the cheapest lens replacement online

August 5, 2008 3:22 PM

I have an existing pair of glasses frames I'd like to get fitted with prescription lenses. I've done entirely too much research, and I still have questions!

I've read this question, but no one mentions any online retailers who offer lens refitting.

The only online eyeglass retailer I've found who offers lens replacement is 39dollarglasses.com, who charge $39+$5.95 shipping. I'm looking for a better price.

According to Glassy Eyes, Global Eyeglasses refits lenses for $6.99. That sounds perfect; but I can't find any information about it on their horribly designed clunk-tastic website.

Zenni, Goggles4U, and Eye Buy Direct DO NOT offer lens refitting. I can't figure out if Optical4Less
or Specs on the Net do.

I'm pretty sure every brick-and-mortar optometrist will charge more than $44.95. The two I've asked for price quotes gave me bitch glares for not wanting to buy their $300 frames and gave the exact same price of $99.

Random TMI: I know that any vintage/drugstore frames I get fitted with lenses have a good chance of breaking or not lasting as long as the super expensive rip off glasses from the optometrist. I already have a pair of "high quality" frames+glasses from a brick and mortar operation, and I think they're boring. I want candy-colored knockoff Wayfarers, and crazy catseye frames, and I don't care if they break in 6 months.

I also know that it's easy to get frames+lenses super cheap from the aforementioned websites. I already have some. I just find most of their selection boring (what's with all the black, already?). I am only interested in hearing about retailers who will allow me to ship them an exisiting pair of frames I already own.

I already have, and understand how to read, my current prescription.

I'm only interested in the cheapest and thickest plastic single vision lenses. I don't need prisms, or bifocals, or anti-scratch, or high index lenses. My prescription is -4/-4.25 and I've already been warned that these cheap lenses will be hella coke bottle. It doesn't bother me.

Please tell me someone will put prescription lenses into existing frames for less than $44.95! There are so many awesome non-prescription frames in the world, and so few brilliant frames available from optometrists.

posted by Juliet Banana to clothing, beauty, & fashion (5 comments total)

Random TMI: I know that any vintage/drugstore frames I get fitted with lenses have a good chance of breaking or not lasting as long as the super expensive rip off glasses from the optometrist. I already have a pair of "high quality" frames+glasses from a brick and mortar operation, and I think they're boring. I want candy-colored knockoff Wayfarers, and crazy catseye frames, and I don't care if they break in 6 months.

I don't have any thoughts on getting frames upgraded, so to speak, but I do think you should know that, despite what eyeglass retailers claim, this is a load of crap. I'm currently the proud owner of 7 pairs of glasses bought cheaply online (my image is somewhere in the glassy eyes flickr group--look for a girl with a big tattoo on her chest), including pairs I've worn daily for a month or more, and none have broken. Neither have my $2 sunglasses that I took with me to climb Masada this summer. And I've gotten the thickest lenses from every site I've ordered from, and some I've gotten in glass (for cheap transitions lenses), and despite having a -5/-4.5 prescrip, they're not very thick at all, at least not notably so. They told me at Sears, of course, that with a prescription like mine I needed high index lenses. Poppycock.

Oh, maybe try this link for contacting Globaleyeglasses to ask them about the lenses?
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 3:54 PM on August 5, 2008

Are you a member of a warehouse club like Sam's, Costco, or BJ's? I got my lenses changed at a BJ's for $50. I know this is more than you want to pay, but I got high index lenses with some special coatings (my prescription is -8.5/-9); if you don't care about these options, it's going to be much cheaper. I think Costco is supposed to be even less expensive.
posted by bluefly at 4:31 PM on August 5, 2008

Also, I wanted to add that BJ's was having a sale that day, which is why I got such a good deal. So my other piece of advice is to keep your eyes out for such sales from regular stores as well.
posted by bluefly at 4:43 PM on August 5, 2008

Try your local Wal-Mart.

A while back I needed new lenses for my cool-but-old-and-delicate frames. I went to Cost-Co and they recommended Wal-Mart, saying they do the best work. Good prices, too, because they have one central, specialized facility to which they mail all the glasses. Takes a little while, but it's efficient and they did a great job.

I don't remember the exact price, but it was pretty cheap.
posted by CruiseSavvy at 4:48 PM on August 5, 2008

I appreciate the Wal-Mart suggestion. I didn't even think of that, but it's still not the best price, at $70.
posted by Juliet Banana at 4:55 PM on August 5, 2008