Cheap Glasses - other than Costco

[Not Afraid]

So, last night at about 1am, Libby decided killy Eeyore wasn't enough and decided to kill my eyeglasses. She decimated them completely before I woke up. No parts of these glasses are slavagable. :(

These were my beloved Nicole Miller black frames that I JUST got sunglass clips for. I called mu optomotrist this morning and found out that they will be $300 to replace. OUCH!

Puppy's Mommy has offered to kick in to replace them, but still, that's a lot of money. My insurance won't kick in for new frames until December.

So, I'm looking at options. I have always gotten my frames from my optomotrist and have no clue about some of the cheaper places. I have basic lenses, but need anti-glare coating and I have to have sunglasses (and Transitions don't work for me).

Any suggestions? Should I search around or just bite the bullit and get what I love?

PS. I don't have a Costco membership and have no desire to get one.

[scaeagles]

Go with laser eye sugery. My wife is going to her consultation next Monday, looking at the procedure iself in July. In the long run you will definitely save money.

[BarTopDancer]

LensCrafters has decent lenses and glasses. They also offer a discount for certain insurances even if your insurance won't kick anything in. They also throw discount coupons into the Sunday paper.

Target has a good selection but I have no idea what their prices are like.

[Stan4dSteph]

Lens Crafters? They've supposedly increased their stock of designer frames, and are aiming more at people who want fashionable eyewear.

[Ghoulish Delight]

If Costco does have selection and prices that work for you, you can always just go with someone who does have a membership.

[Not Afraid]

Well, I should've just talked to Chris first. Since we can put this on our spending account - and I got the optomotrist to give me 20% off, I'm just going to order the same frames and lenses as before. I did some looking at lens crafters and, for frames that I would actually wear AND order clips, it would be almost as much. Libby's Mommy said she would chip in as well. Still, it pisses me off - I don't care how cute she is.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Still, it pisses me off - I don't care how cute she is.Can I interest you in a slightly nibbled E-Ticket magazine?

[Not Afraid]

I'll trade you for a completely chewed Lonly Planet Singapore.

[Prudence]

Looks like you solved this, but I always recommend going with what you really want. If you get cheaper ones you don't love, you'll think about that every time you wear them. Which, with glasses, is a lot.

(You don't even want to know what mine cost.)

[Not Afraid]

Well, Chris' were between $700 and $800, so I'm glad his wern't distroyed.

[scaeagles]

Yet another reason to rid yourself of the evil cat creatures.

[€uroMeinke]

Well, Chris' were between $700 and $800, so I'm glad his wern't distroyed.

Heh, of course much of my costs were attributed more to my "maturing" lens needs than the costs of the frames

[Not Afraid]

Ummmm, it was an evil puppy that ate my glasses. Cats are better behaved than that.

[€uroMeinke]

Yet another reason to rid yourself of the evil cat creatures.

More a reason why we won't be getting a dog anytime soon, though there are others...

[Not Afraid]

Don't be so sure. :evil:

[scaeagles]

Ummmm, it was an evil puppy that ate my glasses. Cats are better behaved than that.

Ah....my mistake. I suppose I should have figured that out from the OP, huh? My apologies to the evil cat creatures.

[Not Afraid]

Eat dirt, Leo. :evil: ;)

[scaeagles]

Won't be dining at my mother-in-laws until Sunday. (ba-dum bum)

[tracilicious]

I'm not sure that you do save money with LASIK. You have to get it redone every five years or so. I still want it though.

[scaeagles]

I'm not sure that you do save money with LASIK. You have to get it redone every five years or so. I still want it though.

Depends on the condition of your eyes. Advancements have made most procedures permanent, or so I understand.

[Prudence]

I get my glasses at a local specialty frame shop. The woman who works there is amazing at finding the right frames for your face shape and personal style. If you try on the "wrong" frames she says "um, no" and takes them away. Which would be annoying if she weren't totally right. I can only buy in August, though, when they have their 50% off sale. I have to pay extra for the skinny lenses so that it's not totally obvious how blind I am. I totally dig my rimless ones, though.

[scaeagles]

I did a bit of research on LASIK. Permanence of the proceduer depends on the individual. You don't suddenly become nearsighted and need glasses - it happens over time. Your eyes are constantly changing. If your eyes change rapidly, it could be that the procedure doesn't last a long time. If they change more slowly, you may not notice changes in your vision fo 20 years.

It also does not claim to stop the aging process of the eyes. For example, there will come a time when you will need reading glasses because aging changes the ability to focus your eyes on closer items.

[Not Afraid]

Apparently, I am a perfect candidate for Lasik. My eyes have been virtually the same for about 10 years - even improving a bit a few years ago. I just don't mind contacts and glasses and have had enough surgury lately. But, if I do it, I should do it in the next few years.

Lasik and a boob job......can I get a two for one?

I'm obviously missing a few vanity points because I don't care too much. (Or I make up for it in other place. ;))

[tracilicious]

Dr. Mercola says fix your own damn eyes. (http://www.mercola.com/2006/jun/22/lasers_can_do_wonders_to_watermelons_and_eggshells _but_not_your_eyes.htm)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Hahahah. "Science-based".

[Prudence]

A few years ago when I asked my eye doctor about it (before it became big business) I was told I'm not a good candidate. My aunt is the only person I know with worse vision than my own and she had it done - but she had to have it done twice right off the bat and had lots of complications, including lots of pain. I already have some complications of my own from various medications that have left lasting light sensitivity issues. I wouldn't want to risk blindness when glasses don't really bother me.

Can't say I'd never do it, but I'd like there to be a better understanding of long-term results before I went for it. I think the most compelling argument against, for me, is hearing that the docs Ryan worked for at the UW Eye Center don't really recommend it. If the docs wouldn't have it done to themselves, I'm not going to rush out and do it.

Plus, I like the ability to take them off for presto! Instant personal magnifying glass! Comes in handy for when I'm possessed by the need to do particularly fine embroidery work. Plus I'm the only one in the office who can read the stamped codes on the filing cabinet locks.

[scaeagles]

We did our homework prior to my wife deciding to have it. There are risks, but we know well over a dozen people who have had it and swear by it (we started asking around when discussing it and were quite surprised by the number of people we know who have had it). Not one has a negative story.

A lot has to do with the surgeon in charge. A high profile doc here (father of an Olympic swimmer, Gary Hall) had to quit practice - his medical license revoked - because he kep screwing people up. The one she is using has thousands of these under his belt and not one complaint that we could find.

[tracilicious]

I had a friend who worked for Gary Hall. His machines kept breaking. He was a nice guy though.