Any decent big retail stores for glasses?

Hi everyone,

I am currently looking to buy new glasses (frame+lens) since my current
ones are way too long (prescription wise). I would have a few
questions since I know next to nothing about glasses/optics.

I was wondering if there is any decent big retail stores for glasses?
I had stores in mind like Sears, Lencrafters, I think even CostCo has
glasses now.

1) Should I avoid these big retailers at all cost? (Or can anyone
recommend one?)

Yesterday I went to 2 little 'boutiques' and to Sears Optical and from
a first impression Sears seemed to be alot more upfront with me: they
told me polys would scratch more then plastics whereas the 2 boutiques
basically told me poly was THE thing to get. Most people on the
internet seem to say that polys DO scratch quite a bit... so those
little boutiques seem mostly after my money.

2) Does Sears Optical have any decent lenses to offer?


Thank you for your time,

Fred

I have not hat any problems getting both glasses and contacts at Costco.

Jeff

"Fred" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
> Hi everyone,
>
> I am currently looking to buy new glasses (frame+lens) since my current
> ones are way too long (prescription wise). I would have a few
> questions since I know next to nothing about glasses/optics.
>
> I was wondering if there is any decent big retail stores for glasses?
> I had stores in mind like Sears, Lencrafters, I think even CostCo has
> glasses now.
>
> 1) Should I avoid these big retailers at all cost? (Or can anyone
> recommend one?)
>
> Yesterday I went to 2 little 'boutiques' and to Sears Optical and from
> a first impression Sears seemed to be alot more upfront with me: they
> told me polys would scratch more then plastics whereas the 2 boutiques
> basically told me poly was THE thing to get. Most people on the
> internet seem to say that polys DO scratch quite a bit... so those
> little boutiques seem mostly after my money.
>
> 2) Does Sears Optical have any decent lenses to offer?
>
> Thank you for your time,
>
> Fred

The answer depends on whether you want progressives or single vision lenses,
and maybe how strong your Rx is. Sears does not usually carry high end
progressive designs that someone with a moderate to strong Rx would want to
purchase.

Stay away from any optical shop that recommends polycarb unless you happen
to need safety lenses (and even then they should at least mention Trivex).
Polycarb not only scratches easier, but it has very poor optical quality,
especially with a high power Rx.

In my experience, Wal-Mart optical is the best large chain store, especially
if you talk to the head optician. You can bring your own frame and have them
fit the lenses (I think they charge $10 extra for not using their frames).

To get the best advice on this forum, please post your exact Rx.

> The answer depends on whether you want progressives or single vision lenses,
> and maybe how strong your Rx is. Sears does not usually carry high end
> progressive designs that someone with a moderate to strong Rx would want to
> purchase.
>
> Stay away from any optical shop that recommends polycarb unless you happen
> to need safety lenses (and even then they should at least mention Trivex).
> Polycarb not only scratches easier, but it has very poor optical quality,
> especially with a high power Rx.
>
> In my experience, Wal-Mart optical is the best large chain store, especially
> if you talk to the head optician. You can bring your own frame and have them
> fit the lenses (I think they charge $10 extra for not using their frames).
>


> To get the best advice on this forum, please post your exact Rx.

I only need single vision lenses. But it's been awhile since I've had
an eye exam, so I can't recall all the details but this is what I know:

1) -4 or -4.25 myopia
2) minor astigmatism (I cannot recall exact number of this, but it's
new, so pretty mild).


Thanks,

Fred

"JeffWise" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ApadnRswS7tGniTYnZ2dnUVZ_r-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have not hat any problems getting both glasses and contacts at Costco.
>
> Jeff

Costco only sells a very limited range of lens designs and lens materials.
If they had what you wanted, that is fine, but maybe not fine for everyone.

"Fred" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
> I only need single vision lenses. But it's been awhile since I've had
> an eye exam, so I can't recall all the details but this is what I know:
>
> 1) -4 or -4.25 myopia
> 2) minor astigmatism (I cannot recall exact number of this, but it's
> new, so pretty mild).
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Fred

The big issue for you is how thin do you need the edges to be for cosmetic
reasons. I would not get polycarb, but CR-39 regular plastic is probably too
thick in that Rx.

Other options are 1.54 Spectralite (Sola), 1.60 plastic, 1.67 plastic. The
higher the index, the higher the cost, the thinner the lens, but the optical
quality suffers slightly. An aspheric lens will be a little thinner, but
requires careful fitting. Just about any optical shop should have decent
quality solutions for you.

On Jan 25, 7:52 pm, "Mark A" <nob...@nowhere.com> wrote:
> "Fred" <parent.f...@gmail.com> wrote in messagenews:(E-Mail Removed) oglegroups.com...
>
> > I only need single vision lenses. But it's been awhile since I've had
> > an eye exam, so I can't recall all the details but this is what I know:
>
> > 1) -4 or -4.25 myopia
> > 2) minor astigmatism (I cannot recall exact number of this, but it's
> > new, so pretty mild).
>
> > Thanks,
>
> > FredThe big issue for you is how thin do you need the edges to be for cosmetic
> reasons. I would not get polycarb, but CR-39 regular plastic is probably too
> thick in that Rx.
>
> Other options are 1.54 Spectralite (Sola), 1.60 plastic, 1.67 plastic. The
> higher the index, the higher the cost, the thinner the lens, but the optical
> quality suffers slightly. An aspheric lens will be a little thinner, but
> requires careful fitting. Just about any optical shop should have decent
> quality solutions for you.

Thanks for the info. I have read quite a few posts in forums about
badly adjusted aspheric lenses...Is this rare?

Also how much difference can there be in the thickness between aspheric
and spheric lenses? I usually like rather small glasses somethign
ressembling the ones shown here
(http://www.eyeglasses.com/product/1090890652-1090890654), so I'm kind
of hoping thinking should be too much of a problem.

What do you think?

Thanks for your time,

Fred

Please take a look at http://www.glassyeyes.com ! You don't need to
spend that much on eyeglasses. Order them online for as little as $20.
Read the reviews and the poke around in the forums. I thought I needed
to spend $400. I now have 6 pair that I spent a total of $206 for.

I'm a -4.25 in one eye and if you're not in need of bifocals (big
lenses), I've found that the standard CR39 lenses work nicely --
especially in a stylish plastic frame. You'll notice the thickness
when you get bigger. I typically aim for 50 x 25ish mm lenses and
really feel ripped off for being talked into high index lenses for the
past 20 years.

CR39 is optically excellent too. Easiest on my eyes.


On Jan 25, 10:34 pm, "Fred" <parent.f...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 25, 7:52 pm, "Mark A" <nob...@nowhere.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > "Fred" <parent.f...@gmail.com> wrote in messagenews:(E-Mail Removed) oglegroups.com...
>
> > > I only need single vision lenses. But it's been awhile since I've had
> > > an eye exam, so I can't recall all the details but this is what I know:
>
> > > 1) -4 or -4.25 myopia
> > > 2) minor astigmatism (I cannot recall exact number of this, but it's
> > > new, so pretty mild).
>
> > > Thanks,
>
> > > FredThe big issue for you is how thin do you need the edges to be for cosmetic
> > reasons. I would not get polycarb, but CR-39 regular plastic is probably too
> > thick in that Rx.
>
> > Other options are 1.54 Spectralite (Sola), 1.60 plastic, 1.67 plastic. The
> > higher the index, the higher thecost, the thinner the lens, but the optical
> > quality suffers slightly. An aspheric lens will be a little thinner, but
> > requires careful fitting. Just about any optical shop should have decent
> > quality solutions for you.
>
> Thanks for the info. I have read quite a few posts in forums about
> badly adjusted aspheric lenses...Is this rare?
>
> Also how much difference can there be in the thickness between aspheric
> and spheric lenses? I usually like rather small glasses somethign
> ressembling the ones shown here
> (http://www.eyeglasses.com/product/1090890652-1090890654), so I'm kind
> of hoping thinking should be too much of a problem.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Thanks for your time,
>
> Fred- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -