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Main Forums => Pre-HAART Long-Term Survivors => Topic started by: J.R.E. on February 11, 2013, 03:29:32 pm

Title: OUCH !!...
Post by: J.R.E. on February 11, 2013, 03:29:32 pm
 :o

Well,.... There goes most of my income tax return!!  I went to Lens Crafters on Saturday to shop for new frames and lenses.

It's been about 5 years, since my last pair of glasses, so I decided to go all out on the lenses.

1 year eyewear protection-----$34.99

Poly photo transitions vantage grey--$145.00

Progressive AVP---$295.00

Photochromic grey----$190.00

Standard AR( anti-reflective)----$85.00

BB 465, GUN( Frames)----169.95

Without insurance this would have amounted to $919.95  :o

With my insurance, the total came to $474.81  :o This is the most I have ever spent on glasses, so they will have to last  ! But I also never had the transitions before.

After this year I will no longer have the Vision insurance through my workplace, Since I will be leaving the workforce in December.  I still have the VA for examinations, and if need be I can get glasses ( nothing fancy, and I think I would have to go to trifocals, as I believe they don't make progressive lenses.

So after this expenditure, I have about $80.00 left over from my income tax return.

The glasses should be ready in about a week and a half.

They should match my hearing aids just fine.   :P

Ray




Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: denb45 on February 11, 2013, 04:56:15 pm
Ray, I ended up paying $430.92 with a $30 dollar discount, without Ins. so yeah, that sounds about right to me  :)

I'm glad I took most of the advice from all of you here on this forum, and got a very nice pair of eye-glasses  :D

I look at it this way, it's worth it in the long run to always have a good pair, I wear mine everyday, outside, driving, cooking, reading, I can now see FOREVER, best investment I've made :D


HUGS

DEN  :)
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: aztecan on February 13, 2013, 11:31:13 am
Hey Ray,

I paid more than $900 for my glasses as well. They have pretty much all of the same features as yours.

I don't have optical insurance, although my medical insurance pays for annual eye checkups because of the HIV.  I pay extra out of pocket to get the prescription for the glasses.

But, as Dennis said, it is an investment well made. I have had these for going on two years now. Because they came with a warrantee, when the lenses scratched, they were replaced free of charge after a year.

They are Crizall lense (although the spelling may be incorrect.)

Anyway, I think you have made a wise investment.

HUGS,

Mark
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: Miss Philicia on February 13, 2013, 02:43:25 pm
What does the "Poly photo transitions vantage grey-" and "Photochromic grey" do? Is that when they tint when out in strong sunlight and are like prescription sunglasses?

I had the progressive lenses done on mine, but not at Lens Crafters -- the "AVP" is some marketing thing they do and charge more for. If you do a google search on the term you'll see many complaints about their bait-and-switch routine.

And I didn't go to a cheap place for my glasses at all, but it also wasn't a huge chain like Lens Crafter. Just a local place with only two stores. And I didn't buy my frames there either so I only spent $200 for the lenses and the frames I bought for $200 on eBay but that's about what one would pay average in a store for something decent.

The sad thing is that I don't wear them very often -- I "barely" need a prescription for reading as it is, but definitely need glasses to drive. However I don't own a car, so I can manage without wearing them for general walking around. I wear them when I go to the movies, but not at home watching television unless I decide to put up with it. I try and make myself wear them more because it is nicer to see more clearly even just walking around. Actually where I really need them is in the supermarket -- not to read product labels but to read the signs for what is on which aisle.
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: denb45 on February 13, 2013, 05:39:30 pm
Ray,

I found my old Eye glasses thread, worth a read, very good info in there  ;)


http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=44401.0
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: J.R.E. on February 13, 2013, 05:52:21 pm
What does the "Poly photo transitions vantage grey-" and "Photochromic grey" do? Is that when they tint when out in strong sunlight and are like prescription sunglasses?



Good question.  As I understand it , this has much to do with polarization and the anti-glare/anti reflective, and the appearance of the lens itself, in the absence of the tinting in the sunlight. She explained it all to us but,  Ed was listening more than I was.  She also asked about my working conditions, and stated these lenses, would be ideal  for the office, under fluorescent lighting. ( and working or driving at nighttime, will have much less glare).  I like the light-greyish tint for the appearance, when in their normal state.

She said they won't get as dark as the would while driving, ( which I already was aware of--you really need to be in direct sunlight),... But will be just as effective outside as prescription sunglasses, with the UV protection.

I was getting tired of the cheepy spring clip-on's from Walmart or Target, so it will be nice not having to carry the clip-on's with me.

The "Progressive AVP" is supposedly the latest in progressives lenses. Has something to do with the way they are ground,  and allow for a different view or vision field and magnification.  She showed me the difference between my current glasses ( not AVP )

This will all be new to me. I always had progressive lenses, since my first pair of glasses, in my mid 40's, but this is the first time for the transitions. I am sure I will have to get used to them, But I've always adjusted to any pair of progressives, within hours after putting them on. Every pair is different.

 I need glasses all the time, can't read without them, can't see intermediate or distance.  Major presbyopia ! I First noticed vision changes when reading and as time went on it effected my intermediate and finally the distance. It's an age thing !  :)

I was also surprised by the fitting. The last time I had glasses made, you would look straight forward on to the examiner, and He/She would physically mark the lens frame, with a marker.

They now have some sort of contraption that clips on to the frames you want. you then look directly into the camera and it snaps you picture. At that point, she then makes digital adjustments, according to my pupils. ( Ed was surprised by this ) She said it very accurate, with little chance of error, when making grinding the new lenses.

My latest ( Exam) prescription is :

Right eye ( Distance-- sphere) +3.00 with an addition of +2.25> ( Near)

Left eye---( Distance- sphere) +2.25  with an addition of +2.25 ( Near)


My prescription in 2008:

Right eye - Distance Sphere--+2.50 with an addition of +2.25

Left Eye--Distance sphere--- +2.25 with an addition of +2.00


My prescription in 2006:

Right eye distance Sphere---+2.50 with an addition of +2.00

Left Eye distance sphere-- +2.25 with an addition of +2.00


We'll see how it goes , when I get them !

Thanks guys!


Ray
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: Jeff G on February 13, 2013, 05:59:02 pm
I have two buds who just got lens with Poly photo transitions vantage grey-" and "Photochromic grey stuffamajigs in the lens and they love it and said its worth every penny . They do transition in the car even with the polarized windshield which is a huge plus .
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: J.R.E. on February 13, 2013, 06:04:27 pm
They do transition in the car even with the polarized windshield which is a huge plus .

Yeppir, your right ! :)  She showed me just how much they would transition in the car.

Ray 8)
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: LongTimeSurvivor on February 13, 2013, 08:06:41 pm
I've worn glasses since the 4th grade. Humongous clunky things at that time. Finally got to a point where I could try wire frames. Love them. I do spend money on frames...anywhere from $350 to $550 but I keep them for years. So I think the expense averages out nicely. Plus I don't dump the old frames when getting new ones. Either it becomes a pair of sunglasses for the beach or reading glasses at work and home. And, if I want, after a few years I can start using the old ones as my main glasses and they'll be "new" again. Saves a bunch on frames since I only have to buy lens.

That's my story...and I'm sticking to it...
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: Jeff G on February 13, 2013, 08:26:12 pm
I wear contact lens and I decided to get some back up glasses but it didn't work out to well . I had the eye exam on a high blood sugar day and haven't been able to wear them because they are too strong and hurt my eyes . I wont make that mistake again .   
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: aztecan on February 14, 2013, 09:25:11 am
I've worn glasses since the first grade, likewise, the big old clunky ones.

My most recent frames were not cheap, but not horribly expensive, about $250.

It's the lenses where they get me. Because my prescription is so strong, about triple what Ray's is, I have to shop for speciality lenses.

I have Crixall (I lookied it up, now), because they are a third of the thickness of regular lenses. That means Coca-Cola won't sue me when I buy new glasses.

I also have always had progressives, since I started needing bifocals about a decade ago. I love them and wouldn't go with standard.

I have the transition lenses and the fancy anti-glare stuff as well. I like the transitions and, because I have cataracts, my opthamologist insisted I get them.

They don't get as dark when driving, although they darken somewhat. I plan to invest in some of those over-the-glasses sunglasses just for driving. I know, they don't look terribly stylish, but here in the desert Southwest, it is a pleasantry I allow myself regardless of the look.

The anti-glare coating is tricky. It scratches very, very easily, although the last set I got did fare better than the original ones did.

I wish I could get cheap glasses, but, as an old hand at this, I know I will regret not paying the price of better eyewear.

HUGS,

Mark
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: wolfter on February 15, 2013, 09:34:36 am
Have you considered purchasing them online?  I purchase mine through glassesshop.com and have been totally pleased.  I uploaded my prescription and I save hundreds off of what a brick and mortar store charges.

I wear progressive noline trifocals.  My optic nerve was messed up during my bought of meningitis and I have to wear transition lenses because of a severe reaction to light.

Did you order yours to have a tint in addition to the transition lenses?  I also found that I didn't near glare protection with the transition lenses. 

Wolfie
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: oksikoko on February 15, 2013, 10:08:37 am
1 year eyewear protection-----$34.99
Poly photo transitions vantage grey--$145.00
Progressive AVP---$295.00
Photochromic grey----$190.00
Standard AR( anti-reflective)----$85.00
BB 465, GUN( Frames)----169.95

Without insurance this would have amounted to $919.95  :o
With my insurance, the total came to $474.81  :o

Hot damn! This is why I prefer to just squint. ;) Anyway, the world is much prettier when most of it's kinda fuzzy.
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: oksikoko on February 15, 2013, 10:11:29 am
Oops! I didn't see I was in a forum I'm not supposed to be in. Sorry. I clicked the link at the bottom on the main page that brought me straight here. Sorry, sorry, don't ban me please! I won't post here again. :)
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: Miss Philicia on February 15, 2013, 03:31:29 pm
Have you considered purchasing them online?  I purchase mine through glassesshop.com and have been totally pleased.

Speaking of on-line resources some of you might be interested in using Warby Parker (http://www.warbyparker.com/) -- the specialize in reasonably priced boutique-quality frames starting at $95 and for every pair purchased they distribute a pair of frames to one of the world's one billion patients that can't afford eyewear.
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: Mishma on February 17, 2013, 05:10:22 pm
Ouch indeed. Fortunately for me, since I'm in the VA system, my glasses are free to me. Unfortunately I need three pairs since I'm in heavy prisms. Prisms are something the online retailers do not offer to my knowledge.

Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: J.R.E. on February 17, 2013, 06:00:19 pm
Unfortunately I need three pairs since I'm in heavy prisms. Prisms are something the online retailers do not offer to my knowledge.

It's great that your able to get them through the VA. My partner says you might be able to get them through a retailer, but they would be quite expensive. I would stick with the VA, especially if financially it pays off.


Ray
Title: Re: OUCH !!...
Post by: AlanBama on February 18, 2013, 02:31:15 pm
Hi Ray

new glass, new hearing aids;  now if we can just get you a hover-round, you'll be set!   ;D

The price is VERY high; my last 'real' glasses cost about $550.   Like wolfie, I have ordered my past few pairs on the internet.  The ones I currently wear every day are progressives, I got them from eyebuydirect.com, and they cost $82.   Now, they are CERTAINLY not as nice as ones you get at an optical place....but they are not bad.  My previous couple of pairs were better than these; the problem, of course, is that you cannot try on the frames; you just go by the measurements, and maybe use some old glasses you have as reference, and do the best you can in selecting them.  Mine are rimless, and I see fairly well out of them; the nose-pieces won't adjust exactly like I would like them to, but at least they are not uncomfortable.   You just go online, and type in your Rx information, and for progressives, you will most definitely need a PD (pupilary distance) measurement.
For people who have a simple prescription (no progressives, bifocals, etc) these are FANTASTIC.  Spend $60 or $80 on a pair, and they should work fine.

Glad you are getting fixed up with your $900 glasses!  You should be able to see REALLY WELL!

HUGS, Alan