The optometrist recommended seamless bifocals. I have a very painful nerve condition in my face (atypical trigeminal neuralgia), so this is what I need with glasses: the lightest weight frames possible- known as ultra light- with the lightest weight lenses possible and automatically darkening lenses so I don’t need the weight of sunglasses. The cheapest frames brought the total to $250 on the site the insurance worked with.
The frames are $20 on the cheap site. Everything else in the cost is the lenses.
As for why I have to buy them online- I don’t want anyone touching my face unless it’s absolutely necessary. The exam was painful enough.
American for-profit healthcare is fucking awesome.
I’m an ABOA advanced optician, I’ve helped with lens designs, I’ve made my own line of frames, worked with every insurance company, and know the technical details of virtually every product on the market.
If it’s going to cost the same either way, do not get the online glasses. The 250 in store is discounted from probably 1200$, and the difference is immediately noticable.
The online glasses will not be measured to fit you properly, the focal point will be a best guess, which makes progressives have a ton of distortion, the frame won’t be adjusted and have no standards of material and shitty spring hinges, the transitions will be an old off brand composited lens that will delaminate after some time, the antireflective will be the cheapest, smudging crap possible, and the lenses will be thicker and heavier.
Go to a local optical, not any chain you’ve ever heard of. No corporate execs to pay means actual paid professionals helping you see better, as opposed to collision salesman trying to rip you off.
Online glasses are for single vision rx’s for children, not anybody who really needs glasses.
I don’t feel like quoting or typing out responses, so I’ll just hit your points.
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No they’re fucking not. Not even close. There’s 200+ different manufacturers, and even individual lines from the same companies have wildly different qualities. I would know, since I work with them every day, go to several trade shows every year and didn’t get my info from Google.
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Survivorship bias, and you just noted you don’t wear them.
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This point is attempting to imply there is no difference in products, which there absolutely is.
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My line of frames is not a “big name”, and was only sold in 54 offices in 4 countries when I had them manufactured in 2021. There is no benefit to me for anyone to go to any store other than the two I own, you’ll never bump into my line, which I don’t make money from anyway.
I’m glad you watched a video once, but this is my profession and I know better than you.
Man, I wish this was always true.
Here in BC/Canada, our healthcare doesn’t cover glasses, and our 3rd party providers only cover $2-300 every 2 years for glasses.
My last job had a $500 yearly flex-spend coverage, which I used to buy $600 glasses (mainly lenses cost-wise) with all the options/coatings/transitions/blue light filter/etc from the local eye clinic, and honestly the lenses are not great, and after less than 3 years the coating is bubbling in horizontal lines across the entire lens.
Honestly though, been regretting getting glasses with the blue light filter for the past 2 years anyways, nothing feels vibrant anymore and i swear it has been negatively affecting my mood, and i have noticed zero difference in eye strain levels.
Blue light filters have a purpose, but it isn’t eye strain. That’s just marketing bullshit from people who don’t know it’s purpose or can’t be bothered to translate it to laymen.
It’s purpose is to protect your retina from damage that accumulates throughout your life. It’s to protect you from developing macular degeneration. It does nothing anyone will notice, it’s more like sunblock, except you can’t feel the burn.
Also if someone sells you shit products, go to someone better if possible. But avoid chains at all costs.
So life loses vibrancy, but my retinas stay in slightly better shape when I’m 80? Sounds like future me problem then, definitely have no interest in trying again with a different pair after my next eye exam.
Unfortunately every eye doctor in this province (or at least not a 13 hour drive away) is associated with a chain, with I think a single exception that is referral only. So the best I can do is get an eye exam, demand my detailed results, and do my best to order glasses that fit comfortably.
Wait, the blue tint actually does something? Everyone kept telling me to get it because sCrEeNs BaD but I wanted the clearest vision possible. Couldn’t find anything online saying the blue tint wasn’t useless so saved myself the $30.
I got mine for $30, they can make them mute expensive, but for just glasses, it’s perfect.
When I got LASIK I wasn’t allowed to wear contacts for a few weeks before the surgery. I bought the cheapest pair of glasses from Zenni. I had new glasses for $17 + $10 shipping.
If I had to do it again I would have my IPD measured by a proper optometrist first. I just guessed at it and got ones a little too small, so they had a kind of fisheye effect.
Still, for <$30 it was a great bargain
I got mine with their HD lenses, no-line bifocals with antiglare coating, and the total came to $135 shipped.
I bought one pair from them and they were pretty crummy. Also getting the pupillary distance is tricky.
Measuring your own PD is ehhh. You can have the optometrist give you PD at your exam.
If you take care of the you should be good for at least 5 years
$250 for a subscription prescription glasses? WTF, are y’all Midas down there or something?
lol you’re trolling, right? Are your glasses made of pure kryptonite or what? Even a high-end titanium frame costs $100-$150, regular stuff is well below that. The best prescription lens with all the features like anti scratch or anti blue light or UV-blocking and whatnot would cost no more than $30 each.
