The Saga of the Glasses

[azriona]

I went to the fancy-schmancy eyeglasses store after work. They don't take insurance, but they do provide a very detailed write-up so I can be reimbursed --- which is good, because I found two pairs of glasses that I really like, and they're both $400ANYWAY. I'm going back tomorrow and dragging a co-worker with me, because obviously I'm not buying

Comments

[jaradel]

Um, so I clicked your link for the glasses store... it's in Tysons. Are you local? I thought your name had something to do with your location. *iz confuzed*

[azriona]

Yep, I'm in the DC area, not too far from Tysons, actually. But I grew up in Arizona, and my parents still live there.

The story goes - when we moved to Arizona when I was eight, my mom wanted to get a stamp with our return address on it. I think she found a really good price in those send-away-catalog things. Anyway, she sends in the address and the money, and a few weeks later, we got back the stamp with our address.

Sort of.

Instead of "Yuma, Arizona", it said: "Yuma, Arziona

[jaradel]

That's a cool story! And I am not far from you; I'm just out 66 ;)

[maypanic]

I feel your pain regarding glasses - I'm only forced to wear them for a month or so ever fall and spring due to allergies and a couple days a week and it's enough to drive me nuts. It really doesn't matter how many people tell me they look "adorable" or "make you look smart" (gee, thanks.)

Not suggesting instead of the $400 glasses, but because variety is nice and it's good to have a few pair of backups, you might want to check out zenni optical. They're ridiculously cheap and yet very sturdy, reliable, even classy looking glasses. If you've already got an idea of styles you like from the shop, check out the measurements to get an idea of size compared to ones you have. I have the ones linked to, been wearing them more often than my expensive glasses for about 18 months and still get compliments on them all the time. At $20 a pair, it's worth it to have a few extras stashed all around.

[azriona]

Oh, now that looks interesting. I don't see anything quite like the ones at the store - close, but not exact. And I'll admit that I like trying glasses one before making a decision.

But this is definitely an option for a back-up pair, or maybe prescription sunglasses......

Thank you!

[rosewarren]

I have a recipe - I just have no time to type it out. Sometime today, really.

And glasses - blech. I've worn them since I was 10. I did contacts for years until I got pregnant and couldn't tolerate them anymore. And now I'm too lazy. But I make sure to get the nicest, most flattering pair I can find since I have them on ALL THE TIME. Yes, this is painful when you pay cash and don't have vision insurance, but I'M WORTH IT.

[azriona]

Well, the insurance will pay for up to $130 of them - which isn't all that much, considering. Makes me wonder what the heck I have insurance for, honestly. I might have to sit and do the math and determine if it's really worth it, or if I'd do just as well to save the money and use that instead.

But I agree with you on getting the best pair possible - hence why the idea of $400 makes me quibble, but not that much. The guy at the store was touting them as basically my general glasses for the next ten to fifteen years - and he's been wearing his for ten years, and they're still fine. (One of the pairs I'm looking at is very similar to his, construction-wise.) Which I think makes a lot of sense.

So I'll go back tonight with aforementioned co-worker, and see what she thinks. But in the meantime...did you click on the Zenni Optical link maypanic provided above? I don't see anything quite like what I saw at this store, but wow does it look intriguing....

[rosewarren]

I love the thought of cheap eyewear! I have such astigmatism that I need special-order lenses, which is what always pushes me over the edge, price-wise. This summer I bought new frames and lenses AND new sunglass frame and lenses. Yikes. My frames tend to be in the $100-$200 price range before I buy the lenses. And yeah, I question whether vision insurance is worth it. Thankfully we can afford my shopping sprees, and I get to go where I want. Which is always Lenscrafters, because that's where my husband worked in college, but I've always been very happy with them.

[rosewarren]

But I do change frames every two or three years. The thought of wearing the ones I chose ten years ago makes me shudder. Fifteen years ago? I cringe when I picture aqua metal frames. Yes, aqua. Very round, metal aqua frames. I've burned most of the photos.

[jaradel]

I've worn glasses since I was 16, and I did do full-time contacts for a while, but pregnancy changed my body chemistry and now my eyes get too irritated with contacts. I'm in total agreement with spending more for glasses you will love; I love my Coach frames, which are the first plastic frames I've ever had. I also pay a little extra for the lightweight lenses and the Transitions feature, but my vision insurance does cover part of the cost. And I cringe when I see pics of myself in previous frames, like the green half-rims that were my first glasses, my gold wire-rim phase (blech), and my rimless phase - a nice idea in theory, but horrible in practice. I am exceedingly pleased with my Coach frames, though, which is why I haven't bothered to go back to the eye doc - I only go if I hate my frames, or if my vision has become blurry again

[azriona]

and my rimless phase - a nice idea in theory, but horrible in practice

LOL. One of the frames I was considering is rimless. Gorgeous, too - partially because they did a number on the edges, and they were bright and shiny, not dull like you get at the chain stores. They sparkled.

But ultimately I went for the other pair, because while the rimless were nice, I worried that they were just too flimsy. And heck, if I'm going to wear glasses, why hide it?

Did you hang out on any particular channel?

Yes, but catch me if I remember what it was called! And I sure don't remember the names of anyone I chatted with. I know there was another student at my college and we chatted like crazy, but we never really had the same spark IRL. Ah well.

When is the cutoff for submissions?

November 1. You have loads of time.

[talloakslady]

Some how I am very glad I don't work with you anymore, because I couldn't stand the stress of having to help you choose between $400 dollar frames.