Except me.
Naturally, with those kind of odds stacked against me, I make sure to get regular eye exams.
Ok, well, that may not be entirely accurate. That is, if by "regular" you assume I mean "more than once every 15 years."
(Which would be pretty disastrous for Activia, now that I think about it...)
Ahem. So, anyway, yesterday I strolled into an eyeglass place to get my regular once-every-15-years check up. Which is to say my second one.
The tech was very friendly, and like everyone, mildly surprised that I was there. Especially after I informed him (with all due modestly) that my last exam showed I had better than perfect vision. In fact, I was actually looking forward to impressing him with my letter-reading skills. Yessir, bring on the eye charts! I'll show that big 'E' who's boss!
He sat me down in the chair, and popped on the projection thingy.
"Ok, Jennifer, can you see that line there?"
[a pause]
"Um. If you mean the white box, then yes."
[a pause]
"Um. If you mean the white box, then yes."
The tech let out a sudden belly laugh, which I'm pretty sure was not a "Wow! You DO have better-than-perfect eyesight!" kind of laugh. He then flipped a few switches, and the white box suddenly had black squiggles in it.
"How about now?"
[a longer pause]
More chuckles.
"I'm breaking my perfect record, aren't I?"
So, I need glasses. I haven't ordered them yet, because the place where I had the exam was old-school this-is-a-stick-up expensive, and there's no way I'm paying $200 for a simple prescription on the cheapest possible frames.
Still, I'm actually kind of looking forward to this whole new accessory option. That, and seeing my monitor look all crisp like that little E. (Yeah, turns out it was an 'E.') The doctor - a gruff old-timer who stared at me incredulously and exclaimed, "Don't you squint?!?" - assures me that this will be the case. I just hope I can find some power geek glasses to give me adequate "cred" on the upcoming CW tour. :)
You may want to check out some vintage stores for some lovely retro geek glasses. I know some places will fit your prescription into the fab old frames.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain, girlie!
ReplyDeleteI've worn glasses since I was 10 (roughly 15 years) and by now my prescirption is so strong I have to either wear thick "coke-bottle" glasses which are extremely heavy - even in plastic - OR pay $60 or more *per lense* to have them made from some special polymer (which I like to think of as Transparent Aluminum :0) ). Ah well this is the price we pay to be able to walk...and NOT run into walls... On the upside, I can always find awesome "Doctor #10" black plastic frames. (SNAP! Oh yeah, I'm cool. ;0) ) Anyway, sympathies. (Life is still a joy, Jennifer. ROCK IT SOUNDLY)
~J.
Glasses are expensive! I fought needing them for forever, and when I finally caved I didn't have insurance (but I couldn't read a menu on the wall at a fast food place, it was past time.) I ended up getting my glasses through ZenniOptical.com. I certainly don't work for them or anything, but their glasses start at around $10 including lenses, and they actually have cute ones.
ReplyDeleteuse this site: http://www.zennioptical.com/home.php
ReplyDeleteit's awesome! i've been wearing glasses since i was seven, and i got my last pair through zenni and they're great, only paid about $28! i will never (at least not until i make great money) go back to buying glasses in a brick and mortar store.
$200? Good luck with that my friend.
ReplyDeleteWhile I got some bells and whistles on my 740/650 vision (including the necessary lighter lenses), I paid $700 after some insurance coverage!
Yet another way to go steampunk...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.etsy.com/listing/39447631/steampunk-goggles-vintage-cesco?ref=v1_other_2
Check out Zennioptical.com SUPER cheap and some cute stuff, if you're willing to take a chance on not actually seeing them on your face first!
ReplyDeleteOK, I see that many people have already beaten me to that recommendation! oops!
ReplyDeleteI hate to break it to you, but $200 is rock-bottom cheap for glasses.
ReplyDeleteI second the PP on zennioptical.com! We love them. It's fun being able to order lots of different styles of glasses and sunglasses for so cheap! They take about 3 weeks to come in, but you've already waited 15 years! :~)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, hubby and I have already ordered 8 pairs of glasses from them and are still only at $125.00 for all of them!
I'm picking up my newest glasses tomorrow having received a new pair every year since being age 4 (yes thats right, four). As a fellow geek I have also been temped by the plastic framed beasties, and would always recommend just getting some black, full rimmed metal ones instead. Harder to break, easy to bend slightly if you feel they're too tight / aren't sitting correctly. Hope you find some for a decent price, over here in England with our much critised NHS I get designer ones with modified, thinner,lighter & anti-glare lenses for only £90 :P Not to rub it in, or anything. akesure we get a picture when you receive them (not necessarily while your wearing them).
ReplyDeletescrew the glasses talk... Did you say "the upcoming CW tour"?????
ReplyDelete*do a little dance**do a little dance**do a little dance**do a little dance*
I've had glasses since I was 4. This week I'm having PRK to correct my vision. But I'm keeping my frames for when I need reading glasses - they were the expensive part!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the club. You'll find some fun frames, I'm sure! :) Sorry your perfect record is broken.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the 4-eyed world of wonder.
ReplyDeleteI have to also hype up zennioptical.com. The last time I bought a pair of prescription eyeglasses from an eyeglass retailer, I spent nearly 400 bucks, and those weren't even designer frames or anything!
I was sick of paying such exorbitant marked-up values, so I bought a pair off zennioptical. I got a great (complete) pair of glasses with anti-reflective coating and a sunglass clip... for under 40 bucks! And they were on the 'expensive' end of the price range on that site.
Note: I am in no way affiliated with zennioptical; they just rock.
I have pretty bad vision and a single pair, in a regular store, would cost me over 600$.
ReplyDeleteOn Internet (in Canada we have clearlycontacts.ca), I bought 3 pairs (2 regular and 1 sun) for 300$.
Go for Internet.
I'm with MF'n Poppins, Zenni Optical is awesome. Some of the frames are $8, including lenses. I just ordered a couple new pairs, for about $70... Cool frames, one pair sunglasses, one pair with fancy polycarbonate-for-people-with-terrible-eyes lenses, both with that anti-reflective stuff. Admittedly, the shipping takes a couple weeks, particularly if you have horrible vision. But still, the last time I bought glasses at the absolute cheapest brick and mortar store, it was $150 a pair, so Zenni is a pretty big improvement.
ReplyDeleteTry Zenni.com (http://www.ZenniOptical.com)
ReplyDeleteWe have had very good customer service from them. Make sure that you have an accurate measurement between pupils for each distance in your prescription.
While I actually did pay around $200 for my last pair (with "free" Rx Sunnies thrown in--oh, how I miss that old economy), I've heard really good things about http://www.39dollarglasses.com/index.html
ReplyDeleteand will be looking into them when my nine west frames eventually give out.
I feel your pain I just went for my every 15 years exam and found out I can't see squat. I did not want to pick them out at all, had my hubby go with me and we found some sleek retro-ish glasses which rock. Like you said they are a very exciting new acessory. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI didn't need glasses till I was a 19 yr old co-ed . . . gotta say I was excited about it. I always wanted glasses. You can't be a true geek without them! LOL!
ReplyDeleteYES to the Zennioptical.com!
ReplyDeleteI am currently wearing my zebra print glasses & my sunglasses & boring pair are sitting in the desktop next to me- ALL FOR LESS THAN $40
GOD I love that site.
Go for thick frames. They make you smarter. :o Source: experience.
ReplyDeleteexpenome: The experience gained by crushing a gnome.
The good news is, cute and geeky glasses (at the same time!) are quite in style right now. They can only increase your powers of awesome.
ReplyDeleteI wore glasses from about age 10-38. Contact lenses from 23-38. This past January I began wearing overnight hard contact lenses. You put them in at night, wake up, take them out, and you can see all day. No more glasses for me. The freedom is AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteNot sure if I will link this correctly, but here's a link to my blog where I talked about my experience with these awesome lenses.
http://karenjerseygirl.blogspot.com/search?q=contacts
Zenni is great, but another interesting store is Warby Parker:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.warbyparker.com/
$95 per pair, and they do the TOMS thing and donate a pair to a person in need.
Getting old sucks!!! I wear contacts, have done for years. The cherry on the whole freaking thing is that I cannot see close up without glasses now. CONTACTS AND GLASSES!!! FML
ReplyDeleteI was very surprised at the age of 13 when it was discovered that my distance vision was quite bad & probably had been for years. My surprise was even stronger when I wore my glasses outside for the first time & started exclaiming about how I could see individual leaves on trees. It never occurred to me that seeing trees as fuzzy blurs wasn't normal!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your shiny new vision :)
I was in the same boat as you. EVERY member of my family wore glasses by the age of eleven. I had my eyes checked when I was 15 and was given a clean bill of, uh, vision. Ten years later I decided not to let my employee vision insurance plan go to waste, and I had another eye test. I was rather disappointed to discover that I had become nearsighted. On the plus side, I tend to get carded more often when I wear my glasses, so I guess they magical age-defying properties. Good luck in your search!
ReplyDeleteChiming in with the "Welcome to the world of glasses" messages. $200 would be a dream for a new pair of glasses (I'm in the $700 range as well)! Just curious--what do you think they should cost?
ReplyDeleteI've been almost blind since 4th grade (18 years or so). My family always took me to the town optometrist and spent $300 on glasses that inevitably got scratched/sat on/hit with tether balls. Last year I got some really cute black and white Geoffrey Beene Glasses with oddly-shaped crystals on the sides for $130 at COSTCO :)
ReplyDeleteThe only reason they were so much was because I opted for the no glare, anti scratch kind that they promised I could go shooting in.
They don't have the biggest selection, but its worth a glance while you're buying TP.
Wow, looks like I have to check out this ZenniOptical place! Thanks for the recommendation, guys!
ReplyDeleteAnd for those who've asked why I find $200 pricey: John wears glasses, and we're always getting him new pairs for around $80 at a place here in town. So we'll be shopping there tomorrow. :) Once I figure out what looks good on me, I'll turn to the online options.
I was going to suggest zinney as well. There are some there that I am DYING to have!!! And I could even get SUNglasses there (it's just an extra $5)
ReplyDeleteI see it's already been mentioned, but I'm going to point to Warby Parker as well. Once I get over being lazy, I'm going to order my newest pair of glasses from them.
ReplyDeleteI've had glasses since 5th grade and my fiance has had them since first grade. Needless to say, if we have kids, I'm hoping that they get my eyesight.
I found a ton of quirky frames just by searching "steampunk eyeglass frames". As far as an accessory for your new glasses, I thought this was gorgeous! http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=844050
ReplyDeleteYES! Zenni Optical!
ReplyDeleteToo bad you live in America. I work at a fantastic eyeglasses store where today I got leopard print frames that look like something an awesome librarian would wear.
ReplyDeleteDon't go all steampunk and get the wire-frames with the leather blinkers.
ReplyDeleteJust sayin'...
Not that you'd even CONSIDER those...
ahem...
I too hate going to the eye doctor. Seems every time I go my vision is worse than it was ten years previous..I hate getting older lol.
ReplyDeleteI was also going to tell you to check out zennioptical.com. We did it and weren't the least bit disappointed! Make sure you pay attention to the measurements of the glasses so you know how big they are! Average small sized frames are about 25/50 mm. :) they have some regular glasses AND some super geeky ones and they are CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!
ReplyDeletecheck out the blog glassyeyes.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteHe's got tips, tricks, links, and coupon info. I have ordered three pairs from a couple of the places and my baker ordered from another place and we both like our glasses and they were very inexpensive. Of course, if you want to geek out and money is no object then you should check out the
prodesign denmark frames-expensive but GORGEOUS!!!!
Welcome to the club! I've had glasses since I was four, and probably needed them before that. My mom took me in for a checkup, found that I needed glasses, and got them for me. On the way home from the fitting I was looking around in amazement. She remembers me saying, "Look mommy, there's LEAVES on those trees!" She felt horrible about it but I've needed increasingly stronger glasses ever since. Now I probably qualify for a seeing eye dog without my glasses.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if there's one close to you, but America's Best ( twopair.com ) has stores all over the USA and my co-workers recommended it to me when my old pair broke in the middle of working one day. They have pretty good deal where you get the exam and 2 compete pairs of glasses (can be different frames =) all together for $70, but as I have really bad eyes I got the upgrade to polycarbonate lenses (or whatever the middle thickness offerd was.) To keep the price down that was the only upgrade I went with though.
ReplyDeleteWithout any kind of insurance at all I got 2 brand new pairs for about $200 including the eye exam. =)
I'll keep that zenni site in mind for next time though! That sounds like a real bargain if you know what your prescription details are!
So there is a sight called glassesunlimited.com and they have glasses for $10, so you can get like a million pairs. I got some glasses there, and they're pretty rockin'.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to get fitted for my first pair of prescription whit-out contacts for my zombie walks. I'm so excited! You have also inspired a steam punk craze that has convinced me I should dress as a Blood Elf Engineer at this year's Blizzcon.
ReplyDeleteI sympathize, Jen. I started going nearsighted around 14 and had to get glasses a year later. Thankfully, since I wore them regularly, my eyesight has not gotten much worse. The only drawback was that I either had to take them off to go horseback riding and deal with the slight fuzziness, or pray hard they didn't fall off and get stepped on. When I got my eyes re-checked last year I decided it was high time to invest in contacts. They can be a slight hassle, but overall they're much more convenient. :)
ReplyDeleteHope you manage to find some awesome glasses that aren't ridiculously expensive! Or as we say in France, don't cost you your eyes. ;)
Hey, lifelong glasses user here. And obviously, a huge fan.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, you are likely aware of this app already but...ifor iphone there is a GREAT steampunk-ish game called steamballs(yes steamballs) its really cheap, has great music a neat look and is a "match three" game. Check it out!
I'm not glad your eyesight is going but I am glad that you have to get glasses because I'd never heard of this zennioptical site and my glasses were $500 ($200 for the sunglasses) though they're a very cute modern take on the 50's cat eye librarian glasses
ReplyDeleteI've been wearing glasses and/or contact lenses since I was seven years old. It's really not that bad. One of the best in-store discounts that I've found is at Lens Crafters. Most people don't know this, but they will give you 30% of a whole pair of glasses (frame & lenses) with your AAA card. They are also very helpful when it comes to picking out frame shapes.
ReplyDeleteI will actually warn you AGAINST getting glasses at Costco. I got mine there once. The quality was not good. The frames felt cheap and the lenses were not as clear and easy to see through as they should be. Sometimes, you get what you pay for.
warbyparker.com is a good source for cute, somewhat inexpensive frames and they even have at-home try-on if you want to try them out first (which, especially if this is your first pair of glasses, you'll want to do).
ReplyDeletestore.fabulousfannys.com and moscot.com are the go-to places for really great vintage or vintage-inspired frames that are suuuper cute.
I know this isn't a contest, but with my (awful, super-high) prescription, I would be LUCKY to be able to get frames and lenses for $200. specs are always expensive, and I've been wearing them for 20 years!
hope everything works out for you!
Jen I want to come see you guys at the Cake Wrecks tour!! I will be coming to the one in Salt Lake City, Utah. I don't know if it's my computer or what but it won't let me go to the link you said to RSVP on. What to do? Do I HAVE to RSVP? Does this count as and RSVP?? Lol
ReplyDeleteWalMart actually has a fairly good range of styles for their frames and prices that tend to be half ( at least) of what the other galleries price their frames at. $200 for frames AND prescription though is pretty good if the prescription is for full time wear. If it's just reading glasses though... yeah.. way too much >.<
ReplyDeleteIf you can, try to get Transitional lenses. You know, the ones that go a little bit darker when you step into the sunlight. They don't work QUITE as well as the commercials say, but they do help, and you don't have to try and find a pair of those ear-pieceless dark lenses that clip onto the front of your regular glasses.
ReplyDeleteThe reason i recommend this? My dad has been having a lot of trouble finding said clip-on shades lately. A lot of the eyeglass stores around our area just don't seem to carry them anymore.
*has worn glasses for nine years* After a while it becomes second nature to wear them most of the time.
www.zennioptical.com
ReplyDeleteI lost my last pair of glasses and really couldn't afford to go get new ones. I found this place and like my new glasses even more than my old ones!
Don't feel too bad though. I've been wearing glasses for years, but my driver's license was still saying I didn't need my glasses to drive...unitl this year. They asked me to read line 5 and I asked what line 5...I don't see a line 5. :::sigh::: Aging is sooo much fun.
As a girl who suffered through the "cheap" glasses of my youth...I say go and have fun with your choice!
ReplyDeleteIf your lucky enough to not need a heavy perscription like I do you can get a ton of those cheaper reader glasses (Hubb has this choice...and still goes simple wire framed, but he's a guy, it's kind of his thing) and then have your script put in.
I had simple black frames for my last set that held up for years, and I still hated them. This latest set I got was a big jump, I grabbed some funky plastic ones that are brown and teal...and just hoped I wouldn't look silly in them. I almost always get a compliment on my glasses now and it makes a big difference.
I'm thinking I may actually go ahead and spend a little extra and get a second pair in another color scheme!
It seems silly to spend much on a pair of glasses, but when you think of them as an accessory....then it doesn't anymore! They are a part of your style.
go to costco for your glasses - good docs and great prices. and then when you get totally fed up with glasses, contacts, cleaning solutions, never being able to find them, out of style frames, etc... get laser vision correction ("laser vision" sounds geeky cool, right?!) i went from having worse than legally blind vision (when i asked the tech what my numbers were, she laughed and said, "we call it counting fingers" which by the way were also fuzzy) to having better than 20/20 vision in less than 24 hours. laser vision rocks! good luck with your voyage into the world of better eyesight.
ReplyDeleteHee! I had a very similar experience, actually. I went about 16 years between eye exams. I decided to go get one when I realized that there were two of my coworker. A coworker that only sits about 10 feet away! So off I went for the exam and sure enough, I needed glasses. I too was excited at the proposition of a new accessory! I got the cutest frames and honestly, I think I look better -with- them than without! ^_^
ReplyDeleteSorry, but ahahaha. I feel your pain, I found out when I went to get my driver's permit (!!!) that I needed glasses. Been wearing em ever since. Tried contacts once, hated it. So I look forward to picking out new frames every 1-2yrs =)Embrace the geekiness, I said EMBRACE IT! And btw $200 is a good price if thats the final amount! Sears always has good specials going on and CUTE frames. I don't think i could buy on-line for fear of hating them on my face... Good luck!
ReplyDeleteOkay, $200 is nutso. Try GlobalEyeGlasses.com. I got TWO pairs (one of them Rx sunglasses even!) for under $30 bucks shipped. The only downfall is that it's taking a bit to get them here, but you can't beat that. Welcome to the geeky glasses clan :)
ReplyDeleteI've been wearing glasses since I was 7 years old, but two years ago, I positively scoffed when my optometrist told me I needed computer glasses. The way she put it was, "Well...you can NOT wear computer glasses and that eye twitch will get worse until your co-workers think you're actually preparing to go postal and not suffering from eye strain. Or you can be the first 28 year old I've fitted for bifocals. Or..."
ReplyDeleteYeah none of those ideas sounded good. Well the frightening my co-workers one had temporary appeal. But alas...I got some desperately geeky horn-rimmed frames for the computer glasses and I love them.
YES! www.zennioptical.com
ReplyDeleteI was just going to say that, but I see some other people already have! That's where my husband buys his glasses and he loves them! The only catch is it takes a couple weeks to ship them to you since they come from China, or something. Sorry you have to wear glasses now, but I know you'll rock them!
I've been wearing glasses since the ripe old age of 8. Currently, I'm rocking the black plastic frame "I'm not emo, but emo enough to need you to validate me" look.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if where you are has a BJ's Club, if you're a member, or if something like that even interests you, but a basic pair there costs either $89 or $98. (I can't remember, and my numerical dyslexia is kicking in.)
Also and incidentally, my eyesight is so bad, I can't even read the BIG E on the eye chart.
Things will look so awesome once you get glasses (after a few days to adjust of course). I've worn 'em since 2nd grade and I couldn't get over seeing the leaves on the trees and stuff. Although your feet look a lot closer for a few days. I got LASIK about six years ago and was glasses-free up until very recently...it was a nice break and at least I'm still not back at -9 diopters like I was! Please to be posting pics of cute new glasses when you get them. :D
ReplyDeleteJen, I have been wearing glasses since I was in second grade. (Execpt for a short stint in high school where i got contacts, lost them out of my eye and then as an attempt not to give in to frames again, went around my entire sophomore year blind.) I'm back into frames and LOVE LOVE LOVE wearing the the thick geeky tortoise-shell (or black) frames - if I'm going to be stuck in glasses, might as well make them a trademark. Now, my doctor is telling me I need TWO glasses, one for computer work and one for everything else! I've been fighting that, because let's face it, one pair is expensive enough!
ReplyDeleteAnyway - congrats! I'm sure you'll be awesome embracing the geekiness that is glasses - like everything else you do! :)
glasses have come a long way! rimless look like you're not wearing any, bold frames if you want to make a statement, metal... and they come with BLING sometimes, too! Happy shopping!
ReplyDeleteRedundant but poignant
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zennioptical.com/home.php
there's always coupons in the mail for sterling optical and Pearle. there's a two for one sale at sterling in my local mall. Even Walmart sells glasses.
ReplyDeleteglasses don't have to cost hundreds.
I got my most recent frames from Costco--don't know where you live, so I don't know if you have one there, but the prices are perfect.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Welcome to my world! I've been a member since 2nd grade! That's 18 years of my life. You are lucky you don't have to go through the torture of your parents picking out your giant owl-sized dark pink plastic frames. Yeah.
ReplyDeleteNowadays there are plenty of waaaaay cool frames and I now look like a mod-librarian. :)
Still have horrible, horrible eyes though. Pretty much have the coke bottle effect.
I'm due for an upgrade so I may go for the special polymer. But I'm going to stick with glasses until laser surgery is cheaper or they decide one day that insurance will cover it.
I think they solidfy my geek nature. :)
Best of luck in your search!
Jen~~
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the world of corrected vision! With all the hype you seem to be getting for Zenni Optical, I felt the need to share my experience with them with you.
I've been wearing glasses for about 30 years, and I have what could only be described as seriously awful vision. I require lenses that cost about 400$ each.
A friend recommended I try Zenni, so I did. I had a devil of a time making sure the facial/head measurements they require were accurate, not to mention my actual prescription. Ever try to look your eye doctor in the eye and tell him you won't be buying glasses from him?
The glasses were promptly shipped from China (over a period of weeks) ::eyerolls:: And when the simple wire frames arrived, I felt that they were very light weight and ultra fragile to be polite which I translate to mean 'poor quality'.
As a mother of 4 teens, I require much of my glasses that go on first thing, and come off last at night. I have enjoyed many different styles of plastic and wire frames over the years, and have taken good care of them, some of them lasting me for years. My only pair from Zenni lasted me 4 months before losing one nose pad and the screw that held it in place, causing a shift in my vision and lots of headaches, and 6 months before they were irreparably broken(at the lens/arm hinge).
I will not buy from them again.
My replacements I got at a discount from Lens Crafters and ::knocks on wood:: they're much sturdier, still whole, and most important, as long as they're on my face, I can see 20/20.
Good luck and good hunting! Err, might be wise to have John or a friend help you find the first pair until you can see? :)
Hi Jen,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say real quick: if you liked Baby Fett, you'd probably dig Skottie Young's baby X-men.
http://www.skottieyoung.com/2010/06/heroes-con-badges-x-baby-style.html
Don't feel too bad, when I get laughed at at the eye doctor it's because I can't even see the giant E. Yes, I am that blind
ReplyDeleteI find it *hard* to believe that you would not get regular eye exams, considering how dedicated you are to oil changes and all.... >:o)
ReplyDeleteMy son has been wearing glasses for several years now and I know they are expensive. Thanks to everyone for the references for ZenniOptical. I will check it out!
Andrea
zennioptical of course, but before I discovered them I took the prescription to the walmart vision center. I wore kids glasses for years for less than $50... I'm not sure what kind of big headed kid would wear these, but it is an option.
ReplyDelete1. If you get metal frames, avoid random metals (such as nickel) which your body might not like. Titanium is OK, or you could get a coating such as plastic...but monitor that the coating doesn't wear off.
ReplyDelete2. Someone mentioned clip-on sunglasses. A better alternative are glasses with magnets, and the matching magnetic sunglasses.
3. A different kind of retro look are Studebaker goggles. Just what you need when you have a three-foot-long wrench, engineer boots, long leather jacket, and leather gloves with wrist guards. I wonder if they're available with sunglass tint?
http://www.spectacleshoppe.biz/Collection/Studebakerline/tabid/67/Default.aspx
www.zennioptical.com! OMG, they have the best deals, great frames, and they do great work! Sorry, I'm just terribly excited to finally catch someone BEFORE they bought the highway-robbery glasses from a walk-in store.
ReplyDeleteI got a pair of rimless prescription glasses for $35, which are perfect and I love them. :)
Zenni has tons of funky frames, rimless, 1/2 rimless, traditional... you name it. And anything can be made as prescription sunglasses too!
I had a similar experience. Everyone on my dad's side has terrible vision, but I had thought I had inherited my mom's vision genes. Crazy perfect vision was my super power, until I hit 27 years old, when I realized I was squinting at *every* street sign and getting headaches frequently.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, the cuteness of the frames and the novelty of a new accessory (and the fact that I don't really HAVE to wear them, but that they make driving and watching movies mildly more enjoyable) softened the blow. Anything to look a little more like a cute librarian, right?
My mom just paid $700 for glasses, and that was without all the bells and whistles!! She was going to get the ones that get darker when you go outside (the name escapes me at the moment), but the guy told her that they don't work in cars anymore, because windshields have tinting. So, she had to get a pair of prescription SUNGLASSES too!!
ReplyDeleteI had lasik 10 years ago - my vision was horrendous. But, at 35, it's starting to go again, so I'm probably looking at glasses in the near future. Booooooo. After 20 years of glasses, I am NOT looking forward to it...but I am glad to hear that you are!
Look at all the love for Zenni Optical!
ReplyDeleteI don't want to be redundant(but apparently am going ahead anyway) but they really are the best and when you squash them they're cheap to replace :)
nthing the suggestion of Zenni Optical. I have several cool pairs of glasses, as well as prescription sunglasses, from them. Zebra stripes, Hawaiian flowers, orange & white, and plain old heavy black -- now I have specs for every occasion.
ReplyDeleteI got a pair with the Transitions stuff on them a couple of years ago, and I think for Florida, it's a mistake. Because it's not bright light that triggers the darkening, it's UV exposure. So when you're in your car, which most likely has UV-blocking windows, your glasses don't darken up AT ALL. It sucked.
Costco has been good to me over the years (esp w/o vision insurance) I just got a new pair of glasses (1st time in about 6 years!) and new sunglasses (1st time in over 10 years) they were a little pricey but they are CUTE!!! And if they're going to last me that long (I just change lenses at costco for about $60) I don't see it as a bad investment. Online may be cheap but adjustments go a LONG way in my book making sure they don't hurt you OR fall down your nose every 5 seconds. Just sayin'! Here's a link to the "geek-chic-esque" pair I just bought. Good Luck!!! http://www.saltoptics.com/detail.php?id=72&pageindex=14&categoryid=1&orderby=4
ReplyDeleteDefinitely go to Zenni Optical. I get my glasses from them and my prescription sunglasses. They cost between $8 and $20 per pair for most of them and the INCLUDES the lenses. I used to wear contacts, now I have 4 pairs of glasses + sunglasses to match how I'm feeling! :-) It's awesome to finally be able to accessorize with glasses!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJust a note for when you do get your glasses, be careful what type of frames you get. I got suckered by this adorable plastic "librarianesque" pair. They look super cute on me... but I hate them. Why? I have oily skin and I am forever pushing them back up in the right spot on my nose. Not to mention they are a chore to keep clean.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, shop online for a pair you like, but I do recommend going into a store to try on similar pairs to see how they fit and what they look like on you.
Happy hunting!
I feel you. I've worn glasses for about 22 years (I'll be 30 in a few months!) and I can't.. no make that don't want to, even caculate the amount of money that was spent on my glasses over the years. Plus being that my eyesight is right up there with the rest of those "coke-bottle" people, we usually half to spend that extra money to thin them down so we don't vertigo from our glasses (boyfriend has to wear contacts because of this!) and look as close to normal people as we can. Just be thankful that your eyesight is probably good enough that people won't be coming up to you and saying "Whoh, how bad are your eyes? Are you like blind? Let me try your glasses on!"
ReplyDeleteI wore glasses for 22 years, and now wear them only for the short periods that I'm not wearing contacts.
ReplyDeleteGlasses are annoying. They dig into the side of your head, get fogged up, collect the first drop of rain consistently, and acquire smudges if your finger gets within two inches of the lenses.
There are optical problems as well.
Because glasses for myopia use diverging lenses, and there's a gap between the lens and your cornea, they reduce image scale. Everything will look smaller than it really is with glasses on. How much so depends on the prescription (-5.0 diopters reduces apparent size by about 10%).
Because the lenses are not concentric spherical sections, there are other optical aberrations to contend with. Barrel distortion will morph the shapes of objects in your peripheral vision (those objects that you actually see through your lenses - your world will become a big blur with a portal of relative clarity in the middle). Chromatic aberration will produce violet or red fringes on bright lights if you don't look directly at them, especially if you use polycarbonate as the lens material, which you will, given that you expect to do better than $200.
Contact lenses have none of these problems. There's no gap between the lens and your cornea, so image scale remains the same. The lens is a concentric spherical section, so most distortions are avoided. Being attached to your eye, you're never looking through the lens off axis, which eliminates chromatic aberration. You get to wear your normal sunglasses, too.
Contacts become less ideal if you have significant astigmatism. You need to get an exam every year, and you need to buy the lenses (soft frequent replacement ones are the easiest to deal with), so they can be more expensive than glasses (especially if you're deluding yourself about spending less than $200 on a pair).
Overall, I recommend contact lenses.
I'll bet you would look good in the type of black wide glasses that you featured in a post a while back with the etsy jewelery. I love them!
ReplyDeleteGolly, a million comments about zennioptical and not a one for Goggles4U. I've worn glasses since I was about 8 and was thrilled to find the goggles site opening up a world of possibilities that weren't a zillion dollars and found in the optometrists office. Good luck dearie!
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean. I used to have "better than perfect" vision and now I desperately need glasses.
ReplyDeleteI spent about $400 on my last set
ReplyDelete(200 for the titanium frame, and 200
for lenses with anti-glare coating
and go dark in the sun a.k.a transitions)
My best advice is not to get large frames (unless you want them) as
lenses are thicker on the outer
edge then the inner one, and
having large frames means you
could end up with some really
thick lenses
But, if you're comfortable with
your glasses then who cares what
anyone else thinks.
Alright, I can barely remember where I am or what has been happening. All I know is, YOU listed some blogs you like, I started reading Daddy Likey, and now I've lost all sense of time or space! This was like last week or something and now it's all I do. My life has ground to a halt and I've only read as far back as 2008. 2008! I think when I reach the beginning of her postings, and have to get new updates on a semi-regular basis like normal people, I may CRY. SO I wanted to say thanks! Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteSo many great styles out there. I'm sure you can find some wonderfully geeky ones. Brainy specs are where it's at!
ReplyDeleteI got my first pair of glasses when I was 6, and we have circumstantial evidence that I needed them at least one year earlier. I know I cannot buy glasses from most of the discounters because my prescription is stronger than they can do (I've checked). Better check that first, Jen -- it would stink if you found the perfect set of frames only to be told they couldn't put your prescription in them.
ReplyDelete(Without glasses/contacts, I'm lucky to see a gray tinge to the white blur that I'm told is an eye chart.)
Totally also loving ZenniOptical! I have had the same kind of glasses for 17 years, and I finally ordered from Zenni... now, I have 6 pairs of glasses and a pair of sunglasses, and they are phenomenal! I get so many compliments! I don't buy shoes or bags... so I accessorize with Zenni!
ReplyDeleteMy 3-year-old saw the picture and said "look at C3PO!"
ReplyDeleteyou know glasses might help with that door way issue...
ReplyDeleteI've worn glasses since I was about 8, so I understand your pain! LOL I know other people have mentioned it, but I figured I'd also recommend ZenniOptical.com, as that's where I get my glasses. They're pretty cheap, but still good quality. Just make sure you know the distance between your eyes, in mm, to make sure your prescription comes out perfect. :) Some of the frames, like mine, come with the option to have magnetic clip-on sunglasses, and they're awesome! I just wish I'd known about them sooner! :)
ReplyDeleteoops. Just realized that someone else left you the same comment. You can omit mine if you want. Love you jen (and john)
ReplyDeleteCHeck out zennioptical.com This is where my hubby and I get our cheap glasses. Just get your script from your dr (don't forget pupillary disatnce) and plug it in. Can't get cheaper, and according to my eye dr, they are very accurate! At that price you can order 10 different pairs for the price of 1 at your dr. No, I don't work there...
ReplyDeletelbweyewear.com
ReplyDeletemy husband and i got our glasses from there, two pairs, frames AND lenses, shipping and handling...less than 60 bucks. all you need is your prescription.
I rock my black plastic frames!
ReplyDeleteAnd as a side note, I just got my daughter a new pair for around $20 at a Wal-Mart vision center.
So um, my mom took me to 3 different eye doctors hoping against hope that I was "faking" it and didn't really need glasses. It took them showing her how abnormal my eyes were before she believed it...
ReplyDelete23 years later...frames can become atrociously expensive. As I skimmed the comments I saw someone mention thrift store finds, etc? That's how I rocked my college years. My lenses themselves go for over $200, and that's at the cheaper places that may not actually grind the plastic the best...23 years of experience, remember? So now I shell out the extra cash for the high-end lenses in my $30 frames. It's worth it.
I feel for ya, Jen! I got my first pair of glasses a week ago because I'm nearsighted in my right eye! I love my glasses! I'll bet you can find some awesome geeky ones! You can also jazz up your glasses case with watch parts, glitter, etc...have fun!
ReplyDeleteI have plastic rimmed glasses...they're great, and wonderfully flexible. I wasn't really feeling the metal rimmed ones. My only issue is that when I sweat, they slide down my nose...on the bright side, people have said that it's really cute when I push them back up my nose...
ReplyDeletei started wearing glasses in 1st grade. i have to get new and stronger perscription every year. Your Doctor should have given you paper work with all of the perscription info on it. with that you are made and can get your glasses anywhere. this site probably isn't your style but its very inexspesive.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.zennioptical.com/home.php
this is where i get my perscrition sunglasses. my normal glasses i have to try on considering i have a small head and have to shop in the little kids section. kinda sad when your 25 and you have to look in the little kids section for glasses to fit! anyway good luck.
I wanna jump on the online bandwagon. I use Zenni Optical, too, because I can buy 5 pair for $50 and wear them according to my many complicated moods. There are a lot of sites out there, though, with a lot of selection, so for your first pair I'd get Googley and see what you can see. (Ok -- maybe an $8 Zenni pair first and THEN peruse when you can actually use your eyeballs.) It takes a little longer to buy online, but if you've waited 15 years, I'm guessing 10 days won't be the end of the world. Just be sure to post your glasses choices so I can swoon accordingly. :)
ReplyDeleteYes for Zenni! An absolute godsend, to be sure. I have many pairs, and now the site has a 'login' feature so you can save a list of favorite frames. I swear I don't work for them; I'm just obsessed.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the New Cool! Glasses! I suggest scouring thrift stores for excellent, vintage glass frames that can be had for a song. PLUS, they look great on and can be converted to reading glasses easily. And youre saving one more object from a landfill. I have 2 vintage pairs, I love them! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI just, at 29, got my first pair. OH, hey. I can read those words on the other side of the room. Weird, and sort of amazing.
ReplyDeleteTwo tips for glasses: if you get metal frames, get the kind with the spring hinges. DH didn't, and there are actually grooves in his skull from where his glasses used to be (he got lasik surgery about 10 years ago, so he doesn't need them any more). I've been wearing glasses with spring hinges, and I don't have the indentations that he has.
ReplyDeleteThe second tip is to be aware that they could give you headaches for the first week or so (as your eyes adjust). I had glasses when I was 16 that were destroyed (on accident) when I was 21, and didn't have the money to replace them. When I finally went to get replacement glasses about 12 years later, I got headaches from wearing them that I didn't when I was 16 (turns out as you get older, you're more likely to get headaches from new prescription glasses). I also got the anti-refractive lenses because the reflections on the back of the lenses were making me crazy.
Anyway, good luck with your glasses!
http://www.zennioptical.com/home.php
ReplyDeletehas amazingly inexpensive eyeglasses! like $20 a pair or less!!! try them out!
As others here have suggested, I've gotta urge you to go the online route for glasses. Yes, it's a little daunting the first time, but the uber-cheap price (seriously, a fraction of the cost of eyeglasses at "brick & mortar" stores!) makes it an easily tolerable gamble.
ReplyDeleteAnd if it helps, you can read about our experiences with online optics.
Be sure to post about your experiences with this!
I love EPBOT and I love all the readers because I now own 5 pairs of glasses and 4 of them came from Zennioptical.com and total, they cost less than my 1 pair from "the place at the mall". I also got a pair of sunglasses that I rock out every day on my way home from the 3rd graders...
ReplyDeleteP.S. One of my students has a form of dyslexia where having tinted glasses (pink) help her read better and I let her in on the secret of Zenni and she got some fun pairs. If you know ANYONE with Irlen's, let them know about this site...totally worth it for the kiddos!
Hey!! My boss actually just told me about this website that has GOOD QUALITY glasses (and LOTS of different types) for some INSANELY low prices. And by insanely low, I mean $7.00. Yes, that is SEVEN DOLLARS. She said that her whole family wears glasses, and her daughters came across this site somehow and have ordered roughly 20 pairs each over the last year or so. Craziness, I know, but here's the site! http://www.zennioptical.com/
ReplyDeleteI guess there's a measuring thing that they send you to know your face and nose bridge size, but all you do is give them your sizes, your eye prescription (that the optomitrist gives you) and order away! It's been on my to do list for a while, but she assures me that it's legit and wonderful. So enjoy!
Haha I guess I should have read that last comment before re-telling you about zennoptical! lol but seriously, how awesome is a cheaply priced site where you can upload your face pic into and "try" on glasses?! It's super sweet!
ReplyDeleteI've had glasses since I was 7 and I'm pretty much blind without them. I didn't like wearing them for the first 20 years. I still wear contacts most days, but getting a good pair of glasses that you love the look of makes all the difference. Never settle for cheap frames.
ReplyDeleteI've been wearing glasses since I was 6 (I think I'm legally blind without them now). Frames make a huge difference in how you feel about wearing them. I look forward to getting new glasses (so I can see clearly again) and picking out new frames is pretty fun. Once you know the style you like, it's pretty easy. But be really careful- frames that break easily can ruin your day and repairs can cost.
ReplyDelete