My wife is an optometrist, she makes a lot of money from people who order on-line and need remakes, not saying their all bad but there is some risk. Maybe the old saying buy once cry once applies. Going a bit further corporate optometry is pushing the tele-doc concept, she refuses and will quit if they force it on her.

I paid locally for the my general-use progressives, but ordered my single-vision driving glasses and single-vision PC/paperwork glasses from Zenni. I bought the cheapest frames - not hideous, but close. I've been very happy with both pairs. No breakage, no bad alignment, no problems.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I use multifocal lenses, thence the two numbers -- 66 is for the distant portion of the lens, 63 is the near.

Thank you for that, Mr. V-Tail.
I saw two PD numbers on my prescription and wondered about it. "Is the distance between two points different left-to-right versus right-to-left?"

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
COSTCO!

I have a computer set of glasses, work great, inexpensive frames and coated to control the UV from monitors.

Take your script to Costco, you can get sub $100 frames and good lens with the coatings.

Plus you have someone to fit the lens to your eyes, it's important that you have the correct information on your eyes positions as well as script, several posters have eluded to this crucial piece of information.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
I’ve seen the Warby Parker ads, but the closest store is about a two hour drive from here. (I’m kinda in the sticks…) I’ll check them out online in just a moment.

In the last hour-and-a-half, though, I’ve learned that there is an America’s Best store here in town — less than a ten-minute drive away. That’s the store who offered (online) the Oakley frame I want for just $99. “Lensed up,” the package is about half the price I got yesterday. I can tolerate that, I think.

They’ve got Saturday hours, so I believe I have a plan.. I’ll print the online quote and see if they can match it locally.

Even if they can't match it, you can at least try the frames & order online, and still have a local resource for adjustments

I sure hope they charge you for those adjustments. Places online are going to drive local businesses out.. those local businesses cannot afford to buy mass quantities of frames the way these online stores can, so local can’t afford to sell frames for less than cost, and their service staff (optician) is paid for the work they do - that is typically built into the purchase of the frame and lenses. If they are adjusting a pair of glasses that they did not sell, I really hope they charge you for it because otherwise the owner is losing his ass on someone who doesn’t care enough to keep his business alive.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
I use multifocal lenses, thence the two numbers -- 66 is for the distant portion of the lens, 63 is the near.

Thank you for that, Mr. V-Tail.
I saw two PD numbers on my prescription and wondered about it. "Is the distance between two points different left-to-right versus right-to-left?"

I only used one PD for my progressives, I don't think Zenni has an option for two PD's

I've been a happy customer of GlassesShop.com for over a decade. The Rx have always been spot on with local pros verifying.

And FWIW they do allow different PDs for each eye. I upload my optometrist's RX to their site.

quote:

Originally posted by 08 Cayenne:
My wife is an optometrist, she makes a lot of money from people who order on-line and need remakes, not saying their all bad but there is some risk. Maybe the old saying buy once cry once applies. Going a bit further corporate optometry is pushing the tele-doc concept, she refuses and will quit if they force it on her.

I just had my eye exam and got my glasses locally. I don't trust them fitting the frames, nor do I trust the quality of the lenses. Beyond that, those "$99.00" glasses routinely turn into a few hundred after all of my needs are added in.

I'm hard on glasses and frequently I'm going back to get them tightened up. I probably pay more for the brick and mortar feature but I get piece of mind.

quote:

Originally posted by irreverent:

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
I’ve seen the Warby Parker ads, but the closest store is about a two hour drive from here. (I’m kinda in the sticks…) I’ll check them out online in just a moment.

In the last hour-and-a-half, though, I’ve learned that there is an America’s Best store here in town — less than a ten-minute drive away. That’s the store who offered (online) the Oakley frame I want for just $99. “Lensed up,” the package is about half the price I got yesterday. I can tolerate that, I think.

They’ve got Saturday hours, so I believe I have a plan.. I’ll print the online quote and see if they can match it locally.

Even if they can't match it, you can at least try the frames & order online, and still have a local resource for adjustments

I sure hope they charge you for those adjustments. Places online are going to drive local businesses out.. those local businesses cannot afford to buy mass quantities of frames the way these online stores can, so local can’t afford to sell frames for less than cost, and their service staff (optician) is paid for the work they do - that is typically built into the purchase of the frame and lenses. If they are adjusting a pair of glasses that they did not sell, I really hope they charge you for it because otherwise the owner is losing his ass on someone who doesn’t care enough to keep his business alive.

Well, if you order from America's Best, online. Then go to the local store to get them adjusted...

Warby is the same way, you can order in house, or online, and take them to the local Warby for adjustments.

Earlier this year we discovered my youngest daughter has really bad vision. She is 7. I ordered 2 pair of back-up glasses from eyebuydirect with her prescription, figuring it was a matter of time before the nicer expensive ones would get broken or lost.. again, she's only 7.

It was $65 total for both pair. She says they aren't as comfortable as the ones she picked out at the doctors office, but that is to be expected when you can try them on beforehand. So far I'm quite happy with the price and quality, I'd purchase them again.

DO you have to be a Costco member, or is it open to anyone like the pharmacy?

quote:

Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:

DO you have to be a Costco member, or is it open to anyone like the pharmacy?

The Costco location near my house has two separate optical services:

1. Optometrist, who does eye exam and writes prescription, and
   
   
2. Eyeglass dispensing department, that sells the glasses.

You can use the optometrist without a Costco membership. I'm not sure about the department that sells the glasses, but I think that you have to be a Costco member, just like you have to be a member to buy hearing aids.

im kind of a snob when it comes to glasses. I buy name brand frames. My go to is glasses USA. usually oakleys. The frames never seem to wear out. my wife gets hers from Zenni but they are flimsy and i refuse to go that route

I have been buying online

I get my prescription locally from a very good eye doctor who understands what I need for a
shooting glasses prescription.

(I also take my gun with me to the appointment to make sure I get the proper front site focus)

I then send the prescription to Hunters HD Gold
Who will put that prescription into their frames or you send them your frames to put the prescription into.

I have been very pleased with what they have to offer Hunters or Sport Shooters.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin101:
im kind of a snob when it comes to glasses. I buy name brand frames. My go to is glasses USA. usually Oakleys. The frames never seem to wear out. my wife gets hers from Zenni but they are flimsy and i refuse to go that route

Yep, I'm sold on the Oakley frames -- I've had several pairs, and that's what I'm looking at now. (Barrelhound 0.5, for what it's worth.)
Light, comfortable, durable... I haven't gone wrong with them yet.

quote:

Originally posted by RC:
(I also take my gun with me to the appointment to make sure I get the proper front site focus)

My eye doc and I get along great, but I'm not sure I could get away with that one.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

quote:

Originally posted by RC:
(I also take my gun with me to the appointment to make sure I get the proper front site focus)

My eye doc and I get along great, but I'm not sure I could get away with that one.

I just extend my arm, point, and tell the doc that the front sight is about 5cm past my finger tip.

I've been using zenni for a decade now. I've got a fairly strong perception I have zero intention of going elsewhere.

So. I visited the America’s Best store nearby this afternoon. The frame I want is discontinued. (Grr.)

It’s available in a different color (and still on sale), but not on hand in the store. We’ll see what happens when it arrives….

I have Oakley sunglasses from SportRX. No issues. Very simple process.

Got my eye exam at the VA optometrist, their frames are okay buy not what I was looking for. Ordered my Raybans with transitions from Americas Best online. Perfect fit and really happy with the price. Have ordered online from others before and I guess I have been lucky, been happy with all of them. Key thing to remember is to use the numbers on the frame. Usually 3 digits, with size of lenses, gap on the bridge and length of arms. I have used one set of numbers that I know work on my big melon head. If they do not have them on glasses I have seen online I do not order them because I know they will not fit. I measured my own PD based on a video I saw online and it matched what my Optometrist measured.