There have been multiple accounts created with the sole purpose of posting advertisement posts or replies containing unsolicited advertising.

Accounts which solely post advertisements, or persistently post them may be terminated.

I need new glasses. The only insurance-approved place I can shop online will cost $250 with my needs. I went to a "cheap" glasses website that doesn't accept insurance: $250. Yay, America.

The optometrist recommended seamless bifocals. I have a very painful nerve condition in my face (atypical trigeminal neuralgia), so this is what I need with glasses: the lightest weight frames possible- known as ultra light- with the lightest weight lenses possible and automatically darkening lenses so I don’t need the weight of sunglasses. The cheapest frames brought the total to $250 on the site the insurance worked with.

The frames are $20 on the cheap site. Everything else in the cost is the lenses.

As for why I have to buy them online- I don’t want anyone touching my face unless it’s absolutely necessary. The exam was painful enough.

American for-profit healthcare is fucking awesome.

Death_Equity ,

I buy from glassesshop, I think the cheapest pair is $50 for frame and lenses. I went all in on the thinnest lenses and transitions, I think it was $150.

Target optical does vision tests for $75 IIRC, and I go there to get a prescription that I give to glassesshop and pick up a cheap pair and a nicer pair. Still not free.99, but much cheaper than other routes without insurance.

eestileib ,

This is a preview of America in early November. Everyone seems to have forgotten that all the swing states now have Trump loyalist election officials who campaigned on refusing to allow a Democrat to win.

teamevil ,

Zenioptical it’s like 75 for every option and I wear them more than the glasses I paid hundreds for

Nougat ,

I tried bifocals, and they are just not for me. I work on a computer all day, and having to jog my head around in order to have appropriate focus sucks.

So ... when I go to get an eye exam, I have them give me two prescriptions. One for distance (driving, movies, whatever), and another for about six inches past arm's length - how far away my main monitor is. Then I get two pair of glasses online for ~$40 each, and a pair of distance sunglasses for $50.

I like the distance sunglasses better than transitions lenses, because they're darker than the transitions would ever get. Adding other fancy coatings will certainly increase the price of the lenses, but I think I only did scratch resistant on my regular distance pair, since I'm not doing somersaults while on the computer.

DevCat ,
@DevCat@lemmy.world avatar

This is what I did through Zenni as well. Only, I intend to get a third pair of glasses. The distance at which you read a computer screen compared to a physical book is very different.

Strider ,

Just to give you a little something:

My glasses cost around 500€ to 700€ per glass (so around 1200€ plus frame) and I have to pay them myself.

Bishma ,
@Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de avatar

I’m honestly not sure which frustrates me more. That teeth and eyes are not considered important enough aspects of health to be covered under normal health insurance. Or the shit insurance that’s available even when you pay for additional policies to cover them.

Veedem ,
@Veedem@lemmy.world avatar

The lack of coverage of teeth and eyes in standard health insurance is because of dentists and optometrists opting out when insurance was becoming a thing.

hakase ,

I always just go to America’s Best. $80 for an eye exam and two pairs of glasses is hard to beat.

FlyingSquid OP ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

As far as I know, that’s not around here. But the eye exam was only $30, so at least the insurance helped there. It would have only been $10, but they said if I gave them an extra $20, they’d do some imaging thing which meant they didn’t have to dilate my eyes. Totally worth an extra $20.

greenshirtdenimjeans ,

Check out Firmoo, I’ve gotten really cheap prescription glasses on there multiple times.

FlyingSquid OP ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Never heard of them. I’ll check them out. Thanks.

Reverendender ,

Seamless bifocals=Progressives. I got mine at Zenni Optical for like $145 all in.

FlyingSquid OP ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Yeah, sorry, that’s what I meant. They used to be called ‘seamless bifocals’ back in the 90s and I still think of them that way.

Postmortal_Pop ,

Zennioptical.com

I got mine for $30, they can make them mute expensive, but for just glasses, it’s perfect.

CM400 ,

I got mine with their HD lenses, no-line bifocals with antiglare coating, and the total came to $135 shipped.

Postmortal_Pop ,

While my initial reaction to this was “wholly fuck that’s expensive” I realize that all those modifiers would make it close to a grand at a glasses shop.

henfredemars ,

I used them and they were great good-enough glasses.

JimmyBigSausage ,

I have bought at least 10 pair from Zenni optical and they were just fine.

Nougat ,

I have had less than stellar results with Zenni, ymmv

dditty ,

I bought one pair from them and they were pretty crumby. Also getting the pupillary distance is tricky.

Nougat ,

Measuring your own PD is ehhh. You can have the optometrist give you PD at your exam.

TotallyNotSpezUpload ,

I understand your frustration. This sucks major league. I know a fairly cheep German glasses company who ship worldwide (production for most glasses worldwide is Thailand, that’s where the company gets their products as well). They’ve got a very generous refund policy as well. If you want to, I can pm you their website.

FlyingSquid OP ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Please do, thank you.

TotallyNotSpezUpload ,

Done under my original comment.

TotallyNotSpezUpload ,

Done under my original comment.

FlyingSquid OP ,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Got it. Thanks!

TotallyNotSpezUpload ,

The international (english) site is: Glasses24.com

EleventhHour ,
@EleventhHour@lemmy.world avatar

Can you please post that here publicly so everyone can benefit?

TotallyNotSpezUpload ,

Done under my original comment.

TotallyNotSpezUpload ,

Under my original comment.

Sirence ,

Can you pm me the link as well?

TotallyNotSpezUpload ,

Brille24.de

Unless they hiked up their prices or went out of business in the past 2 years, the link should be grand.

If you need help regarding navigation around the website or how to put in the data for the glasses, please let me know.

BearOfaTime ,

Yay the conglomerate that owns glasses production and distribution.

It’s not just the US, Essilor is a virtual monopoly.

That said, my glasses are 50% less online than at a local shop.

Also, thank insurance companies for inflating prices

cerement ,
@cerement@slrpnk.net avatar

Essilor monopolizes lenses, Safilo monopolizes frames – neither offer direct sale

teamevil ,

Why is it always luxottica

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • [email protected]
  • random
  • lifeLocal
  • goranko
  • All magazines
    •