For without his spectacles he appeared completely helpless

[barrington]

A while ago I complained about how my glasses were broken and I needed new ones, and that frames were expensive. Well, I solved that by buying an $80 pair of frames on eBay. Now I've put them in to have lens fitted, and let me tell you, severe astigmatism is a bitch. I can't complain much really - after all, my eye problems are entirely correctable with glasses - but I still have to get specially ground lenses, and they're going to cost me around $400. The optician also warned me that they can't guarantee any work done with the frames, since they were bought online. I guess we'll see if I just blew $400 on lenses that will destroy my new cheap frames. (They seem sturdy enough, and though they're a little small, they're very comfortable.)

As for contacts, well I've decided to give them a go, for performance if nothing else, but again, standard disposable ones don't come in my prescription, so I have to order specific ones. Given I want disposables (they're cheaper and easier to deal with in terms of hygiene, and I'm only likely to wear them a few times a month anyway), the base cost is at least tripled - they're more expensive to start with, and the minimum order is double for ones that aren't off the shelf.

Still, once I get the new glasses, I can send my old ones off to be repaired, because the good news is my prescription hasn't changed.

Comments

[andricongirl.livejournal.com]

glasses are expensive, mine cost about the same as you've spent, though I got new-but-on-sale-last-season frames , and the almost full she bang lightweight coated and hardened lenses.

I'm not sure i could deal with contacts ;p

[synthesize.livejournal.com]

How expensive is it to get old frames fitted with new lenses? Assuming, of course, that you don't need uber-lenses and simply need to correct extreme nearsightedness? One of my lenses was made poorly and while I can still use it it's not exactly the correct prescription and if replacing it wouldn't cost a million dollars that'd rule.

[barrington.livejournal.com]

Well, first of all, I'm talking Australian dollars, so it's a little less where you are. On the other hand, everything medical seems more expensive in the US from the little I've heard, so who knows? But fitting new lenses to old frames costs the same as fitting them to new frames; the main cost difference comes in the weirdness of the prescription, the index you want, and the extra bits and bobs like a scratch resistant coating and UV filtering. Those are kind of essential for glasses that are worn all the time, though, and I always console myself when forking over for a new pair that it's a thing I need every day of my life and will hopefully last me a good few years.

[synthesize.livejournal.com]

That makes sense. Last time my prescription changed I got new frames but I'm not sure how much the lenses cost versus the frames themselves. I'll ask about it next time I'm in for an eye exam.

Thanks. :D

[aeduna.livejournal.com]

Yeah, when it comes in at less than a buck a day for being able to see, $400 isn't that much. (he says, putting off going to the optometrist again).

[pollyanna-n.livejournal.com]

You can get contacts (including toric ones) on line for much cheaper

http://www.netoptical.com.au/

I've ordered only once but been very happy with my order. I even got the solution on line which did not add to the shipping even though it would have been heaps heavier as a result