Beauty

[Anniecamp]

Every eye dr. I've ever had down through the years, has told me that using over the counter readers is just fine, and I've got tricky eyes, as far as fluctuation, etc.

[ChynnaBlue]

I got mine from Glasses.com and love them. I used the smartphone App, which lets you take a picture of yourself that it converts to a 3D image you can use to virtually try on all the frames you want and in different colors. The app lets you turn your head to the side and tilt up or down to see different angles. It's not perfect, but it's really good. I used it to try on frames and then go buy similar frames in a local store and I ordered a spare pair through the app. I wasn't sure I'd like them, not having seen them in person, but I wear my "spare" internet pair every day.

[Deadeye Daisy]

I always get my frames online. A bulk of the cost of glasses is the cost of the frames. You have far more selection. You MUST know your measurements, though, particularly if progressive lenses are in the picture. No matter WHAT your local eye people try to tell you, if you don't have a lens area at least 38mm high, you WILL have issues with progressives.

You need to know the length of your ear pieces, size of bridge (nose), width, etc. Ear piece is about the only thing that can be adjusted with some frames. Eyeglass frames are like shoes - you buy them sized to fit when you get them. There is no such thing as 'they'll break in'.

You can actually obtain a gauge that you can use to measure all these things PROPERLY. Some optical offices will give you one if you ask.

[SchippyLuv]

I have been ordering from Zenni for years with great success. I wear Transitions progressives with additional correction for astigmatism. I've never paid more than $110 a pair. They would cost more than $400 if I bought them locally. Glasses are a huge rip off in this country - it's so sad really... So many families desperately need this service for their school aged children and they just don't know it exists.

[Feline Fine]

On 5/16/2014 happy housewife said:

I was discussing people buying eyeglasses over the internet with my friend's DIL who is an opthamologist - she said you can do more damage to your eyes if you do not have glasses that are fitted properly to your eyes and that can't be done PROPERLY over the internet. As much as I hate paying hundreds of dollars for glasses i would rather not take that gamble. She also highly discourages the use of "readers" people buy online or at the drugstore for the same reason.

When you order online, you must give them your right and left eye RX's, as well as both PD's (pupillary distances)

And as I mentioned here earlier, there are now several places that will let you try-on frames, so that you can go for comfort first and style/color second.

Plus, you can get opinions from friends and family, and with Warby Parker, you can get their staff's opinion as well as uploading photos of yourself, with the frames you're considering, onto their Facebook page as to get others' opinions.

With all of that help and tips from the optical store, plus physically trying as many frames as you'd like, as often as you wish for 5 straight days, you definitely can get a "proper" fit.

And the vendors have good return policies, so that you're not stuck with something that doesn't fit your needs.

As much as we may wish to, those of us with tight and very tight budgets, and some with a lack of access to transportation, can no longer afford to go to small independent stores and large chains, especially when some are lacking in quality and support.

[Feline Fine]

On 5/16/2014 Deadeye Daisy said:

I always get my frames online. A bulk of the cost of glasses is the cost of the frames. You have far more selection. You MUST know your measurements, though, particularly if progressive lenses are in the picture. No matter WHAT your local eye people try to tell you, if you don't have a lens area at least 38mm high, you WILL have issues with progressives.

You need to know the length of your ear pieces, size of bridge (nose), width, etc. Ear piece is about the only thing that can be adjusted with some frames. Eyeglass frames are like shoes - you buy them sized to fit when you get them. There is no such thing as 'they'll break in'.

You can actually obtain a gauge that you can use to measure all these things PROPERLY. Some optical offices will give you one if you ask.

Some places will measure and give you your pupillary distances & current frame measurements for free.

But most people can wear different sizes and shapes of frames, so you don't have to get exactly the same measurements as your current frames.

[Feline Fine]

Forgot to mention:

*39dollarglasses.com has been also recommended*

*for some of us, it's not the frames that are the most-expensive part of buying eyeglasses, it's the actual lenses*

For example, I have an extremely-strong RX script and need progressive lenses that are also high-index.

But I consider myself so very blessed that my eyes are currently healthy, and that there exist eyeglass lenses that can correct my vision issues. 8)

[kcladyz]

zenni

[just bee]

On 5/16/2014 SchippyLuv said:

I have been ordering from Zenni for years with great success. I wear Transitions progressives with additional correction for astigmatism. I've never paid more than $110 a pair. They would cost more than $400 if I bought them locally. Glasses are a huge rip off in this country - it's so sad really... So many families desperately need this service for their school aged children and they just don't know it exists.

Oh, don't get me started. It's the one thing that seems to have become more expensive over time. I discovered several years ago that I prefer frames made in Italy. Now they're getting hard to find.

But I had no idea until very recently that just about any frame I buy -- even one made in China -- I'm still sort of buying an Italian frame. Two Italian companies control prescription eyewear: Luxottica and Safilo.

Worse, when I moved to New Mexico I discovered that optometrists don't hand you your prescription when you get your eye exam. I haven't seen a prescription in almost 20 years. This weird law prevents me from going to an eye doctor, then buying a pair of glasses elsewhere. (Similar issue with trying to buy pet meds online in NM.)

So I go out every two years and pick out a pair of glasses at a price that equals most people's monthly mortgage. Then, using my vision insurance, they "drop" the price so I don't have to walk around with a specially trained German shepherd.

It's criminal!

And for SchippyLuv...