Feb 2009 Wanted to share my experience in case it's useful for anyone else...
First , if you are going to get glasses and think you might use an online source, make sure your doctor checks and write your PD (pupil distance) on the prescription! It's typically NOT included because the typical places will do it for you when you buy their lenses. I forgot about that and all the online sources require that you input it. I tried all the little techniques on the GlassyEyes site but could never replicate measurements. Ended up going to Costco - see below - and having them do it (how nice of them!) I have a strong prescription (-8.5) and know that I generally need thinner/lighter lenses which were running me upwards of $400 just for the lenses at all the typical eyeglass places. Plus add $100 minimum for the frames (not frames I actually liked) and I was looking at $500 at least. Yikes. Based on GlassyEyes, I checked out a few online places and Costco. If you are already a member at Costco, then that's definitely the cheapest option, though I have to say that their frame collection isn't great - seems like mostly discontinued/older models from the various brands. I found a pair that would have been okay but not being a member, the additional $50 for membership put the purchase over the prices I was finding online. Costco did, however, check my PD for free (thank goodness) which was really nice of them and made me want to buy from them, but the membership + not in love with frames = not worth it. I ended up choosing between two online sources: 39dollarglasses.com and framesdirect.com. There are lots of others but these had the best features. Framesdirect is great if you find a pair of frames you like at one of the typical stores and want to see if you can find it cheaper. They (and a lot of other sites) have a virtual try-on system, but none of them are very accurate so I didn't end up using them to decide on frames - i recommend you don't either. If you find a frame you like at one of the stores, on the inside of the side of the frame you'll see some numbers written - be sure to note the model # and also the sizes (ex. "46, 18, 140") as some models come in various sizes. I found that framesdirect often sold the same frames for about 25-35% less than of the price at the stores. Plus with the cheaper lenses, and I would have walked away with glasses I liked for about $250. I ended up going with 39dollarglasses.com (with 10% GlassyEyes discount!). They allow you to print out actual size images of the glasses. Having tried on a lot of glasses in stores, I had some sense for the style and width of the frame that I liked (ex. the "46" in the example above). I printed out a few of the frames that met those parameters and then cut them out (yes, a little time consuming but totally worth it) and "tried" them on. I found that their selection (for plastic frames) was way better than Costco (at least the styles I like). 39dollarglasses also has a really good return policy. If you don't like your glasses once you get them you can exchange them for FREE (you pay shipping) IF they can fit the same lenses into a different frame. If not, you pay a 30% restocking fee and they will make you new ones. I first ordered a pair of frames that didn't meet my parameters (which was silly, i know, but I wanted to try something different). They arrived in about 1 week (it was going to take 2-3 weeks at any of the typical non-online places!) and were great quality, except way too big for my face. Totally my own fault, I knew they were big when I "tried" them on. I used their online chat service to ask about how to send them back. There was clearly a real person on the other end which was so unexpected and useful. I told her which other frames I wanted instead and she told me the exact price difference. I wrote a quick note including my credit card info and put those in the mail back to them. A week later I received another email saying they were remaking them. A week after that I got the new ones and they are GREAT. Both pairs came in a nice hard case as well. The initial glasses from them were ultimately only $158 (includes frames, 1.67 lenses, anti-reflective coating). Add an extra $50 or so for the exchange, and I'm still only at around $200. I will definitely order from them again -- I could get another pair and still be less than the cost of the typical places for one pair! Hooray! NOTE: Because of my high prescription (over -3 I think) 39dollarglasses added another $40 to the lenses for sanding down the edges (this is in the fine print, btw). And if your PD reading has two numbers that are different (ex. 28/30) write that in the comments to make sure they make your glasses correctly. If your PD has two numbers that are the same (ex. 30/30) then you add them together to make the single number PD (ex. 60). NOTE REGARDING LENS THICKNESS: I have a strong prescription and feel like the 1.67 thickness is totally fine (which is what 39dollarglasses and framesdirect offer). Why I would want to pay another $200-300 for 1.71 is beyond me. But that was what all the typical places wanted to sell me. They gave me such a hard time about the 1.67 (which they do sell and is MUCH less expensive for them - they just don't want to sell it) that I didn't want to give them my business. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Check us out at the oft-updated http://www.glassyeyes.com! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GlassyEyes" group. 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