Ok, so I need new glasses. Optical store wants $200 for the sunglasses, and about $200 - $300 for the regular (bendable titanium).
Zenni an online place, the bill would be about $50. My script is pretty light -1.25 and -1.5 with slight astigmatism .25 at 180 deg.
I understand with transition and bifocals, other measurements are needed but I am having a hard time justifying $400 more to get locally. Even if they last 6 months I can buy a whole lot of replacements and still cost less.
Anyone have any experience going this route?
I’m wearing a pair from zenni right now. You get what you pay for in some respects. I don’t notice a single difference between the expensive lenses and the cheap ones. I don’t have a stigmatism, but have a similarly light prescription (-1.75 both eyes)
However, this pair of wire no-rim frames has a loose screw where it attaches the nose piece to the lens. I cannot get the frigging thing to re-tighten for any length of time so they wobble a little when I take them on and off. On my face no problems. These were the ~$20-25 flex frames.
My $8 pair of plastic frames is fine. A little tight at the temples (and I have a narrow head) and the hinges and plastic feels like it could snap if I’m not careful - but it hasn’t yet.
Shipping was quick.
ordering glasses on-line is a pretty big crap shoot in my opinion, although I admit to being somewhat biased (I’m an optometrist). With your low Rx, problems are more likely to be with your frame than with your lenses but a poor-fitting frame can be a HUGE PITA. These places usually source their frames from pretty sketchy locations so don’t expect much in the way of warranty or service.
Caveat emptor.
robert
I don’t expect any warranty or service. As for fit, since I have lots of old glasses around I am figuring out what measurements should fit. I figure I can order several styles at $25 each before I get to the cost of a local place.
Since my pd is 73 ya I got a big head. I don’t have a ton of options.
a pd of 73 is going to be tough to fit for sure. can’t help but feel sorry for your mother with a head like that 
watch out for temple length (try for 140mm or higher) and eyesize / bridge size. when you look at the frame numbers, the first one should be eyesize (the size of the lens basically) and the second one should be bridge size (distance between the lenses). numbers should be 60+ for eyesize and 17+ for bridge.
good luck,
r
Use framesdirect.com!
the founder/owner is an optometrist too =)
Ok, so I need new glasses. Optical store wants $200 for the sunglasses, and about $200 - $300 for the regular (bendable titanium).
Zenni an online place, the bill would be about $50. My script is pretty light -1.25 and -1.5 with slight astigmatism .25 at 180 deg.
I understand with transition and bifocals, other measurements are needed but I am having a hard time justifying $400 more to get locally. Even if they last 6 months I can buy a whole lot of replacements and still cost less.
Anyone have any experience going this route?
One other thing Dav…if your ordering a bifocal, especially a progressive (no line bifocal) , the vertical placement of the lens makes a big difference. If its too low you have trouble getting into the add portion of the lens, if its too high the near portion will blur your distance vision . So the vertical measurement is important. Also if you’ve had other no line bifocals, if you have had a very nice high quality lens, you may not like the optics, zones, blending, etc of a cheap no line. There are several hundred types of no line bifocals and the optics of the really good ones are far superior to the cheap ones.
Carter
drcarterjohnston.com
Nope no bifocals. Just a -1.25 in one eye and -1.50 with a -.25 180 Deg astigmatism in the other with a 73 pd. YA I GOTTA BIG HEAD. Looks like I am ordering 2 reg glasses with AR, 1 Sunglass, and a pair of perscription biking glasses… total bill $115.
Will post a follow up … assuming I pull the trigger.
Pulled the trigger. Should be here in a few weeks.
Cleaning out my office last night, I found a glasses order from about 6 yrs ago. It was some safety glasses, so the same place that measured my pd at 73, 6 yrs ago they measured it at 70? Hmmm this seems odd. But my script has not changed much -1.25, -1.25 -.5 180. so left eye is a bit worst but the astigmatism seems a bit less. if I am reading that right.