and Temples Bendable (Memory) Very light. $12.95
With bifocal about $38

My sun glass frame is similar to my Air Force sun glass frames. They were $9.95.Glasses: Bifocal without polarized lens $14.95! With polarized lens $67.95.

 

[Major Tom]

While I don't fully trust customer reviews, I do note that the individual frames on the Zenni site have a wide variability of ratings. The frame I've been ordering has 5 stars while some others have lower ratings. Based on my limited experience I'd suggest sticking with the frames others rate well.

That's a good bit of advice REW - thanks. 3 years of heavy use from such a reasonably-priced frame is great. At this point, they don't owe you anything.

I can't say the frames are as sturdy as some I have had. But they feel great on my face and look just as nice. I bought this pair to wear around the house for reading and watching the tube(bifocals). I found that I like them so much I wear everywhere except the golf course. I wear single lens there. Oh yes.....my bifocals are the bendable type, maybe that is why they don't seems as sturdy as some. Ha!

Those were my thoughts too - that even if the frames I will eventually get from Zenni aren't quite as sturdy as my former pair, considering the lower cost, I don't need to get as much service from them in order for them to represent good value.

 

[Major Tom]

My Zinni frames are of the $7-$12 range.

$7-$12? That much? Shocking!

 

[eytonxav]

I purchased my last pair from Costco, progressive lenses, thin line, coated, and with nice frames for $225 IIRC. Quality was good, and if there is a problem, you can deal with Costco locally to resolve vs a webstore.

 

[mickeyd]

Total cost was nearly $800.

Yikes.

So glad that the VA provides me with this eye care. Thank you fellow taxpayers.

 

[athena53]

I purchased my last pair from Costco, progressive lenses, thin line, coated, and with nice frames for $225 IIRC. Quality was good, and if there is a problem, you can deal with Costco locally to resolve vs a webstore.

Da*n. I was hoping for about half that. Maybe I'll get the everyday specs from Costco and the sunglasses from Zenni.

 

[Badger]

^ What he said.

I buy prescription bi-focals from Zenni for $40.

You can measure your pupillary distance by punching a couple of small (notebook paper size) holes in a piece of paper. Keep varying the distance between the holes until you can hold it up to your face and see clearly out of both holes, then measure the distance between the center of each hole.

Since both eyes are not always equal distance from your nose wouldn't you also have to know those numbers too?

Cheers!

 

[REWahoo]

Since both eyes are not always equal distance from your nose wouldn't you also have to know those numbers too?

Those numbers aren't available - protected by HIPAA.

 

[38Chevy454]

Just got an email from 39dollarglass.com, and you can get $15 off each pair of glasses this week. Code = LUCKY15 and good through 3/18
Prescription Glasses | Buy Discount Rx Eyeglasses from $39

 

[Dave J]

I just got 2 pair Zenni glasses, $87 for progressive sunglasses and $49 for progressive metal frame reg. glasses. My wife got her 3rd pair of Zenni glasses today also, $60 reg progessive. So far, they seem every bit as good as the Sears, Walmart, and private glasses shops I've used the last 20 years at maybe 1/3 to 1/4 the cost. My wife has had her 1st pair of Zenni's for 1 1/2 years with good luck. More work to learn and order online, but next order will be much easier. I would recommend checking them out.

 

[ohyes]

A friend recommended zenni.com, altho I thought she said denni.com. I texted that website to my daughter who needed new eyeglasses. Within minutes, i received back, OMG, Mom! I was cooking dinner so my husband Googled it and told me it was a porn site.

Anyway, my daughter has yet to try zenni. She likes glasses.com. Seems they will get your prescription information from your dr.

Our youngest ordered from zenni and really liked the eyeglasses. The frames broke within a month. He says he will try zenni again.

 

[eytonxav]

Da*n. I was hoping for about half that. Maybe I'll get the everyday specs from Costco and the sunglasses from Zenni.

My Rx is for coke bottles, so I wanted the thinnest and lightest plastic lenses. Also, it was a fully coated progressive lens, so these are more expensive. Compared to what you would pay at lens crafters or eye doctor, its a real bargain as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Slow But Steady]

My wife tried getting hers from Costco, and they couldn't make them. Her prescription is about -19, and Costco can only make to -15. So if you have REAL Coke bottle lenses, Costco might be out.

 

[happ]

Did any of you progressive wearers switch from varilux? I have worn varilux progressive's for 20 years. I've tried others and even Costco's but I never could get good results from them. I've always had to go back to the expensive varilux. Even with the varilux, last time, I had to go back 3 times before I got the right fit. I sure would like to be able to wear something less expensive but now not so sure anything else will work.

 

[W2R]

Sounds like I am the only person here who has worn glasses for over half a century and never had the slightest problem with any of my frames. They are all as sturdy as anyone could ever want. But then, I haven't been, you know, STANDING on my frames, using them for pole vaulting, or putting them through the heavy duty cycle in my washing machine. I can't imagine what you all are doing with your glasses to result in these problems.

The frames I got from 39-dollar-glasses seem perfectly sturdy to me. I need to donate them now, along with all of my other glasses. Since my cataract surgery, the only glasses I have used are $3 readers from Amazon. No problems with those frames, either.

 

[calmloki]

Omnifocal Glasses Could Focus On Whatever You're Looking At Automatically

"An Israeli company called Deep Optics thinks its new high-tech glasses lens can change that. The "omnifocals" have the ability to change their optical power in real time, allowing the wearer to look wherever he or she wants without limiting the field of view or compromising clarity.
The Deep Optics lenses work by incorporating a layer of transparent liquid crystal that can be changed by an electric current. The liquid can adjust the refractive index of the lens—the way it bends light passing through—to effectively change the prescription of the glasses according to the distance of the object your eyes are focusing on".


Some thoughts - you only think your frames are expensive now. These would be so great for working on stuff overhead - like wiring in ceiling lights. Cool idea though.

 

[Ronnieboy]

Omnifocal Glasses Could Focus On Whatever You're Looking At Automatically

"An Israeli company called Deep Optics thinks its new high-tech glasses lens can change that. The "omnifocals" have the ability to change their optical power in real time, allowing the wearer to look wherever he or she wants without limiting the field of view or compromising clarity.
The Deep Optics lenses work by incorporating a layer of transparent liquid crystal that can be changed by an electric current. The liquid can adjust the refractive index of the lens—the way it bends light passing through—to effectively change the prescription of the glasses according to the distance of the object your eyes are focusing on".


Some thoughts - you only think your frames are expensive now. These would be so great for working on stuff overhead - like wiring in ceiling lights. Cool idea though.

That is cool.

Too bad the power source is a 50 lb back pack.

ETA: Costco is where I go too, no problems in 16 years of going there.

 

[Amethyst]

Ha-ha, sounds funny, but you'd be surprised how we hoomans vary.

I actually have one ear higher than the other (no, you can't see it; my hair covers my ears). I've also been told that my eyes are different distances from my nose. What all this means is that my glasses have to be made of high enough quality materials, that the temples, nose-pieces, and the little connecting piece between the lenses can survive being bent to accommodate my unique characteristics. One nose-piece is about 1/2 centimeter higher than the other.

(My parents certainly didn't know this. They always bought me the cheapest glasses frames, which totally never fit. Most of the time, I simply went around without my glasses).

Therefore I've never ordered from the online retailers, since I doubt that their materials are equivalent quality to the titanium frames the optician sells. I do know that I break regular sunglasses rather quickly, because of having to bend the frames so they'll stay on my face!

Amethyst

Since both eyes are not always equal distance from your nose wouldn't you also have to know those numbers too?

Cheers!

 

[Dawg52]

I just had an eye exam and asked for the rx. The rx only lists the measurements for the following for the rt (right eye?) and the lt (left eye?) :

Sphere
Cylinder
Axis

Is this enough to order glasses on line? It's all greek to me.

My last order had an 'ADD' number as well. Not sure what that is. You will also have to measure the distance between your pupils. But that's about it.

 

[braumeister]

Add is the amount of extra magnification in the lower (reading) part of bifocals.

 

[REWahoo]

Therefore I've never ordered from the online retailers, since I doubt that their materials are equivalent quality to the titanium frames the optician sells.

I think you may be underestimating the quality of the frames available online.

While we've been touting the prices on some of the least expensive options, both Zenni and 39dollarglasses offer slightly more expensive titanium frames that are likely made by some the same suppliers your optician uses. Worth a look to price out a pair.

 

[Live And Learn]

I always get transition lenses but keep a pair of "wear-over" sunglasses in the car when the transitions just doing cut it (which is actually quite rare). The wear-overs come in many styles these days.

 

[Rustic23]

I wrote that two pair of my Zinni frame snapped at the bridge. I did not say it was entirely my fault! I put them in a front pocket of a pair of shorts and when I bent down it bent the frames at a 90 deg angle.

 

[RE2Boys]

I learned about Zenni on this board and several months ago ordered a new pair of no-line bifocals from Zenni. Too short to comment on durability but I see fine and they fit OK. $58 versus local optical shops wanted in mid-$200 range. After surgeries for cataract and torn retina, my eyes do not change much over time, the Zenni replace a twelve year old pair where the bows had deteriorated and my spare pair is even 9 years old.
For the pupillary distance, I had five people independently measure for me following Zenni instructions, they clustered around a certain value so I went with it. Intend to order another pair as a spare

 

[6miths]

i do Costco and have always been very satisfied. Last pair I got lens that darken with UV exposure which is good for outside but won't darken inside the car as UV doesn't penetrate glass. I got frames which have the magnetized clip-on sunglass. These are a nice feature in my mind. Can't really tell that it isn't just a pair of sunglasses as very well integrated into the frame. Great for driving so I just leave them in the car but also good on very bright days as the clip-on is darker.