[jprinz99]

SO I need new glasses (progressives). The docs office is too expensive for me (but he is a great eye doc!). Anybody purchase glasses at WalMart or Sams or BJs Warehouse?

Pro/Con and Opinions? Other suggestions?

appreciate any advise on where I can get my Rx filled and still have enough $$ to eat and pay the mortgage

[Blessings2You]

Consumer Reports had an article on glasses in the August issue. Here are their ratings arranged by overall score, with the median price in parentheses:

Costco Optical - 87 ($186)
Private doctor's office - 85 (300)
Independent eyeglass shop - 84 (295)
Kaiser Permanente - 83 (266)
For Eyes Optical - 82 (181)
BJ's Optical - 80 (176)
Sam's Club Optical - 80 (225)
Shopko Eyecare Center - 80 (223)
Walmart Vision Center - 78 (204)
LensCrafters - 77 (298)
Sears Optical - 77 (220)
Pearle Vision - 75 (305)
EyeMasters - 74 (219)
JCPenney Optical - 72 (213)
Visionworks - 72 (200)
America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses - 71 (210)

[mrsD]

There was also another study done on "QUALITY".. errors etc.

Costco came out at the top with the most accurate and affordable
glasses. Lenscrafters were not sterling by any means.

Whoever you choose, make sure you get a return guarantee.
If they grind the lenses wrong or do not center each lens properly there can be distortion etc. After one week if you still have adjustment issues, return them.

I had one issue once from a private optical place... My new lenses had a light reflection in the middle of the upper third of each lens.
Like a flying saucer... I had to fight like crazy to get this replaced.
I have worn glasses since I was twelve and NEVER had a reflection blob in my visual field!

[jprinz99]

wonderful info!!! Thank you very much! As a long time wearer of bifocals and progressives, I have learned when something isn't right to stand my ground - firmly yet politely

My lenses alone were over 400 bucks at doctors, it was just to high for me. I have never purchased glasses anywhere but the eyedoctors' before.

[Erin524]

I bought glasses from Costco a few years ago, and they were so badly made that I could not wear them. I'm pretty sure they weren't centered right. There were imperfections in the lenses too. Blobs where it looked like blind spots that I've had from optic neuritis. I returned them, and swore to never buy glasses at Costco ever again. The employee that had helped me was also kind of rude about it. She said I "just needed to get used to them".

I had a similar experience at EyeMasters. Badly made glasses, and employees that thought I just needed to get used to them. Returned those too.

I've bought glasses at Lenscrafters, and they've usually done an ok job. At least when I had a problem once, they fixed it quickly for me. I just don't go to Lenscrafters anymore because they're at the mall, and I'd have to do a lot of walking to get to their store.

I get my glasses at my eye doctor's office now. Bought glasses there twice, and when I have, I'll ask what they have on clearance for the frames. I've gotten some nice frames that actually ended up being under $100 (frames only) Lenses were kind of expensive, but the fact that the frames were on clearance helped make the glasses a bit more affordable.

Plus, the guys at the eye doctor's office make sure everything is perfect, and don't try telling me that I just have to get used to the lenses if there is something wrong with them.

[SallyC]

I'm still trying to figure out how to get an eye exam and new glasses,
without leaving the house.. In the meantime, wearing one of 3 for
15.00 pairs of mag reading glasses, I ordered online.. Not good,
but good enough.

[My3sons]

I took my prescription to a WalMart and got progressives made. They were about $89.00, much cheaper than my Dr.s office was. They have worked great for me.

My husband had a pair done at a different WalMart and he has had good luck with them also. I think the tech who does the measurements and ordering can be the difference. Good luck finding what you need at a good price.

[doydie]

WOW, interesting. I go to LensCrafters, have for years. The eye doctor there does a yearly dilated exam. His sister has MS and he has done what I had always thought up to now a good exam. I have never had any trouble at all with any glasses I have bought there. If I lose a screw, yeah yeah, we hall have a lose screw, I just walk in some one fixes it, cleans my glasses and says thanks for coming back in and seeing us again. Never charges me anything and my glasses were coons ages old. Now with my cataracts done I don't go in and see them but I still go to the doctor.

[jprinz99]

on a whim I asked my husband to drive me over to BJs (I have a card there I wasn't using). The optician was extrmely nice and seemed knowledgable. She helped me pick out new frames and told me about a sale on the HD version of lenses I needed. Before my husband could finish his slice of pizza I had picked out new frames (normally this is sort of like trying on bathing suits in level of drama), got the lenses measured for my eyes and paid.

Amazing!!! I hope they come out as good as I hope . Almost was too simple, ya know? Final cost was $294.00!!! .

Local eye doc said I would have spent $700.00+ He also said they recommend the local military Exchange, Costco and BJs for clients with good results.

Eye doc said that it all depends on the quality & training of the optical staff, and that one store in a chain can be good, another terrible.

still so happy that I may be in "reverse sticker shock"

[ewizabeth]

I had to get new glasses and sunglasses and they were insanely expensive, $1,200 for the both of them. My insurance paid about half and I have a health spending acct through work that I paid the balance. I got designer frames but still!! They are really expensive! I had to get progressive bifocals on both because the regular ones are hard for me to see with. I'll have to find a cheaper place someday. I really like my eye doctor and they do a great job but they are very, very expensive.