Originally Posted by sir_eccles

It's so easy these days you can do it at home...

http://www.lasikathome.com/index.html

Originally Posted by Bob

Would be a option if one existed, but there aren't any locally. There was a couple in our old neck of the woods, but that's a bit of a hike and they weren't cheap either.

Originally Posted by S Folinsky

Costco.

Originally Posted by Noorah101

I always get my eye exam done by my own Optometrist who I've been going to for 20 years. I needed new glasses AND frames this time (just a few months ago), so I got the prescription from him and shopped around.

Last time I got glasses (nearly 6 years ago) was at Costco and I was very satisfied with the price and the equipment back then.

This time, I wanted new frames, too. After MUCH shopping around and researching online, I finally went with a local small business called Eye-magination for the frames. They were the only ones I found I really liked, plus I wanted the kind that come with magnetic clip-on sun shades.

I almost went back to Costco for the lenses, but after doing some research and talking to others, it seems there really is a difference in quality of progressive lens materials, and Costco uses the lowest quality. I opted to pay more and got the lenses done back at my Optometrist's office, as they gave me a discount for already being a customer. I was amazed at the result...crystal clear, with the widened area of vision. I could really notice the difference.

I do not have vision insurance. Overall, for the exam, frames, and lenses, I paid about $750. But these now should last me at least a good 5 years, if not more. My vision has pretty much stopped changing, and I take very good care of my glasses.

Rene

Originally Posted by Bob

Just discovered there is one, out behind the manky strip mall on the other end of town.

It's apparently really good for kids and kids selections according to a couple of parents I spoke too, but none of them rated it that great for selection of adult glasses....oh well. Will go check it out some time

Originally Posted by Bob

One thing that's been hard to get from the brick and mortar places is costs, they all mumble about accepting the insurance for the eye test and saying it varies.

Walmart were at least good at cost, frames plus lenses, which for polycarb and anti-gloss was $110 and that's the pair of lenses, unlike another place which was price per lens but they wouldn't say what the actual cost of the basic lenses were, just the bolt on bits like anti-glare.

Not making it easy for comparing prices, which at least the online places are good about.

Originally Posted by penguinbar

The online prices for glasses with progressive lenses were more than what I paid at Costco.

Originally Posted by penguinbar

The online prices for glasses with progressive lenses were more than what I paid at Costco.

Originally Posted by lansbury

Not surprised Costco were cheaper. In 20 odd years of wearing progressive lenses both here and in the UK, Costco lenses are by far the worst I've had. The width of the distortion band down the edges of the Costco lens was the widest I have experienced with this type of lens.

Originally Posted by Bob

And how much extra were they?

Originally Posted by penguinbar

They were $40 more. That wasn't including scratchproof glass lenses ( I hate plastic) Transitions so they would turn into sunglasses, lightweight and thinner lens.

Originally Posted by Bob

That seems pretty standard from what I'm finding out at the mo. Big costs tend to be the polycarb for scratchproof, transition type thing and then thinner lenses with anti-glare being the cheaper bolt on.

So folks with transitions, how crap do you find them in practice?

I like the idea behind them, but I only really want tints when I'm driving and they don't work in the car as the UV is already absorbed by the window and temperature affects the speed/tint of the tint, so wonder how well they work in the cold?