Eyeglass Prices: Reality check

[brad]

For those of you who wear prescription eyeglasses, what do you typically pay for a new pair of glasses?

I'm extremely nearsighted and my lenses have always run on the expensive side, but I bought a new pair of glasses recently and had sticker shock. I'm curious to see what other people typically pay for a new pair these days?

[DAvid]

Over $700 for lightweight progressives, 3 years ago.

[brad]

Originally Posted by DAvid

Over $700 for lightweight progressives, 3 years ago.

Okay, I don't feel so bad then. I paid a little over $700 for my glasses a few weeks ago, which is almost three times what I remember paying when I lived in the States...but that was over 10 years ago.

[stardancer]

A little over $300 for single vision, with transition lenses for my driving glasses; same price for reading glasses with anti-glare. I can't wear bifocals, as they make me dizzy, so if my prescription changes, I have to buy two pair.

[$1600 Gold by 2011]

I bought by last pair for ~ $100 online. If you know the specs you need, get them online. The website I use starts at $8 per pair... then you just add on all the upgrades you need. It's not a designer brand but I don't care. The quality is just fine.

[mogul777]

Depends on your prescription, etc. Two pairs including one with designer frames $510 end of 2007. Paid for with my health spending account...

[canabiz]

I paid $70 CAD for my current pair of glasses this past January while I was in Asia. I brought the prescription along, chose my frame and picked up the pair within 1 or 2 business days. It has all the features that you'd normally expect in a typical pair of glasses i.e. anti-glare, anti-scratch coating and thin lenses.

I also bought a pair of glasses from an online shop last year but I wasn't too pleased with the product. Sure the price was attractive but the frames didn't fit me the way I like it (even though I specifically targeted certain frames based on the dimensions from my previous pair). I find glasses are like shoes or other personal stuff, it's better when you try them out in person.

You can try Wal-Mart or Zellers or Sears instead of the dedicated eyeglasses shops like Lenscrafters or Laurier Optical.

[brad]

Okay, now I feel bad again

$250 is the most I ever paid for glasses in the past, and I figured there must be better deals out there. I bought glasses online once, but getting an optometrist to give me my pupilary distance was a bit of a challenge (they typically don't want to give it to you, because they know they're not going to get your business), and I think he intentionally gave me a misreading because the glasses I ordered online always felt a bit "off" in the prescription.

One problem I have is that my eyes are so bad that I can't choose new frames myself because I only see myself clearly if I stand three inches from the mirror, so I have to rely on the judgement of others. In this case the "others" thought I looked great in a pair of designer frames, but in future I'll try to avoid places that sell those.

(I know some eyeglass shops will take digital photos of you wearing different frames to help you choose, but for some reason that has never worked well for me either.)

My supplemental health insurance knocks $150 off the price of eyeglasses so my real cost was about $550, but that still seems like an awful lot of money.

[Alexandra]

My mom used to work for an eye doctor, who told her that the real cost of a contact lens was about 25 cents. That was kind of hard to swallow when I pay over $150 for a set of five contact lenses.

The next time I need them I am going to try ordering them at visiondirect.com

[Kathryn]

Originally Posted by brad

One problem I have is that my eyes are so bad that I can't choose new frames myself because I only see myself clearly if I stand three inches from the mirror, so I have to rely on the judgement of others.

My husband has the same issue. I've always had to pick out his glasses for him because he can't see himself try on a new pair and he doesn't wear contacts. Before I came into his life, his glasses were kind of nerdy.

My advice would be

a) It's worth spending money on a good pair of glasses. You wear them every day and they are a part of who you are and how you present yourself.

b) It's worth getting glasses at a 'real' store. They need to be fitted correctly. It sounds like your prescription is really strong. You need to wear them daily. It's worth spending the money to get a good pair .. ones that look nice and work!

c) You need to take your three closest stylish friends with you. If you don't have friends who are good at this type of thing, find someone at the office who wears nice things / looks great in their glasses and ask if they'll come with you to help choose a new pair. I would love to do this for others! Take them out for a coffee to thank them if you need to.

If you were wearing contacts or had a simple prescription, then yes, I'd consider ordering online. But in your case, I'd spend the money to get the right pair. Just be sure to bring someone you trust to help choose the frames.

His last pair was $650.