Snowy560

I'm always the one complaining about prices, especially to do with healthcare or related products in Canada. The latest one is glasses. Of course, the optician was trying to sell me everything in the shop after my latest eye test.

Actually, I didn't think the prices were that ridiculous compared with the UK: probably about the same (it just seems more in dollars), but I decided to buy online from a Canadian store who even had a buy one get on free offer (so I got a pair for me and a different prescription for my daughter). They came within a few days and are great. I'm not going to post the name here, because it's probably not allowed on the forum, but for the price, I am very pleased indeed.

Just curious to know: does anyone else buy glasses online?

S

Stinkypup

I tried to but the writing on the website was too small

I thought about it but considering that it was a fair wack of cash and Snoop says I have a strange shaped head I wanted them to fit. Good value online though I see- I usually wear contact lenses which I get online usually unless I need them in a hurry!

Dorothy

If you think glasses are expensive in Canada you should have a look at Australia. My last pair was close to $700 from Specsavers. Nothing fancy, but I do have multifocal lenses and am a +5 diopter in each eye. I'm actually thinking of getting a new pair when I'm visiting in the spring because they're cheaper at Costco.

Contacts are always bought from Clearly Contacts online. 6 months of bifocal lenses for about $120.

scrubbedexpat133

I have never really looked at the online option here. I just wait to go home to get eye test, glasses and contacts.

I went to the optician here. $80 for an eye test

Two pairs of glasses was over $500 and contact lenses were $50 ish per month!!

Specsavers UK: all the above and contact lense consultation for $200.

Zoe Bell

I got my last pair of glasses from clearly contacts online for $70. Frames and lenses.
An extra $50 would have got me extra thin lenses.
Wasn't willing to pay that as these were only to do me until I got the LASIK done.

They were fine

Snowy560

Yes I used to use Specsavers.

I didn't use Clearly Contacts although a friend had suggested them. I found another online store with comparable prices and the buy one get one free offer (the second pair actually came to $30). It was $118 in total for the 2 pairs. Daughter very pleased.

S

Edo

I have used both Clearly and Eye Buy Direct and found both of them to be quite good. Eye Buy Direct is US based and is very cheap, and they also post to Canada (The prices are in CAD and I also never had to pay Customs). Whereas Clearly is Canada based and a little bit expensive but the quality of their frames and lenses is better.

Juggernaut1064

I have bought online and they worked out great for me, heres the link to who i used, upload a good digital pic and you can "try on" the glasses before you buy lol

Zenni Optical | Affordable Rx Eyeglasses Online

Snowy560

Well, since everyone has posted with who they used, I may as well post mine, then anyone else reading this thread has a good choice if they are thinking of doing the same! It's good to know others have done it too and have had a good experience!

iLookGlasses.ca: Glasses Online Canada | Eyeglasses Online Canada | Prescription Glasses

S

dj322

I used to buy my lenses / glasses from Specsavers in the UK, until I moved to Canada. Prices are about the same here. Until recently, I was buying contact lenses online from (Contact Lenses Canada | ContactLensesCanada.com). Never had a problem with them after ordering contact lenses from there for 2 years.

This year, I finally decided to get Lasik done after 20 odd years of flaffing around with glasses and contact lenses. It was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. At this time of writing, I am 5 weeks post op and things are great. I went to King Lasik and highly recommend Dr King.

BristolUK

Last time this came up, I looked at the on line options but they seemed to want some sort of measurement between pupils, was it? Can one do that accurately yourself?
I expected that. But it was "the change is so small you can wait...up to you."

My last UK glasses, frames and ultra thin lenses, £240 in 2003.

2013 at Vogue optical. Test $70 ($90 2015).
Ultra thin lenses, comparable frames, two-for-one. Can't remember price but well under $300. Much cheaper and only "that much" because wife's varifocals were more expensive.

Snowy560

It's called pupillary distance. Mine was handwritten onto my prescription.

You can also measure yourself (best to get someone to help you):

39dollarglasses.com -- Help Topics - How do I measure my Pupillary Distance (PD)

Interestingly, iLook queried my daughter's PD which was 56 on her last prescription as it is not within the usual range (the normal range is prob for adults). We double checked and got 55, but sent a copy of the actual prescription with our response to the query.

My prescription had not changed that much in the last just over 3 years, but it had changed a bit. I was happy to buy new glasses without spending a fortune.

S

BristolUK

That would definitely have been something I'd have considered but depending on how old you are and what work you do, it may not be worth it. Don't they say reading glasses are likely at about 40?

I can't remember what the issue was now, but years ago I looked into going back to wearing contacts and my vision was such that I would need reading glasses to go with them. So a similar option to Lasik at age 40.

Given that my working day involved reading a computer screen, reading forms and writing I'd have needed glasses all day plus for reading at home. It hardly seemed worth replacing permanent glasses with reading glasses for the majority of my waking hours.

Snowy560

If you need (only) reading glasses for age related long sightedness, as I understand it, Laser can't correct that, although I have (more recently) seen options for complete replacement of the eye lens (but personally I wouldn't do this).

I just use readers for ... reading/computer and get on with the rest of my life without glasses. Of course, you can just buy readers in many stores, and I have a cheap pair of those as well but they are never the exact prescription.

S

BristolUK

That rings bells. I can think of a few problems that would mean I wouldn't be confident in getting it right or even help getting it right. At least in the shop they're used to it and if it's not right they'll fix it.

I'm not sure it's routinely on the prescription. When they measure in the shop are they doing it because they don't trust the optometrist?

The place I use had decent glasses for $120 when I last looked in 2013. What I don't like is having to go for a free second pair. I'd rather pay less for just the one pair. But if you don't mind a second pair, or sunglasses or because you can double up with someone else, then there's probably not much of a price difference per pair compared to a $39 pair plus shipping.