Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with eyeglasses

Wide eyeglasses?

tellumo — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:33:08 -0800

Can you help me find glasses that fit my head? I've only been able to find a fit with the widest frames available, and finding them has been a matter of trial and error, mostly the latter. My current glasses have a total width of 144 mm, and I think I may be able to go down a millimeter or two, but this is the first time in ages I haven't felt like I need to hack the temple pieces into some bizarre and unlikely shape for my glasses to fit reasonably well. I'd like to have at least one backup pair that fits similarly well.

I'm looking for somewhere I can go, whether online or in or near San Francisco, where I can see a wide range of frames with widths from 142-145 mm, and purchase them at a reasonable price. I want to be able to find frames that will fit me without needing to manually scan a bunch of them, ideally by searching by total width. (This rules out Zenni Optical, for example--I've heard great things about them, but they don't let you search by width and I really don't want to look through a few hundred sets of frames to pull out the ten that would fit me, only to conclude that I don't like any of them. I've had the same problem at the physical optical shops I've visited.)

I used to have a pair with dark green plastic frames, which looked great, so getting into something like that would be excellent. My script is fairly standard; about -4.5 in each eye, a slight astigmatism in one, distance vision only. I don't need exotic lens materials--I've had great luck with plain polycarbonate or CR39 lenses. However, I do want an AR coating.

Low-cost eyeglasses in East Bay, CA?

ClaudiaCenter — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:49:40 -0800

Asking for a client -- free or low-cost eyeglasses in the East Bay/Alameda County? Client without money, job, or health insurance needs free or low-cost glasses in the East Bay to get his next job. Any suggestions?

Shirin's glasses?

mmf — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:58:22 -0800

I am not a viewer of Project Runway, but my neice has announced she wants glasses "just like Shirin's" on the show. If such a thing can be had at a not-insane price, where might we take her to find them?

Scratched lenses

disillusioned — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:43:29 -0800

Is anti-glare and anti-scratch coating worth it to you on eyeglasses? I've been wearing glasses since 4th grade, but this latest set of lenses, for which I opted to get what must have been the most basic offering available, frequently drives me nuts.

I'm probably a year or so into owning these, and they've scratched to hell. That's fine, so have most pairs I've ever had.

What I've noticed is especially bad about these is the glare is obscene. I notice it especially at arena events, but just in general, it's bad news.

The question I'm asking is: what combination of anti-glare/UV/anti-scratch/polycarbonate or whatnot have you found to be the best for your money? Is it worth it to automatically upgrade to their best lens package?

Moreover, is there anywhere great for buying your favorite type of lens online, so that I can pop these out, for a decent price? I have a dual (though uneven) astigmatism, but I doubt that matters much.

Thanks!

Can Contacts Replace My Progressive & Computer Glasses?

justcorbly — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:28:21 -0800

I'm considering wearing contact lenses again in lieu of eyeglasses to make working with camera viewfinders easier. I've worn glasses since i was a kid. Got the usual array of problems: Nearsightedness, astigmatism, presbyopia. Currently wear progressive lenses in my glasses. However, I find reading with my progressive lenses is unpleasant, so I usually take them off. I use a separate pair of glasses for computer work. I was fitted with a test pair of soft monovision lenses last week. They're not going to work. Close vision -- within arm's reach -- is unacceptable. I told the clinician I wanted contacts to provide vision correction at least as good as my glasses. I want any contacts I wear to work at distance vision, close vision, reading, driving, computer work, etc. She replied that I wouldn't get that with contacts. Is she right?

Eric Clapton's Glasses

phunniemee — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:58:44 -0800

What kind of glasses is Eric Clapton wearing these days? My buddy would like to know what kind of glasses Eric Clapton is wearing in this picture. Brand, style, etc.

Thanks!

Ruth Madoff's glasses.

kmennie — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:24:31 -0800

I want Ruth Madoff's glasses. Pix: 1 2 3 At first I thought they were perfectly round, which is a bit too Harry Potter for me. But they're not... And usually that style comes out either a bit comic or a bit nerdy, but these seem just right.

Any idea where to find these, what brand they are? Or do you know of very similar ones?

I just found out I have stigmata! Or is that astigmatism? The doctor's writing is kind of blurry.

synecdoche — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:59:49 -0800

So, apparently I need glasses. Where can this Canadian get the best deal on some designer frames? After a visit to the optometrist today, I'm shopping for glasses. I found a pair that I quite like—Armani 500s—but I'm wondering if I can get them any cheaper than the $165 CDN they're charging at the local store. I've scoured previous AskMes and been reading about shopping for glasses online, checked froogle and ebay, and have found cheaper sticker prices but after you factor in shipping and the exchange rate and (I'm assuming) duty, the deal isn't quite so good.

Where do Canadians get their designer frames? Or is there some secret way to find good quality replica frames that will be available on the discount sites that I have read about here? My concern with the online sites are that I can't try on the glasses to make sure they look okay or that the quality won't be so great. Or should I just go and try the cheap glasses they have in so many stores and try to find something to pop my prescription into?

So, I guess my question(s) boil(s) down to:

1) Are designer frames worth the price, or are they just the same as the cheap ones with somebody's famous name on them?

2) If I go for the nice Armani glasses, is there a cheaper place to get them than the store I was in? (Note also that I do not have a Costco membership)

Looking for an online spectacles retailer (UK) that will make lenses to a very strong prescription.

primer_dimer — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:34:28 -0800

Looking for an online spectacles retailer (UK) that will make lenses to a very strong prescription. I'm keen to take advantage of cheaper glasses by buying online (in the UK). All the online shops I've seen have prescription boxes that only go to about -6 Sphere. My prescription is about -10 Sphere in both eyes. Do the online places not cater for such strong prescriptions? They claim to use the same labs as high street opticians - is it worth emailing the sites to ask? I'd love to know of any online glasses shops that would make such strong lenses. Bonus if they offer polarized prescription sunglasses lenses.

Why can't everything be clear?

leotrotsky — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:43:56 -0800

Crystal Clear Eyeglass frames? Hi folks. I'm looking for glasses like this. Sort of like Bono, but clear. I cannot find them for the life of me. Any suggestions?

LA - Eyeglasses lenses in an hour (or a day)?

seeka — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:50:08 -0800

Where in Los Angeles can I get eyeglasses lenses (a fairly difficult perscription, at that) in an hour, or a day? Bought great frames at Old Focal's in Pasadena, but need lenses! ASAP! Thanks Meta!

What are these eyeglasses?

karizma — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:59:59 -0800

[WhatISThatFilter] What is the make and model of the eyeglasses Danny Gokey wore on the March 17th episode of American Idol? Danny Gokey of American Idol fame wore a very cool pair of glasses (yes, he wears many) on a recent episode of American Idol that aired on March 17th, 2009. I like them very much, and would like to get a pair, but I'm uncertain as to the make and model.

I have some scant ideas as to what they might be but I'd like the HiveMind confirmation if that's possible. Note the clear sides with metal within and the silver nose-bridge. Very simple, modern, light, airy, cool.

Here is a picture of the glasses.

A few notes...

- I asked this question on Yahoo Answers several weeks ago (just in case your Google searches run into it) and someone thought they were Fendi 703m. I don't think that's even close.

- It's speculated that he wears primarily Versace and Fendi branded glasses, as well as Dolce & Gabbana and possibly DKNY.

- Contact info for his supposed optometrist in Wisconsin is available but I don't really want to be *that* guy. I'm not a huge fan of him... just of the glasses.

My best guess is that the make model is Dolce & Gabbana DD 4128 (H66 - silver transparent) but I can't say for certain.

Can you help?

Thanks so much!

Cheap glasses in Ottawa?

kmennie — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 08:03:09 -0800

Where can I find cheap eyeglasses in or near Ottawa, Ontario? A friend wants bargain-basement specs to keep in the car. He's wanting to buy them in person rather than on-line.

I have a hazy memory of driving past a storefront on Merivale Road a few years ago with big window signs re. cheap glasses; this memory may or may not be accurate, and the store may or may not still be there. Somewhere in the vicinity of the Petsmart, I think. Maybe you know what I'm talking about?

Any other suggestions gratefully received -- I wear glasses myself but the only places I've bought them here are Lenscrafters -- shamefully overpriced -- and Costco, and Costco's a good deal but I'm wondering if there's even cheaper out there.

new glasses, weird reflections

Ultra Laser — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:41:20 -0800

I'm seeing annoying reflections of lights around the lenses of my new glasses. Are the frames causing this or something else? I recently acquired new spectacles. They're great except that I see reflections of lights above and below the lenses. For example, while watching TV I see the screen reflected above my field of vision. Driving at night is like looking at a disco ball, with taillight and headlight reflections above and below. The reflections vary depending on how my head is tilted.

The new glasses differ from my old ones in two respects -- I got the anti-glare coating, and the frames are translucent plastic instead of thin metal.

I was quick to blame the clear plastic frames. However, my wife mentioned this when calling our shop about her own specs, and they thought it was due to a polish on the lenses that will wear off over time. Well, there is a two week return policy, so I can't wait too long to see if that is the case.

Can anyone vouch for the shop's diagnosis? Should I ditch these frames?

Don't break the little wire?

T.D. Strange — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:19:23 -0800

Glasses Filter: How do I put a lens back into frames without a bottom rim? I got some new eyeglasses recently, for the first time I picked out the semi-frameless type with the metal frame only on the top part and the lenses held in place with a nylon wire that looks like fishing line.

Well, I knocked the lens out within a week, and had to take it back to Lenscrafters to have them fix it. Im afraid that I'll stretch the line or break it if I pull on it myself to make it fit around the lens.

So I dropped them and popped it out again this morning, and a trip across town to the doctor's office is not in my schedule for the next couple days. Is there an easy way to pop the lens back into the frame without messing it up? There has to be a tool or a trick to it, right?

Searched eyeglasses+repair, got nothing. Googlefu is weak as well.

Headhunting Herbie Hancock's glasses

paisley henosis — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:52:26 -0800

In Possiblities, among other places, Herbie Hancock wears these slightly tinted, curved glasses, which come to a bit of a point right over his nose. My question, is where can I find a pair? These are similar, but not the same, and he also wore a second set of frames in Possibilities which was entirely different. These frames are similar, but not the same, for a further idea.

Sorry for yet another "I want famous person X's glasses/sunglasses" thread, but not sorry enough to not make it. I really wish I could find a more helpful photo, but I can't, anywhere I've looked. Help me out, MeFi! :D

PD's nuts!

gensubuser — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:44:23 -0800

What is wrong with my nauseating (but clear) glasses which do not preserve shape throughout the field of vision? I bought a new pair of glasses online, and love the savings and the looks, but am having trouble adjusting to the new prescription, I think. It is the first time with astigmatic correction, maybe, but there are couple other things that I was mulling over as the possible cause. The nauseating part is tracking an object as I turn my head--it distorts and skews differently depending on where it is in my field of vision (though it is pretty much always in focus). In particular, towards the top things shrink vertically, the top left skews ccw, the top right skews clockwise (it's tough to tell about the bottom).

My new optometrist "forgot" to write down the Pupillary Distance measurement on the prescription, and I was disgusted enough with their salesmanship that I ended up calling my old Lenscrafters to see what was used there (it was within the Net's typical range). But actually, I seem to remember the same thing happening with my last pair, though it that case it was free to have the lenses remade. They came out thicker (about as thick as now, actually), but non-distorting. They definitely remeasured my PD at that point, but may have adjusted the new glasses slightly in person.

I've now read about the "prism effect" which I assume to be produced by a wrong PD measurement. Since I'm tied to the online shop for half-price remakes, is it more likely that:
a) the lenses are somehow inferiorily made in their edge territories, and I should break down and buy local.
b) the PD is wrong, I should be assertive and get a PD measurement from the new doc [or, I should have them measured for accuracy there]
or
c) the new cylindrical measurement, though unblurifying, is distorting in a way that isn't true to my eye at large angles?

Or... something else?

Under the sea, under the sea, everything's blurry, all fuzzyswirly, take it from me.

not_on_display — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:33:36 -0800

Prescription swimming eyewear hacks please! I'm going to the Caribbean in a few days. I plan on swimming a lot, and I want to see clearly what's under the surface. I wear (thick) glasses; I have two pairs of backup glasses. I do not want, nor do I have the time or money, to buy a pair of prescription goggles.

So! I want to figure out the best way to affix a pair of lenses to the inside of a mask (yet to be bought). I figure, take off the armpieces, then (tape? epoxy?) (the whole frame? just the lenses?) to the inside of the mask.

Any suggestions? Any experiences? Any materials I should or shouldn't use? Is there a better idea?

Best Eyeglasses

qsysopr — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:38:44 -0800

Are there any better eyeglasses than Marchon Airlocks with Crizal lenses? I bought my Airlocks three years ago and for the first time, I never had buyer's remorse upon a purchase of eyeglasses. Great style (you can hardly see them) and comfort.
I'm due for another pair of glasses and I'd like to know if any of you believe there's a better pair of eyeglasses available.
Bonus points if the glasses are male or unisex and / or being available at Costco.

Secret places to buy rad glasses

modernpoverty — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:53:50 -0800

On the hunt for new eyeglasses in Richmond VA (and surrounding areas) and/or Chattanooga TN. There used to be a couple of cool places to get interesting/unusual frames in Richmond, but checking them out now yields nothing worth a damn. Do you know of any secretly fly places to get new eyeballs either in Richmond or somewhere within a reasonable drive?

I'm traveling to Chattanooga TN this weekend, so if you know of any secret spots there please let me know.

Insert lens here

Clyde Mnestra — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:57:00 -0800

Is it easy to get existing lenses put in replacement frames of the same type -- esp. when the latter are ordered online, and it would be ideal to have them re-inserted locally? Family member broke a temple on his frames; the manufacturer claims to not recognize the frame type, so repair/spare part is out of the question. Nonetheless, I have several choices: (1) buy replacement frame of the same type (so lenses should fit) from a local Pearle Vision: (2) buy replacement frame from online site at 2/3s price, and send them the lenses; (3) buy replacement frame as #2, but get it sent to me for lens installation -- saving some shipping hassle and risk of damaging lenses (which risk site will not assume).

Does anyone have success with #2? Or experience with persuading some local store to manage the insertion at low cost? I have always been struck by the kindness of stores in making petty adjustments to my own specs, regardless of whether I am purchasing something, but this seems a bit much -- and I am not sure whether they typically offer this as a low-fee service. Online site was not specific, even via customer service. Thanks in advance.

Where to by good frames in Philly?

Tomorrowful — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:42:21 -0800

Where in/around Philly to buy really snazzy eyeglass frames? I'm going to be getting new lenses/frames very soon, and given the whole part-of-my-face thing, I want to find some really cool, flattering, eye-catching (so to speak) frames. The selection at the usual mall chains isn't really doing anything to impress me. Where can I/should I look? Note that while I'm willing to spend some money to make my face look good, I'd rather spend less than more - I really don't care about designer names at all, just cool frame shapes. So what are my options in or around Philly?

(Also, for the purposes of the question, let's please ignore the existence of online options; I'm way too picky about this and really want a physical place to go into, look at things, have somewhere to go back to if anything's wrong, etc.)

please help the bespectacled leprechaun!

TonyRobots — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:55:16 -0800

Is it normal for eyeglasses to make one feel much, much shorter? I just got my first pair of eyeglasses at 34 years old. About a year ago I tried on a pair of my friend's glasses and had a "wow" moment -- everything looked much clearer, and more visually arresting. In the meantime I'd noticed some deterioration in my distance vision, so I decided to have an eye exam. So, yadda yadda yadda, now I have glasses. Fairly weak prescription (-.25, -.50 if I remember correctly.) They do in fact help me read things at long distances, and things mostly look sharper (at ~8+ feet), but I am definitely not having that "wow" feeling. Most importantly, though, they make me feel like I am about a foot shorter. Or more precisely, like the ground is about a foot closer to my eyes. It's like I'm wading in sidewalk up to my shins. Very, very disconcerting.

Is this normal? I just tried on my friend's glasses again and his don't have that effect. Very similar lens/frame shape. A few people have tried mine and reported the same sensation.

Do I just suck it up and try to "adjust?" Or does the lack of "wow" and this weird dwarfing effect (that has tripped me up a few times already) add up to some sort of shenanigans that I should get straightened out?

Durable Anti-scratch Coatings?

coffeefilter — Sat, 17 May 2008 14:38:58 -0800

[Eyeglasses] Anti-scratch coatings deteriorate after a couple of years. Anyone found durable coatings? Has anyone found durable anti-scratch coatings for eyeglasses? Durable meaning good for 5-10 years, for example.

And fairly tough, i.e., able to withstand regular 100 degree temperature changes. And while we're at it, why not anti-reflective, and anti-fog coatings, too.

And x-ray lenses ... (But seriously, if durable coatings don't really exist, then I figure I should be thinking of eyeglass lenses as a disposable item to be obtained from the internet. Must swear off Lens Crafters, too.)

GlassesFilter

bad grammar — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:52:44 -0800

Why are eyeglasses so expensive? I'm astigmatic, so I need bifocals / progressive lenses, which are more expensive. But eyeglasses seem needlessly expensive. I suppose it's the combination of fashion (nobody wants to look ugly) with necessity (as with other health care).

In my area, it's reached a point where frame mending services are doing a good business and a charity collects used eyeglasses and matches the prescriptions with the needs of people who otherwise couldn't afford new ones.

And forget about getting sunglasses, the latest fashionista affectation. I would have to have prescription sunglasses.