Need new glasses

Status
Not open for further replies.

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
I've had my glasses since 2005. I had health insurance that covered the exam and stuff then but not now. I've needed new glasses for years. One leg was soldered back on, one lens is held with a bolt (screw stripped), the coating on the legs is split open, I lost the magnetic clip-on shades late last year, the nose rest pads are hard and yellow, and, worst of all, the other lens that was held in with a wire (also a stripped screw) finally fell out and got lost (fell out frequently).

Yes, I'm LOOOONG over-due for some new glasses.

Now, I've seen you guys suggest some really cheap place online that was $30 for two pair or $20 a pair or something like that, but I don't have my prescription and need an exam. I see lots of places offering free exams with glasses purchase but, honestly, I couldn't even afford $50 right now. What is the absolute cheapest way to get an eye exam with glasses? My sister does have a Costco card.
 

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
1,236
136
Brother: I recently bought new glasses for our mother, < $15. sellout.woot occasionally has a deal for goggles4u.com
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
126
I see lots of places offering free exams with glasses purchase but, honestly, I couldn't even afford $50 right now. What is the absolute cheapest way to get an eye exam with glasses? My sister does have a Costco card.

under $50? that's asking a lot. around here you need $45 for the eye exam, then you get your prescription which you can take online and get your $20+ glasses.
 

SKORPI0

Lifer
Jan 18, 2000
18,503
2,430
136
Cheapest eye exam I've seen were at Costco @ 49.95. Make sure to get a copy of your prescription.

For glasses cheapest would be Zennioptical. Also Goggles4U.

Search "cheap eyeglasses" here as there have been discussions about this several times.
 
Last edited:

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
I don't recommend "cheap" glasses. Most of the cheap pairs people I know own wear out quickly. They don't last and you end up spending the same in the long run.

That said, I've heard a lot of people rave about Costco's.
 

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
24,697
6,054
136
just pay $200 or $300 for a good pair, they will last you much longer and be way more comfortable. if you cant at least save up a mesely couple hundred bucks, then i dont know what to tell you
 

cardiac

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,082
14
81
You registered to tell me that? You sound like an adbot, but thanks.

I do have to agree. I will never spend more than $50 or so on glasses. I get our whole families glasses at Zenni optical. I wear bifocals and they run $46 with titanium frames, and they are as comfortable as any previous $300 glasses I had from Pearle Vision.....
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
If you really are struggling to find the money for the exam contact your local Lion's club. One of the charitable things they do is to try and help people that have issues with their sight and need help. I knew someone who was barely making ends meet (college student, no living parents, got in car accident and lost glasses) and the Lions got him a new set.

If you really need the help because you're doing your best but still struggling they're a good place to go.

However, if you aren't in really dire straights (or are in dire straights because of your own dumb fault) please don't use a charity's limited funding for yourself. Leave that to help others and deal with it yourself. People that take away resources from others that really need them deserve a raging case of eye herpes.
 

CZroe

Lifer
Jun 24, 2001
24,195
857
126
Well, after buying my sister a $30 MP3 player for her birthday to replace the one she had stolen from her, I have $6 in my bank account and my motorcycle is way past due for a $500+ service. My motorcycle is my only transportation so I can't afford anything higher than $50 anytime soon. The longevity argument is laughable if I could buy 15 $20 pairs for the same price. That's 15x the longevity. Is a $300 pair really going to last 15x as long?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.