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Are the Costco progressive eyeglass lenses any good?

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July 02, 2025, 09:46 AM
ranger312
Are the Costco progressive eyeglass lenses any good?
I have had Verilux progressives for 35 years. The last pair developed a dime-size spot on the right lens that looks like "krackle" paint. Th optician said they were defective and they were replaced under warranty. The replacements lasted about 3 months and the same thing happened (right lens only). It was past the 2 yr warranty so they wouldnt do anything.

I need to buy new ones and I dont feel like going back to Verilux again. Are the Costco ones any good? The are about 1/3 of the price.
July 02, 2025, 09:50 AM
konata88
I'm interested in this.

My impression is that there are only a few labs in any given area that fills lens orders across all optometrists in the area. If so, may not matter where you go, it's the same set of labs. The variability will be between labs (crap shoot?) and region.




"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy
"A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book
July 02, 2025, 09:56 AM
btanchors
I wonder if it's the lense that's defective, or any coatings that may have been applied to the lense.

Can you tell if it is one or the other?

I have been wearing glasses for 57 years. The last couple of pairs I have had the coatings have disappointed me - they don't seem to be as durable as they once were.

Can you tell me how you clean your lenses?
July 02, 2025, 09:59 AM
tatortodd
I have only bought glasses from Costco one time in my life and it was progressives. I liked them at first, but one of the coatings started delaminating. It wasn't a scratch but instead it was little chunks of coating coming off the lens and eventually one of the chunks was Dead center in my field division.

I had purchased them at Costco while living in Canada and then my employer moved me back to the United States. The delamination started after I moved back to the USA. Costco USA wouldn't stand behind them and and new glasses were cheaper than flying back to Canada so I purchased new glasses from someone else despite the old glasses being less than a year old.

I have been a Costco member for 23 years and it was my only bad experience with Costco.



Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.
July 02, 2025, 10:04 AM
BigSwede
Not Costco

I have two pair from Zenni, they have been great. They both were right at $100 a piece

Zenni is also wear I get prescription sunglasses. I save a crapload of $$$$



July 02, 2025, 10:07 AM
konata88
The problem I have w/ costco is that, afaik, they don't let you specify lens source.

I have options with my optometrist and can specify Zeiss, Seiko, Hoya and other lens manufacturers.

I've been using Hoya Phoenix (Trivex) w/ Hoya coatings for a long time with no complaints.

Not sure what Costco chooses to fill your Rx.




"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy
"A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book
July 02, 2025, 10:19 AM
irreverent
quote:
Originally posted by konata88:
The problem I have w/ costco is that, afaik, they don't let you specify lens source.

I have options with my optometrist and can specify Zeiss, Seiko, Hoya and other lens manufacturers.

I've been using Hoya Phoenix (Trivex) w/ Hoya coatings for a long time with no complaints.

Not sure what Costco chooses to fill your Rx.

All of those lenses listed above come from great manufacturers. Costco does not use those, which is why they are so much cheaper.


__________________________

"Trust, but verify."
July 02, 2025, 10:54 AM
7iron
I purchased a pair of sunglasses from Costco w/ prescription progressive lenses about three years ago--still going strong.

Just bought a pair of everyday glasses w/ progressives about a month ago. Good so far.


The most effective safety is between your ears
July 02, 2025, 10:57 AM
Dzozer
I have purchased my last six pairs of progressive eyeglasses from Costco - I have not had any problems... I actually just ordered an new pair that should be arriving next week.
My insurance is EyeMed, which sucks and Costco is not in their network. The thing is, If I go to an EyeMed provider, even with the insurance added in, Costco is still cheaper... I can get two pairs of glasses at Costco for just a bit more than the one pair through the EyeMed provider.



'veritas non verba magistri'
July 02, 2025, 11:09 AM
BB61
quote:
Originally posted by ranger312:
I have had Verilux progressives for 35 years. The last pair developed a dime-size spot on the right lens that looks like "krackle" paint. Th optician said they were defective and they were replaced under warranty. The replacements lasted about 3 months and the same thing happened (right lens only). It was past the 2 yr warranty so they wouldnt do anything.

I need to buy new ones and I dont feel like going back to Verilux again. Are the Costco ones any good? The are about 1/3 of the price.


I have had them for years with no issues. My only issue is the FOV is a little narrow so playing the piano requires more head movement than normal.


__________________________

July 02, 2025, 12:12 PM
HRK
I've had two sets, when the script changed I updated with new lens, no delamination of any coatings on either. Same for my wife.

We just ordered her two new pairs last month, and I ordered a set of prescription sun glasses as the transition lens don't darken when driving, FL sun can be brutal on your eyes.

Costco changed lens manufacturers in Oct of 2024

Service is excellent, product is very good, and it's not expensive.
July 02, 2025, 04:31 PM
ranger312
quote:
Originally posted by btanchors:
I wonder if it's the lense that's defective, or any coatings that may have been applied to the lense.

Can you tell if it is one or the other?

I have been wearing glasses for 57 years. The last couple of pairs I have had the coatings have disappointed me - they don't seem to be as durable as they once were.

Can you tell me how you clean your lenses?


Ive always cleaned with eyeglass cleaner or soap and water, then dried with Kleenex tissue (no lotion). If I'm out and about, I will use those specual eyeglass cleaner cloths.

Costco used to get their lenses from Hoya. Now they are made by Hoya but under Korkland brand.

I suspect it is a coating issue but have no way of knowing for sure.
July 02, 2025, 04:54 PM
V-Tail
quote:
Originally posted by btanchors:

Can you tell me how you clean your lenses?
We use a spray bottle filled mostly with water, and a few drops of Dawn to clean the lenses, followed by a thorough rinse with cool water.



הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים
July 02, 2025, 05:06 PM
konata88
i use the bausch and lomb Sight Savers wipes. Convenient for home and carry use. Work well.




"Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it." L.Tolstoy
"A government is just a body of people, usually, notably, ungoverned." Shepherd Book
July 02, 2025, 09:21 PM
fwbulldog
The progressives I bought from Costco ended up very scratched and the coating peeled.

I think they lasted 2 years. Still cheaper than I can get them from my normal optometrist.


_________________________
You do NOT have the right to never be offended.
July 03, 2025, 07:42 AM
bettysnephew
I have been wearing a pair of COSTCO photochromic Rx intermittently for about three years. The first pair I got, the Rx was slightly off. They were very good about a rapid replacement. The second Rx was correct. I have worn this pair alternately with glasses from my normal provider. I am not particularly happy with the frame fit but don't know if it is because the frame is too flexible or if the person doing the fitting made a mistake in sizing. It isn't too bad, just not as good as I am used to wearing. I don't think I will buy from COSTCO again but they did supply them quickly when I was in need and the price was reasonable. I have stayed with using these glasses due to the convenience of the auto tint during Summer months but again, the fit could be better.



The “POLICE"
Their job Is To Save Your Ass,
Not Kiss It

The muzzle end of a .45 pretty much says "go away" in any language - Clint Smith
July 03, 2025, 10:51 AM
Tejas421
I’ve acquired several progressive pairs from Costco and have liked them.
July 03, 2025, 11:07 AM
Pizza Bob
quote:
Originally posted by ranger312:
The last pair developed a dime-size spot on the right lens that looks like "krackle" paint.


After my cataract surgery I still required glasses to correct for a slight amount of astigmatism (mine was so bad that the toric lenses could not correct it all) and for close vision.

Decided to have the lenses for the new glasses made of Trivex so I wouldn't need another pair of shooting glasses. So, Trivex, progressive, Transitions lenses in my old frames - $700.

A little more than a year later I put my glasses in the overhead eyeglass compartment in my car as I wore my sunglasses that day. Ambient temp that day never went above 78 degrees. When I put on my regular glasses, everything was fuzzy. I tried all kinds of cleaning regimens, all to no avail.

Took them to the optician who took one look at them and pronounced: "Heat Crazing"....huh?

I've worn glasses for 65 years and had never encountered anything like this. I did some research and found that lenses that had an anti-reflective coating applied may exhibit this - it occurs because the the lenses and the coating expand and contract at different rates causing crazing of the coating.

Even though I was slightly beyond the warranty, my optician replaced the lenses (there is no saving the crazed ones) for a nominal fee ($100).

Now I'm snakebit - afraid to leave my glasses anywhere where they may be exposed to even a modicum of heat. Not sure if the same phenomena applies to other lens coatings or just the anti-reflective.

Adios,

Pizza Bob


NRA Benefactor Member
July 03, 2025, 11:10 AM
Broadside
quote:
Are the Costco progressive eyeglass lenses any good?


I've been wearing my pair for about a year and a half now. I am very happy with them.

The person who waited on me knew how to measure segment height. No signs of the coating failing.
July 03, 2025, 11:39 AM
4MUL8R
Yes. Limited choices of lenses, frames and control of the supply chain makes them very affordable. Wore mine for years. Look for frames made by SAKAI as these are truly made in Japan (at least they were a few years ago). If not SAKAI, look on the earpieces for "Made In Italy" to ensure higher quality. Avoid all materials made in that antagonistic oligarchy.


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Trying to simplify my life...