Over the course of the last twenty years, I have cringed every time I looked in the mirror to comb my hair or brush my teeth. It’s not the visage of my aging face that troubles me, it’s the decrepit condition of my eyeglasses that gives me pause—more specifically it’s the sight of the frame. What started out as a gold-colored, wire-rimmed frame, is now a multi-colored one, with sections of gold interspersed with sections of silver where the gold plating has worn away.
The thought of replacing them has crossed my mind on numerous occasions, but what has always held me back is the exorbitant cost. The last time I purchased eyeglasses, the price tag was somewhere around $500 for the frame and lenses (I wear progressive lenses). Even though I had cataract surgery about eighteen years ago, I still require prescription eyeglasses to correct the astigmatism that the artificial lenses implanted in my eyes fail to remedy. I shudder to think what an opportunistic optometrist would charge for a pair today—probably around $700. What to do? What to do?
The answer to my dilemma is the Internet. I know what you’re thinking: Is he really going to buy eyeglasses from Amazon.com? No, no, of course not. But the Internet is where I went to begin my search for affordable eyewear. “The best best places to buy eyeglasses online” is the phrase I searched with, and, lo and behold I found a site that told me just where to shop: Thewirecutter.com. The site is an affiliate of the “failing” New York Times, and the article I found on it listed the top ten, online eyeglass emporiums, along with the pros and cons of each. The best, according to the article, was WarbyParker.com, followed closely by felixandiris.com. I checked them both out.
Both Warby Parker and felix+iris provide a terrific service that permits you to try on frames at home—with no cost or obligation. You choose as many as five frames and they will mail them to you, pre-paid each way, to try on within a five-day period. So, I am anxiously awaiting my first five frames from Warby Parker, which should arrive sometime this week. Then, once I have chosen a frame, I will submit my written prescription from my optometrist, and they will make my glasses and mail them to me within a week. If I don’t like the frames from Warby Parker, I’ll repeat the process with felix+iris. Both have a 30-day, no questions asked, return policy, and a one year warranty against manufacturer defects. And the best part? A fixed price of roughly $300 for the frames and progressive lenses—and much, much less for single prescription (somewhere around $11-$150). And scratch-resistant, anti-glare coating is included.
At last, within a week or two, thanks to the Internet, I will be able to finally look in the mirror without wincing. I can hardly wait. (Pictures to follow, once the deed is done.)
(TO BE CONT’D)
Author Joe Perrone Jr's Blog 
I ended up at Walmart the last time and paid $200 ( I think) for a pair of plastic frames with no nose piece to get caught in my hair when I place them on my head. The eye doctor wanted $700 for a slightly more stylish plastic frame. The doctor told me progressives just were not for me because I complained until they got the close-up part low enough I didn’t have to wear them on the end of my nose to drive. I think I need to look for a doctor that will try harder. I can’t see to drive AND my car dash at the same time, or where I’m shooting, walking and my camera. So on and off the glasses go. I am looking forward to your follow up. I’d love to try somewhere cheaper but they can go by my eye doctors flawed prescription of where my eyes look when I’m looking out of a frame. I hope you love yours.
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We shall see (pun intended). I have a particular problem, because I have slight double vision (a souvenir of two surgeries for a detached retina), so I need a verrrrrrry low reading section.
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You are a true visionary! (Progressives take a while to get used to. Some people like my wife have no problems from the start while others like our friend in Italy say “Non c’è modo!”
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Day one, no problemo. But I remember my very first pair of glasses (I was 10 years old), and I thought the floor was dropping away. Took a day or two, but I adjusted. 🙂
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Can’t wait to see the “specs”! Love you bunches! B. (your wife) lol
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The better with which to see you, my pretty. Love you more! 🙂
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You two really do need a room. ❤😁
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Hi Joe,
You’re on the right track. The success of online services is the result of low quality, high cost eye care chains. I got my last pair at a kiosk in a local retail giant. The cost was close to 300. Just after the warranty expired, the plastic lens got bubbles that soon became pits. I returned to the provider, and they were unsympathetic.(polite way of saying out of warranty buddy, get lost). The brain is a marvelous contraption, and is now compensating for my looking through the pitted area. Maybe after your follow up report, I will follow your example. There’s a new one just down the road, that features an owl as the mascot. My wife loves owls, so we may go there for that reason. The last good fitting I got was in 1977. Thank you Dr. Baum, wherever you are. My nose and ears have always presented a challenge in getting a good fit. The good thing about approaching 73, is that these organs are drooping, so it seems less of a problem now, getting a good fit. Many people use contacts, but I could never get over the image of someone searching the carpet for a dropped lens. My last professional position was for a major eye care medical device manufacturer. Most of the clinical care experts there wore eyeglasses. Not lasik or contacts! Hint.
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My frames are on the way, and I have an appointment Tuesday for my eye exam. I will definitely report back. 🙂
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I’ve worn glasses since the age of 4. At the time, I believe I asked why there were 2 clocks on the wall. A trip into NYC to a specialist to correct the turn in my right eye followed a visit with a local ophthalmologist. My parents were told eye surgery was a really big deal and that I would have to wear glasses anyway because I was farsighted. No surgery, and I became “that” kid with glasses. The frizzy hair didn’t help either!
I tried contacts when I was in my 20’s. They drove me crazy in my office because people smoked. I started wearing my glasses all the time. After cataract surgery last year, all I needed were readers. CVS took care of that little problem. $6 later I had readers! Problem solved? Hardly! My FAMILY hated that I wasn’t wearing glasses. I didn’t look like Mom, Grammy, or even Jane! Truth be told, I kind of agreed with them, and I was tired of always looking for the reading glasses. I’m back to glasses…progressives which I have worn for years. They are clear on the top and reading strength on the bottom.
Medicare “gives” you a pair for free. My free pair cost $300 because I wanted the Viralux Crizal Progressive lenses. I guess the only free part was the limited selection of Medicare approved (aka cheap) frames.
I am anxious to hear how you do with your online purchase!
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As I write this, my five “free” try-on frames are in the mail, so I shouldn’t have long to wait . . . we shall see what we shall see soon. 🙂
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Joeseppy,
All the times we have sat together I never once noticed any problem with your glasses! Now stop looking at yourself in the mirror and wishing you were young again.
Your friend,
The Donald
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I just want to look as good as you do. 🙂
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You guys need to get a room. That said, I agree that your current glasses look just fine. I look forward to seeing you in the new ones.
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