How will retail prescription eyewear stores survive in the near future?

[steppinthrax]

You may see them as almost identical, but those little differences can be big when you are shopping for something that is not only a medical device, but also fashion. If you don't care how glasses look on you other than meeting the most basic parameters of what is right for your face shape, then yeah, a lot are almost identical.

And this may be more true for wire frames than acetate. Most acetate styles these days have large screw areas where the front meets the temples. I hate that look, and it was exceptionally hard to find a design that didn't have that, but also fit my face and also still looked good.

I love acetate frames for their durability and reliability. I think they tend to last the longest. Problem is they look ugly..

 

[destrekor]

I love acetate frames for their durability and reliability. I think they tend to last the longest. Problem is they look ugly..

Indeed, most are ugly.

I'm a fan of mine, the Oakley Servo, but of course, they are not everyone's cup o'tea.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Heck, unless you need extra impact resistance, standard CR-39 or other similar resins are optically superior to polycarbonate or hi-index lenses. Actually comes damn close to being as perfect as glass.

Glasses.com includes Anti-Reflection and Anti-Scratch in the base RX lenses. You can add a better anti-scratch coating, which I did, which also adds a hydrophobic property.

I've been getting polycarb because my OD recomended it to me, but that was a long time ago. I think I'll test different lens material next. I'll think I'll go order some CR-39's and see how they feel.

 

[Fritzo]

The thing with ordering glasses at the doctor's office is they will actually made adjustments to the bridge and frame to mold it to the wearer's face. You can also get micro adjustments and they can verify the prescription ordered is actually appropriate. You don't get those services when you order online, so there is a premium to them.

Truthfully most doctors offices are within 10-20% of what online retailers are, so it's usually not that big of a deal.

 

[Capt Caveman]

None of the online optical places are able to handle all prescriptions and many people want to be able to touch feel and wear eyewear before buying.

 

[DrPizza]

The thing with ordering glasses at the doctor's office is they will actually made adjustments to the bridge and frame to mold it to the wearer's face. You can also get micro adjustments and they can verify the prescription ordered is actually appropriate. You don't get those services when you order online, so there is a premium to them.

Truthfully most doctors offices are within 10-20% of what online retailers are, so it's usually not that big of a deal.

Wtf? I think you're missing a zero - 100-200%. And, I'm flabbergasted to think that members of a tech website would be intimidated at the prospect of slightly bending the two little nose pieces to better fit the width of your nose.

 

[destrekor]

Wtf? I think you're missing a zero - 100-200%. And, I'm flabbergasted to think that members of a tech website would be intimidated at the prospect of slightly bending the two little nose pieces to better fit the width of your nose.

It may not be saving a significant amount of money compared to in-store, but glasses.com has a partnership with LensCrafters (ought to, both owned by Luxotica), where you can take your glasses to get free adjustments.

Not much you can do with acetate frames, which I do sort of miss the ability to get those micro-adjustments that change the feel and fit immensely, but whatever, I'm happy enough with these and they look better for my face. Some acetate frames have nose-pieces, others are molded in like mine. Thankfully the shape actually fits the bridge of my nose perfectly.

Of course going with cheaper places like Zenni, you can either make your own adjustments or if you want, some places might make adjustments for you for a small fee... no idea how common that will be.

 

[BurnItDwn]

If they charge $300 for a $20 product, they dont need to sell very big quantity to stay in business.

 

[Cerb]

I've been getting polycarb because my OD recomended it to me, but that was a long time ago. I think I'll test different lens material next. I'll think I'll go order some CR-39's and see how they feel.

Or, Trivex. It's not expensive anymore, and has much of the weight advantages of other plastic types, along with impact resistance, and excellent UV blocking, but with reduced negatives.

If polycarbonate isn't giving you any problems, going all the way back to CR-39 might be a bit much. CR-39 has the best optical properties, but the weight and thickness are quite noticeable, especially if your prescription varies per eye.

 

[Imp]

Retailers do have a place. I only wanted glasses that fit and worked when shopping online, so price was the main issue.

If they were a fashion piece and appearance were very important, I would definitely go to a store in person. I would never buy sunglasses online without trying them out in store -- I don't mind spending $300+ on sunglasses.

 

[ElFenix]

Yeah eye exams with a doctor won't be going away. But as for the B&M eye glasses stores, I don't see how people keep doing to them. Huge huge rip off! Got tired of shelling out $3-400+ for an ok pair of glasses that I'd possibly end up replacing by the end of the year. The current ones I'm wearing cost me $21 shipped from Zenni and I like them. I also bought a prescript pair of reebok sunglasses from coastal for $90 and I absolutely love them.

judging by how mattress stores aren't just surviving but are proliferating, i doubt eyeglass stores go away any time soon. i swear there's one on every block now. more of them than coffee shops.

If they charge $300 for a $20 product, they dont need to sell very big quantity to stay in business.

yup

 

[BarkingGhostar]

You folks do know you can bring a frame into Costco and pay $18 to get them to fab a template for lenses, and then it is $100 for the lenses, all features, installed.

Instead of DeyeMed unsurance costing e %535 for a pair of glasses at the B&M store, I spent half that ordering the identical frames online (Amazon) and taking them to Costco with the prescription. Out the door price WITHOUT insurance was $235.

 

[stlc8tr]

Or, Trivex. It's not expensive anymore, and has much of the weight advantages of other plastic types, along with impact resistance, and excellent UV blocking, but with reduced negatives.

If polycarbonate isn't giving you any problems, going all the way back to CR-39 might be a bit much. CR-39 has the best optical properties, but the weight and thickness are quite noticeable, especially if your prescription varies per eye.

Yeah, CR-39's refraction index is only 1.49 so any prescriptions with a high degree of correction will be super thick. You can get 1.74 high index from Zenni.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I just bought a pair of prescription eyeglasses from Walmart Optical!!
They cost me $197.00!! Frams and progressive lenses!! Lenses cost $149.00.....

if I had bought the same at my eye doctors place just the lenses would have been $296.00!!!


I see great and am very happy with Walmart!! I would have used Costco but their frame selection was very limited!!

I have considered getting my next pair online!!

 

[lord_emperor]

I use the Canadian equivalent Clearly Contacts. Since I have good coverage from work I get transitions lenses with all the coatings and I can afford 2-3 pairs every two years before any money comes out of pocket.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

I feel like wearable items (glasses, clothing, footwear, etc.) will continue to have a brick and mortar presence forever because there are plenty of people out there (myself included) who would never order certain things without trying them on in person. I might order shirts online, because the sizing is pretty standard, but when it comes to shoes, the one pair I ever ordered online felt like shit. Glasses is an area where I want to know how comfortable they are and how they fit and I can't get that without trying them on. Getting 5 pairs sent to me and sending some back? Maybe. For the time being, I'm fine with going to a store and physically picking them out (it helps that this guarantees it gets covered by my insurance).

 

[Red Squirrel]

How do people even buy glasses online? How do they get the lens focal point and other parameters right or how do you even try them on? Eye glasses have to be tailored to your exact needs. When I wore glasses I either bought from the eye Dr. office or another local store so I can try them on and they can custom make them as per Dr. specifications.

That said, LASIK is the best thing I ever did. So glad I don't need glasses anymore. I'm always paranoid about my eye sight starting to degrade though, I'm constantly looking at things to make sure I can still read them well. But it's been around long enough that I think it's pretty well proven by now.

 

[adairusmc]

I will continue to use my local guy so I can get my oakley frames, crizal advance, and transitions.

 

[SMOGZINN]

How do people even buy glasses online?

There are websites, they accept credit cards.

How do they get the lens focal point and other parameters right or how do you even try them on?

That is all part of the perscription that (at least in the US) your eye doctor is required by law to provide to you in written form. You then enter the information into the website, and just like the B&M store they make the lenses to the Rx.

Eye glasses have to be tailored to your exact needs. When I wore glasses I either bought from the eye Dr. office or another local store so I can try them on and they can custom make them as per Dr. specifications.

Glasses frames are mass produced and generic. The tiny adjustments they make to the frames are for feel and so they properly sit on your face. They are done by hand by someone that has had maybe 30 minutes of training in it. They are salesmen not ODs. You can easily do it yourself. The lenses are made by machine with the Rx provided by your OD, anyone with the Rx can make the exact same lens. Most B&M shops have them made and shipped to them. If you have any question about this just consider contacts, since they are cheap to manufacture they are pre-made to a wide range of perscriptions and then your OD just reaches into a box and give you a pair matching your Rx.

That said, LASIK is the best thing I ever did. So glad I don't need glasses anymore. I'm always paranoid about my eye sight starting to degrade though, I'm constantly looking at things to make sure I can still read them well. But it's been around long enough that I think it's pretty well proven by now.

I want to do LASIK so bad. I might just break down and do it next year.

 

[steppinthrax]

Wtf? I think you're missing a zero - 100-200%. And, I'm flabbergasted to think that members of a tech website would be intimidated at the prospect of slightly bending the two little nose pieces to better fit the width of your nose.

Most modern eye wear frames need little adjustments.

The most common adjustment is pushing the nose pads closer together.

When I got glasses from Lens Crafters a few years back they did no adjustments. They didn't even look at me after I got em.

 

[EvilYoda]

Yeah, there isn't a chance I'll buy glasses from a B&M store here in the US again unless things change drastically. I'll either get my eye exam at Costco and buy everything online or just wait until I visit Taiwan and get something there.

 

[Fritzo]

Wtf? I think you're missing a zero - 100-200%. And, I'm flabbergasted to think that members of a tech website would be intimidated at the prospect of slightly bending the two little nose pieces to better fit the width of your nose.

Really? We're going to a pretty high end doctor for my son's optical needs (he has nystagmus, so we can't just go anywhere), and the doctor's prices on contacts and glasses are within $20-$30 of Sam's Club. If they're outrageously expensive, you need to ask why there is such a markup.

 

[Fritzo]

I just bought a pair of prescription eyeglasses from Walmart Optical!!
They cost me $197.00!! Frams and progressive lenses!! Lenses cost $149.00.....

if I had bought the same at my eye doctors place just the lenses would have been $296.00!!!


I see great and am very happy with Walmart!! I would have used Costco but their frame selection was very limited!!

I have considered getting my next pair online!!

!!!!!

 

[Imp]

I use the Canadian equivalent Clearly Contacts. Since I have good coverage from work I get transitions lenses with all the coatings and I can afford 2-3 pairs every two years before any money comes out of pocket.

I was concerned that my work benefits wouldn't cover stuff from them, nope, they did.

I got sort of hi-index lenses for something like $60 online. My really expensive pair I got from a mom and pop store: $320 for lenses with all the coatings. They were probably even higher infex. Nonetheless: What. The. Fuq. That place went out of business years ago.

Just out of college, no balls to just walk out of there. Salesperson was sort of hot, made it harder to walk out.

 

[cubby1223]

So my 9 yo daughter started describing to me that she couldn't see the chalkboard. Both my wife and I wear glasses. I have purchased all of our glasses from Zenni Optical.

I went to myeyedoctor (rip off place). Got her eyes tested (she needs glasses). They kept trying to push me to buy glasses there, even went as far as putting down Zenni. They made me sign a form saying if I come pack I would pay 40 bucks. Left, ordered her glasses online ($20.00 from Zenni). They arrived and she sees perfectly now!!!

So now everyone in my household that wear glasses have "cut the cord" with these brick and mortar eyewear places. I believe others are following suit.

In addition places like https://www.opternative.com/ can do online eye exams??? So theoretically one may rarely if ever walk into one of these places.

How will they compete???

I do support work for a small optometrist business, and seriously it's the government regulations especially on record keeping that have skyrocketed their expenses beyond any reasonable capacity. When there are like only 3 providers of gov't approved record-keeping software they know they have the market cornered and charge insane monthly fees for their services. The optometrists have to try and make up for those expenses any way they can, including the eyeware purchases.

They are in a tough position, small businesses are incapable of competing on price with the big guys.