(from May 17, 2014)

I recently needed a new pair of glasses and an eye exam. I usually go to Pearle
Vision but they no longer accept my insurance and paying out of pocket at their eye center is expensive so my husband found a different eye care center that accepted our insurance
to get new glasses and an eye exam.

To start, buying glasses has always been a challenge and expensive for me. I've mentioned in a a few other posts that my glasses are expensive because I have high myopia which means really thick lenses so in order get my glasses to look as normal as possible  pay out of pocket for extras they aren't always covered by my insurance. Extras such as high index lenses, tint, roll and polish, anti-reflective coating, etc. The total cost for everything including the frames can be between $400-$500.

If I don't pay for the extras then I usually end up with a pair of glasses that I pretty much hate, for example like the pair I received recently. The only half way decent thing about these new glasses are the frames. They are Tiffany in Black (no not that Tiffany).

One issue I have is the color of the frame. I picked them in brown, not black which is what I received. When I called about this I was told that they no longer had brown in stock which is something they should have told me weeks ago before they cut the lens to fit the frames. I could have tried another frame in brown but okay.

The lenses are CR39 which I was told were a type of high index material, which is what I usually get but come to find out weeks later that CR39 is just basic plastic. Either the technician didn't know the difference between plastic and high index plastic or she just told me any thing to sell me on the glasses knowing I didn't know the difference. This is why it's important to be educated on these types of things but I knew when I looked at them they weren't right because, though I have a high prescription, my glasses aren't usually so bulky and the way they are cut is awful. I know my lenses are always going to be thick but the circles in the center... I can't even explain what this looks like.

older glasses-lighter in weight and better cut lenses

The new glasses have no reflective coating, no polish, nothing. I asked if I could just pay out of pocket for a tint, coating and re-cut for a smaller frame to get rid of that weirdness on the sides but the answer was no. "You have to start over" and I'd have to pay for it all out of pocket because for some reason this particular place doesn't allow insurance in combination with out of pocket payments.

I started looking for places that would at least polish and tint them but the answer was still no. I would have to purchase a whole new pair of glasses directly from their store. I did find out that Walmart's Vision Center tints eyeglasses for $10 so I took them there but the lightest tint they had was too dark. I had no choice, and I knew over time the tint would break down and become lighter.

While I was at Walmart Vision Center I priced a new pair of glasses at approx $300, $250 if I don't get the transition lenses. I think I would have been better off going to Walmart from the start and I am seriously considering starting over because I really don't like these glasses.
 

Everyone else says the glasses look good and I even get compliments on the frames but I just can't get over the way they are cut. My 10 year old has even given me some advice  -"Mom the glasses are fine, why are you worried? You tell us all the time not to focus on looks but what's inside..."
Aww he's so cute...but we're talking about me here{laughing}.

Update:
I ended up keeping them. I accidentally broke my old glasses which means I'm stuck with these because I can't really can't wait another two weeks for a new pair of glasses. I can't see a thing without them but my next pair of glasses will be either coming from Walmart Vision Center which I've read really good things about or I'll just go back to Pearle and pay completely out of pocket for them.