Glasses wearers: Are you disgusted at how much they cost?
By hezoid
@hezoid (2144)
March 27, 2007 3:13pm CST
I'm due to have an eye test soon, and get some new pairs of glasses. I'm not looking forward to having to fork out for the eye test, frnaes & lenses. I especially think the price of lenses is disgustingly high, and don't think the companies that make them should be allowed to make much profit on them. Frames are more reasonable, at least there is a wide choice in frames and they are avilable to suit most budgets. I will be going to Specsavers where you get BOGOF frames, but the lenses alone will cost me at least £60 a pair (and that was 2 years ago!) becuase my eye sight is getting so bad now and i have to buy the more expensive ones unless i want the lenses to look like milk bottle bottoms! So that's £120 for 2 pairs (i have to get 2 as i couldn't live with just 1 pair in case that pair got broken as i'd not even be able to go outside my house without glasses) before i've even thought about frames.
What's you oppinion?
2 people like this
6 responses
@nelltx (277)
• United States
27 Mar 07
I agree that glasses are priced way to high. But it seems that if it is something that a person truly needs, the price is always high. Like prescription medications. I recently bought glasses & with the dr. visit, frames & lens, I paid about $185, it is ridiculous! It is shameful that these companies can't sell things for a small profit, no, they have to try & sell them as high as they can to get the most money out of people.
@zeemusicuk (78)
•
18 Aug 07
Modestah i am a current employee at Specsavers, you cannot do this with bog standard reading glasses at the local supermarket simply because the majority of these glasses don't have frames that you can unscrew to fit the lenses in. The lenses are permantly set in. It would be impossible to just simply pop a normal polycarbonate lens in the current frame if you were unable to unscrew it, simply becuase the lens could chip or bubble.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
27 Mar 07
I live in Canada and we shop at sears optical for glasses where we usually get some sort of deal. Such as bogof or free sunglasses or any type of glasses for $150, but had to recently purchase them for our daughter and that was kinda pricey...they ended up costing $147...mind you, the frames are almost impossible to break and she is very careful, but still
1 person likes this
@spiritwolf52 (2300)
•
30 Mar 07
The last pair of glasses that I got was when I was still in the States. They cost over $800.00. I need granny glasses and they can be spendy. At least here in Scotland we get free eye tests. That will help a bit. You should get your eyes checked/new glasses every 2 years. Well, it has been over 5 years now. I really should go and get new glasses as they are not strong enough anymore. However, I can't afford glasses. I don't need to worry abut frames as my old ones are still good. I will only need the lenses, well after the free exam that is. Most places try to get you to buy new frames even if you don't need them.
@draconess (650)
• Canada
1 Apr 07
I don't even want to think about having to go in for an eye exam and get new glasses... it always costs several hundred dollars! Lenses are the ridiculously expensive part, although now that I'm no longer covered for free annual eye exams that's another $60. When all is said and done I'm usually out anywhere from $200-$450 depending on whether I found a good deal or not. The best price I get is usually when lenses are on sale for 50% off, as my strong prescription makes that the most expensive part. I'm thinking about saving up for the laser eye surgery some day, it would save money in the long run...
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
1 Apr 07
I hadn't seen an eyedoctor in a good six years because I dreaded the expense and we had a lot of financial troubles with a child in critical condition and hospitalized for a year, and consequently unemployment for my husband. Then last year I found out that our health insurance provides 1 thorough eye exam every 2 years! my eyes had been worsening so I jumped on that band wagon! well turns out that my prescription is the same but I needed bifocals, oh boy!
yeah, expensive! I got the classic square in the bottom bifocals, I wish I spent the $85 more and got the progressive ones that you do not see the line...but she told me those diminish peripheral vision and I thought that would be awful for driving.
@smellsyummy (635)
• United States
27 Mar 07
They are very costly, but it is worth it in my opinion for good eyesight. It is a nesessity that they are able to make profit on, it could be even worse.
It is the same as gas prices and the like. They know we need them, so they can inflate the prices. Sad but true.
