<p>Yep, still here. Reading alot, posting not so much. Have one graduating college this year and 2 more after that for the next 2 years! So they have been spending time with grad school apps and internships. I am hoping they will all come home for grad school and maybe they might but some of their first choices are far, far away! Oldest son spent part of his summer in helos in some far off ocean and is hoping for more of the same, crossing his fingers for jets. Middle son spent his summer at Harvard med doing research and he too is hoping for more of the same, we will see.</p>
<p>It does not seem that long ago they were all prepping for SATs and playing in friday night football games. Really, really miss them.</p>
<p>Kat, Great to hear from you. I remember that some of your kiddos were a bit older than mine. At the time they seemed a lot older. I learned quite a bit from your posts. Glad to hear that everyone is well! My baby is now taking those SAT/ACTs. He’s a junior in hs now.</p>
<p>I have had good luck with glasses at BJ’s Wholesale Club. My very skilled optometrist spontaneously asked who had done my glasses after expressing how impressed she was with them (progressive lenses and a rare, complicated prescription). It validated my economical choice. They sometimes have great deals when you order 2 pairs of glasses at once (adding sunglasses for example).</p>
<p>I buy my glasses at the optometrist. They have the best selection and they are helpful in picking the right frame for my face. The strange thing is last year when I went to replace my 4 yr old frame I looked at many different frames. I kept narrowing it down and when it came to my final pick it was the exact same designer as my previous pair. Different color and shape. I discovered that brand works well for my face and they are comfortable. I get a discount due to the Dr being the husband of a friend. I used to also buy contacts from him but have stopped wearing them.
I have been wearing progressives for about 5 yrs. It took some getting used to but I now find them easier and eventually stopped wearing my contacts all together.
I recently decided to get a pair of prescription single vision sunglasses made. I did not want to spend alot so went to Costco. I found the selection pretty limiting. They would not let me buy a pair of their sunglasses and have the prescription lens put in. They said their optical company would not do that. I ended up with a frame that is fine. The price was right for as often as I plan to wear them. Mainly for tennis and the beach. The weird thing was on Sat I went to the beach and brought both pairs of glasses. I had a hard time going from the progressive lens to the regular single vision lens. I felt almost dizzy in the single lens sunglasses.
My optometrist will put lens in frames bought elsewhere. I have a pair of Fossil sunglasses that I had made to wear while reading outside with my contacts in. They are reading on the bottom and no vision correction on the top. I found the Fossil sunglasses at Ross.
I have had trouble wearing contacts the last several years. My eyes get dry. Also as my reading vision has gone I find that when I wear contacts to correct my distance vision I can’t read a menu or price tags without reading glasses. I have tried astigmistism contacts but don’t find them that comfortable.</p>
<p>I have distance glasses, reading glasses (used for computer work) and regular sunglasses.</p>
<p>I play tennis outdoors and I haven’t found a coating on prescription lenses that can block the amount of light that regular off the rack sunglasses can. I’ve picked up sunglasses at the rest stops on the New Jersey Turnpike (they seem to carry the right size, shape and level of block). The best type are mirrored sunglasses.</p>
<p>One of the courts that we use in the summer is set up so that serving on one side of the court puts the ball near the sun if serving righty. If I don’t have strong-enough sunglasses, I get blinded for about ten seconds which basically means that I lose the point.</p>
<p>I’m thinking about going with bifocals or transitions this month so that I don’t have to carry around two sets of glasses all the time. I have another good frame from about 7 or 8 years ago that I will use.</p>
<p>BCEagle91- I also find that the prescription sunglasses are not as good for tennis. But my problem is if I don’t have contacts on with just regular sunglasses I could not see the ball!
For two yrs I had one pair of contacts that I just put in for tennis so that I could use regular sunglasses. That got old but I am considering going back to that method. I find the progressive lenses not good for tennis. I find that with rapid movement I sometimes lose visual focus. Thus trying the single vision sunglasses. It is fair. The problem with that one is if I don’t remember to also bring along my other glasses and need to run an indoor errand on the way home I don’t have glasses with me to go indoors anywhere.</p>
<p>At our Costco in HI, they said they will put prescription lenses in ANY frame–from their store, elsewhere, or the sunglasses they sell. I don’t understand why your Costco told you they won’t put Rx lenses in other frames.</p>
<p>HIMom I just called them to confirm. They have a small selection of sunglasses that they sell as prescription lens. You may also chose any of the other frames and they will make them into sunglasses.
They will not make prescription lens for the other sunglasses they sell. For example the designer frames or the sport type of glasses my husband wears.
Maybe depends on the company each Costco uses to make their glasses.
Talked to my friend who works for an optometrist. She said at her job the lab they use will make glasses from most frames. It depends on how the original frame is made. They also require you to sign a waiver that they are not respondsible if the frame breaks while in there possession.</p>
<p>My eyes aren’t bad enough (yet) so that I can’t play tennis without prescription glasses but they may get there someday. I’ve never been able to wear contacts.</p>
<p>I have seen magnetic clipons at the optometrist. It appears that the clipons are made specifically for the glasses. It’s a neat idea but the additional weight is unacceptable. For tennis, I prefer a wraparound so that the sun can’t get in via a corner where the glasses don’t cover. It may push me to more indoors playing when I’m older.</p>
<p>Another issue is eyeglass cases. One thing about reusing frames is that you don’t get a new case with new lenses. I had to dig out some old soft cases as one of my hard cases is missing. The hard cases provide better protection but weigh more and are a little more work to get open (I have the clamshell type).</p>
<p>I have been re-using frames for many years. My insurance covers frames once in 2 years and lenses and exam every year. It cost me under $50 / year to keep glasses updated. I also alternate between regular glasses, prescription shades and reading glasses. Bifocals would be much more, but I do not like them.</p>
<p>Sears or JCPenneys specials ( $99 for any prescription or 2-for deals (price varies).
The frame choices are typically limited, but plenty for me. Depending on the store, I’ve never seen less than 50 choices. They may be “last-year” models, but not so old that it is obvious, and I tend to choose classic rather than trendy styles. The package includes frames & lens and usually includes lined or no-line bifocals. They often try to add other services for a an extra fee (special coatings, anti-glare, etc.). I politely decline, although polarized sunglasses are nice. </p>
<p>What are the typical costs and selections at Costco &/or Sams? It might be worth a membership. Does an optician fit the glasses to you? Can you order contacts through them – with non-typical prescriptions?</p>
<p>I tried progressives once from an opticians office. I hated them, but may not have been patient enough. I had another optician look at them, and they said they were not quite the right fit, and that progressives must be VERY carefully fitted and crafted for each individual. The first company took them back, and changed the lens to distance only.</p>
<p>My most recent purchases at Costco were $261 for 2 pairs of prescription distance glasses, one with tinted polarized with very lightweight lenses, both with titanium frames with spring hinges. This included $25 off for purchasing 2 pairs with the same Rx at the same time. You are fitted by one of their optical techs (not an optometrist)–both at the time your order is placed and at the time you pick up your glasses, and any other time you stop by at Costco and care to drop by. They will clean your glasses and make any adjustments, including replacing nosepads at no charge and with a smile.</p>
<p>My brother, mom and sibblings purchased glasses at Penny’s and Sears because they found the prices attractive but weren’t happy with the fit and most have switched to other places for their optical needs.</p>
<p>Since Costco is only 5 minutes from our house, we really have been happy with them for convenience and reasonable prices given the quality. A few times when we’ve had problems with the glasses, they have been prompt to give us a full refund or replacement of our glasses.</p>
<p>Oh yes, they do sell most contacts at very reasonable prices, but you can call them with your specific prescription for a price quote & availabililty. If it’s not in stock, they can give you an expected availability date.</p>
<p>I was told it would take about a month to get used to Progressives and that some people never do. As I said in an earlier post, I was not overly thrilled with my first pair but when they broke and I had to get new frames/lens, there was a noticeable difference and I am now very happy with them. It’s great in church to be able to read the words in the hymn book and look up and see the minister clearly too,lol.</p>
<p>Costco sounds great. We don’t have one here. The Sam’s is not close by and through horrible traffic so we don’t have a membership.</p>
<p>Oh yea, one more thing we loved about Costco is that for kids under 18, they have a special discount which further reduces the price. Also, if you charge with the AmEx Costco card, there is a 90-day loss/theft protection, which also helps. D once lost her glasses to the ocean shortly after purchasing the new glasses & it was covered 100%. At this point, both kids are > 18 years old, but it was helpful having that additional discount when they were younger and getting new glasses nearly every year. They would also replace lenses free in the 1st year if the prescription changed, but we only took them up on that once.</p>
<p>Just got back from Costco. I ended up buying 2 pairs of glasses there. I found them to be very reasonable priced and they had a nice selection of frames. I think that I am going to say my goodbyes Lenscrafters! I was happy with the service at Costco, the frame selection, the pricing, and no wait. If the frames hold up, and the glasses come back with the correct Rx, I will be a new Costco shopper for eyeglasses. BTW, the salesperson there told me that since the economy has gone downhill the optical store at Costco has never been busier. I guess people are looking to save a $$. Also, they were offering $25 off with the purchase of 2 glasses, so I bought RX sunglasses as well as regular glasses.</p>
<p>HImom, yes you are right about a discount for kids on the lenses, the polycarbonate lenses for children (under 18) are just $28. When you get them anti reflective the cost is another $30 on top of the $28. This is still a very good price, IMO. Most of the frames that I saw ran between $50-65. You can easily get a nice frame for $50 at Costco.</p>
<p>I used “Goggles4U” another online site like Zenni optical that I found at glassyeyes.com. I ordered progressives as well as a pair of glasses for my son (standard single vision lenses). The progressives I got were unacceptable – one lens was cut too thickly and kept popping out. I took them to an optician and to an eyeglass repair place, both of which said they were unfixable. To their credit, Goggles4U asked me to send them a picture of the defective glasses, and then allowed me to replace them free. The second pair was acceptable, but I still felt they weren’t as well made as the ones I got at our local optical store. On the other hand, they cost $88 total vs almost $500 the last time I got progressive lenses! Not sure I’d do it this way again, though, for complicated prescriptions. On the other hand, the single vision lenses for my son were about $30 and he had no complaints. At that price I can buy him a spare pair and not worry when they break…</p>
<p>I’ve gone to For Eyes forever (I don’t think they’re national though). They have a nice selection and usually knowlegable saleshelp, plus they’re included in our vision plan. My eyes are quite different and one of the lenses has to be ultrathin. I switched from bifocals to progressive lenses about 5 years ago and was delighted. Bifocals just were never the right focus for computer work - I was always leaning in or back. And I get antiglare coating. </p>
<p>So I see the opthamologist for my annual exam, then every couple of years I get a new pair of glasses. They could just get new lenses but I’d have to send the old frames in, plus with insurance and their deals it’s barely a different price anyway. They have all my preferences on file so all I need to do is find a new frame (and I always try to find what I already have anyway!).</p>
<p>And here’s a travel tip - when I get a new pair of glasses, I leave the previous pair in my carry-on suitcase. Then if my good glasses ever break when I’m traveling, at least I have a backup. Plus I always know where my last glasses are stored.</p>
<p>We go to a local optician who has an optometrist who comes there once a week. We have been going there since DS got his first glasses at 18 months. The customer service is outstanding and they know us by first name (all of us). When we had to reschedule an appointment for DS because of travel snafus…they were VERY willing to reschedule AND get his glasses done more quickly. All four of us wear glasses and one wears contacts. Until this guy goes out of business, he will have us as customers.</p>