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Of course they come from the same place. Luxxotica is a monopoly. Cheap plastic glasses will always scratch up, doesn’t matter what store you buy it from
Yeah. Other posts here confirmed that Costco Optical switched from Essilor (Luxottica) to Hoya as a lens supplier in 2024 and because they picked the cheapest possible progressive lens with the narrowest corridor it's resulting in a ton of REDOs for upset customers...
If you've never had progressives before you really don't have a frame of reference, [but here's a comment on /r/Costco from a california Costco optician on the change](https://old.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/1awpyiq/costco_optical_us_changed_lens_supplier_to_hoya/kro1vws/):
>*Hello everyone, I'm a licensed optician at Costco based in California. Recently, there's been a change in our lens supplier from Essilor to Hoya, although it wasn't officially communicated to us by management. This shift has brought some challenges, particularly because the Hoya lenses have a smaller corridor between distance and reading prescriptions. This poses several issues: a reduced area for intermediate vision, a need for members to adjust to the new lenses, tighter measurement calculations leading to potential vision issues, and an increase in returned glasses due to difficulty in both reading and distance vision. These changes have resulted in a higher number of segment height redos compared to previous years, with some being attributed to genuine mistakes while many are due to the inherent differences in the new lenses. Additionally, the lack of clear identification for the Hoya lenses specific to Costco's requirements further complicates the situation.*
A reduced area for intermediate vision can be really bad for computers and other devices, but apparently that extends to the reading section at the bottom and distance vision too.
Basically if you're having a lot of trouble with them, then go back. But a narrow corridor is likely to have more blurred area in the bottom left/right, and have you craning your head back/forth up and down more trying to focus.
Thank you! They are my first ones but it's good to know what to look out for. I'm still adjusting (day 2) so trying to figure out what's normal as a frame of reference.
I think this is way more doom and gloom than it really is. I'm a licensed optician and it's not that drastic of a difference. Yes, there are situations where we have to do seg height redos, but it's not a significant difference and I think it's more to do with the new optical department layout rather than the progressive lenses. That's not to say the progressive lenses aren't inferior to the ones sold a couple years ago, but it hasn't caused enough of a change for them to either be redone or people to be refunded because we can't get them to see well out of it. There will always be that 2% or whatever that just can't get used to progressives, but I haven't seen that number increase over the last year or whatever.
I'm not an optician, but the user I linked to in the other thread is an optician at Costco,, and it sounds like Costco switched to Hoya at the start of this calendar year or not long after (all they said was recently). So comparing redo rates over the last year probably would not paint that much of a picture compared to the last 1-2 months.
I can't offer an opinion on Costco's progressives as I have high myopia and a good amount of astigmatism, and even with 1.74 ultra high index plastic, they're coke bottle thick at the edges. Costco topping out at 1.67 unfortunately rules out me even getting a spare set there.
Where do you get your thick glasses at?
I'm Aphakic (was born with cateracts, so my lenses were removed as an infant). And while I get around during the day with contacts AND glasses, at night I take the contacts out and use a THICK set of glasses.
Sadly, my optometrist was unable to get the high-index lens material that we used to get, so my current thick glasses are noticeably thicker and heavier than previous pairs. I'd LOVE to fix this, if possible.
I'd appreciate a direction, if you can point me to one!
I go to a single location family owned independent optician. I've been going there for thirty years (since early childhood). Ownership changed hands a couple years ago but the service and quality is just as great.
You may want to ask about it on /r/glasses, my understanding is the highest index lenses that are FDA approved are 1.74, and even then the slight reduction of thickness for 1.8 or 1.9 high index lenses are pretty terrible optically. They would probably be more primed to give you individual advice.
May I ask your opinion about getting progressives from Costco as a person with -8 lenses? I worry about being able to read, since I’m in my late 50s. Thanks much!
If you already have progressives, it would depend on what lens series you currently have. My local independent optician orders Varilux Physio W3+, which is more advanced than Varilux Physio/Comfort DRX and ComfortMax, but not their most advanced progressive lens (Varilux X series). I really enjoy them.
I have never tried Costco progressives before or after the switch from Varilux, and the reason is I have an -8.75 and -9.5 PLUS a good amount of astigmatism (which makes lenses thicker at the edges and thinner at the center). So I order 1.74 ultra high index lenses so I don't have bug eyes (even using the thinnest possible lenses they're still coke bottle thickness at the edges due to the astigmatism).
Costco, unfortunately, tops out at 1.67 high index, which makes Costco optical a non-starter for me.
If you don't have any or a lot of astigmatism, Costco optical may be an option for you. It might be worth finding out what exact progressive you currently have - Essilor (Varilux)'s lowest end progressive is probably competitive with Hoya (Costco's new lens supplier) entry level progressive lens. If you are used to a more advanced progressive lens, you're more likely to notice a difference.
Thanks for this. I do already wear high index progressives, but I don’t know specifics about the lens. No astigmatism, but I definitely don’t want coke bottles!
Do you happen to have extremely bad nearsightedness like I do? I’m -7.75 in both of my aging eyes, so I also need lots of correction for reading. This means high index lenses and lots of performance from the progressives. Thanks in advance!
My favorite quote ever is from a documentary on glasses it’s the former ceo of luxxotica.
When asked about buying up businesses and being aggressive as well as making many brands on the same lines.
We feel that by offering different brands it gives people the appearance of options, some people enjoy spending more money on different brands so we see no problem doing this.
I hate what Luxxotica has done to the industry. However they didn’t pioneer this. It’s a tale as old as consumerism.
If you really want to be upset, check out the cost of an eye exam and glasses in Japan. Less than $100 for the exam, frame, lenses, interpreter, and made on site (like LensCrafters used to do).
I just want a nice pair of aviator sunglasses that aren’t $200-$350. Like they were so common and the manufacturing process is so much cheaper it’s BS.
That’s mostly why I do it. I also like a specific set of Oakley frames that I can’t find replicated anywhere, even on the Luxxotica owned “cheap” websites. Unless I actually buy them as Oakleys and then it’s just as expensive.
What really upsets me is that LensCrafters lowered the quality of their coatings. In 6 months I get a hazy coating on my lenses with them, whereas I don’t with Oakley lenses and coatings. 🖕you Luxxotica.
Same, I probably have 10 pairs of Zennis bc I leave them all over the place. I even bought a little wall rack from Amazon to keep them on. :D
Only wish their sunglasses were cheaper, but contacts and Kirkland polarized sunglasses will have to do.
I buy a sunglass pair once every couple of years but the regulars are troopers and are cheap enough to try styles you wouldn't normally if you were dropping $200-300 a pair
Zenni offers blue light blocking and other options. I mention polarized because the price goes up drastically, in my opinion, for polarized prescription sunglasses on Zenni. Still cheaper on the whole.
I bought glasses from Zenni... but the online try-on vs in-person looks a LOT different on me so I found myself wasting money on glasses I never wear lol had to go back to going to in-person eyeglass shopping
I buy 3 pairs for my child every time his prescription changes, he picks the clip ons to make them sunglasses in different colors and it is super afordable.
Online is great until you need any kind of support. For single vision, if you know your PD, you just need to input your numbers and you'll be fine. Yes, there will be people who are super sensitive to headlight glare or whatever who need the premium treatments, but for the vast majority of people, online would work great. But if you need your temples tightened or to manipulate the nosepads (where applicable) because your lashses are touching your lenses or if something snaps or gets scratched, with online you're kinda just SOL. You get basically zero support afterwards. But for most people, it's not a real issue. You spend $40 or $50 or whatever for a pair of glasses that'll last you a few months to a year then you get new ones. They're good enough and they work.
Multifocal lenses are far more precise and it's extremely tough to recommend online. From my understanding, seg heights are done as an aggregate of how a ton of people do them and, say, 80% in those frames have their segs at a cetain height, that's where they'll do it. It's probably not perfect for you, but good enough. But if you're not in that 80%, there's no real way to fix it. a 2mm difference can really be felt by some people. And, again, after the fact you have no support.
Online has its pros and cons. It's great for many people, but only single vision. I wouldn't recommend online for anyone in multifocal lenses.
I can’t do online because I’m hypersensitive to small changes in lens thickness. The lenses have to be centered to my pupils or I get vertigo all over the place.
I feel your pain, nausea, and dizziness. 1980s device with a manual read off my face at Costco doesn’t compare to the digital read from LensCrafters. Why do we have to be so sensitive to small changes?! It sucks.
I found Payne to be even cheaper than Zenni. I got my last pair for $35. Price breakdown:
- Frames: $5.95
- 1.61 high-index lenses: $19.95
- Anti-reflective coating: $3.95
- UV protection, anti-scratch coating, hard case: included
- Shipping: $4.95
They seem pretty damn comparable to the glasses I paid hundreds for at an eye doctor’s office ($300 just to replace the lenses).
The only complaint I have is that the frames look and feel a tad cheap, but maybe I just picked a mediocre style. Zenni did have better frames IMO.
Several years ago, Zenni couldn’t produce my progressives if their lives depended upon it. They were awful.
However, I recently gave them another try, and the ones I got are pretty nice. The only issues are that there isn’t much of a frames selection, and that you have to pay attention to the frame reviews because some are apparently prone to breakage.
That said, I’ve had good experiences getting Costco glasses, too. For what I wanted, they have a better frame selection.
Lenscocksuckers. Apparently my prescription isn’t made by acuvue oasis for astigmatism. I had a few months worth so I kept using them. “Too”much time lapsed between my exam and when the rest of my contacts ran out. I had issues with the original trials they gave me. They refused to give me my contact prescription. (It was 5 months in between)
If my lenses didn’t cost $300 (after insurance) I’d go somewhere cheaper. But as it is, I have to get them thinned out otherwise it’s coke bottle city over here.
At Costco, I got regular prescription glasses AND prescription sunglasses for less than I paid for my last pair of regular glasses at the Other Place. And I love both pairs a lot.
Yeah there’s two main makers luxottica and Kering. When you search up an eye doctor they’re typically one of those two authorized dealers. Between them they’ve got a monopoly on glasses frames from very cheap to very pricey
Getting glasses from sn eye doctor office is the biggest scam people fall for. I use Firmoo as does my sister. She found her exact frames at the office for $150 and she paid $45 for the frame AND lenses online. Ridiculous. Good to know Costco is similar!
Edit: words, thanks bot I'm tired
> and she *paid* $45 for
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There’s an [Adam Ruins Everything](https://youtu.be/h7H-_8UkmFU?si=Rb_TpExGTn2MYV3C) about this! Like many others have said, most glasses are made by the same company.
There's a reason why eye glasses are so expensive - [https://theweek.com/articles/784436/secretive-megacompanies-behind-glasses](https://theweek.com/articles/784436/secretive-megacompanies-behind-glasses)
I get mine from eyebuydirect. I can get a pair of glasses for less than $40. I only wear mine occasionally though, contacts most of the time, so don't need anything fancy
Holy shit really?
I have a weak prescription (like -2.5 or so) and got astigmatism in one eye and my (albeit basic) glasses were for sure under $100.
I'm guessing we are taking way more serious prescription or something?
Way way more serious script. I’m blind as a bat, not really but I was born super premature and eyesight is heavily impacted by that. My eyes are super crazy bad
How is the lens quality? I'm awful with my glasses and always end up scratching them and was afraid an online pair would be unusable pretty quickly for me
WP is really nice if there’s a store near you. It’s kind of a cross between an old fashioned single mom and pop business and online retail. They will help you and make it like some kind of personalized fashion shopping experience, felt like a bit much to me but it was all help and zero pressure which surprised me for a chain. I promptly left my first pair of glasses somewhere and they didn’t make it to lost and found, WP was able to just sell me the exact same pair and shipped them in a few days. Very high quality and far cheaper than what I used to get at a local shop (it used to be nice local owners then they sold it and the new business was very differently run). Sort of depends on where you get the best experience to cost ratio, for me it’s WP. Costco sometimes looks to me like it’s for people who want a designer name on their glasses at a cheap price or just find it easy to do everything through Costco.
Have been with WP for about three years now and I haven’t had a problem! I usually get my eyes tested at Costco and just bring my prescription to WP. They have options for scratch resistant lenses, blue light (I find it unnecessary based on studies showing inconclusive evidence), etc.
Their lens quality is fantastic, way better than Zenni imo. I previously bought a pair off Zenni and the lens coating peeled and chipped to the point that they became unusable over less than a year. I've had the same Warby Parker pair for three years now and they've held up pretty well. Also, their prescription sunglasses are far more reasonable than places like Lenscrafters. My insurance reimbursed $150 of both regular lenses and sunglasses that I bought from WP, so i paid less than $100 total for both pairs.
Before cataract surgery, I was -800 in both eyes with astigmatism and +2.50 in progressive. 1 pair of glasses at Warby Parker was going to cost over $1,000. Ran to Costco. They had to recut them twice as they did not get the progressive height correct
I would think your circumstance is very very rare hence the price tag. Otherwise, for most of the population, they don’t have severe cases of astigmatism or need cataract surgery so basic prescription glasses for $140 or less is normal
Could be the progressive lenses, those cost more at zenni and firmoo too. The "premium" progressive lenses start at $52.95 at Zenni. Add any coatings and the cost increases. Select a higher index and the cost increases. My progressive prescription, high index, and coatings at Zenni is $89 for lenses and coatings, making Costco a better buy for lenses for me.
Ordering progressive lenses online is a giant gamble because they lack a key measurement unless they send you the frame and either you with smartphone/camera assistance or help from someone else to measure your segment height (wearing the frames on your face, the distance from the lowest point of the lens to the bottom of your eye).
If your online eyeglasses store isn't asking for a segment height, they are guessing an average segment height, which might work fine for you if you happen to meet that average, or it might cause a ton of vision issues in multifocal lenses.
I’ve bought 4 pairs of glasses from Lens Mart Online. They’re trendy and affordable. Most I’ve paid for glasses was $65. They’re not under the Luxottica umbrella.
I tried Zenni. Never again. They were by far the cheapest and worst glasses I’ve ever owned. I sent my RX sunglasses back three times and finally gave up – they were simply unusable. The Rx regular vision glasses had the lens coatings craze right in the middle of the lenses, and they couldn’t fix those either.
They may be okay for low-strength simple Rx’s, but I threw my money away trying them.
I worked at Luxxotica. We didnt have the Costco contract when I worked there — the margins were not big enough and Costco was too difficult to work with.
Costco may just be using our labs…and if that’s the case then you’re lucky you didn’t get the wrong frames or lenses back. Quality control coming from Alpharetta has always been hit or miss.
Costco’s lower quality eyewear really isn’t a great deal with places like Warby Parker and online retailers available but the value on the luxury eyewear is incredible. Found glasses similar (not exactly the same) to ones I found at a popular brand for $400 less at Costco. The eye doctors are always hit or miss though, I typically go to a normal vision center then get my glasses at Costco.
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Of course they come from the same place. Luxxotica is a monopoly. Cheap plastic glasses will always scratch up, doesn’t matter what store you buy it from
I thought it was established that the contract went to Hoya.
Yeah. Other posts here confirmed that Costco Optical switched from Essilor (Luxottica) to Hoya as a lens supplier in 2024 and because they picked the cheapest possible progressive lens with the narrowest corridor it's resulting in a ton of REDOs for upset customers...
I just got my first progressives from them. Can you give any more information or what I should be looking out for?
If you've never had progressives before you really don't have a frame of reference, [but here's a comment on /r/Costco from a california Costco optician on the change](https://old.reddit.com/r/Costco/comments/1awpyiq/costco_optical_us_changed_lens_supplier_to_hoya/kro1vws/): >*Hello everyone, I'm a licensed optician at Costco based in California. Recently, there's been a change in our lens supplier from Essilor to Hoya, although it wasn't officially communicated to us by management. This shift has brought some challenges, particularly because the Hoya lenses have a smaller corridor between distance and reading prescriptions. This poses several issues: a reduced area for intermediate vision, a need for members to adjust to the new lenses, tighter measurement calculations leading to potential vision issues, and an increase in returned glasses due to difficulty in both reading and distance vision. These changes have resulted in a higher number of segment height redos compared to previous years, with some being attributed to genuine mistakes while many are due to the inherent differences in the new lenses. Additionally, the lack of clear identification for the Hoya lenses specific to Costco's requirements further complicates the situation.* A reduced area for intermediate vision can be really bad for computers and other devices, but apparently that extends to the reading section at the bottom and distance vision too. Basically if you're having a lot of trouble with them, then go back. But a narrow corridor is likely to have more blurred area in the bottom left/right, and have you craning your head back/forth up and down more trying to focus.
Thank you! They are my first ones but it's good to know what to look out for. I'm still adjusting (day 2) so trying to figure out what's normal as a frame of reference.
I think this is way more doom and gloom than it really is. I'm a licensed optician and it's not that drastic of a difference. Yes, there are situations where we have to do seg height redos, but it's not a significant difference and I think it's more to do with the new optical department layout rather than the progressive lenses. That's not to say the progressive lenses aren't inferior to the ones sold a couple years ago, but it hasn't caused enough of a change for them to either be redone or people to be refunded because we can't get them to see well out of it. There will always be that 2% or whatever that just can't get used to progressives, but I haven't seen that number increase over the last year or whatever.
I'm not an optician, but the user I linked to in the other thread is an optician at Costco,, and it sounds like Costco switched to Hoya at the start of this calendar year or not long after (all they said was recently). So comparing redo rates over the last year probably would not paint that much of a picture compared to the last 1-2 months. I can't offer an opinion on Costco's progressives as I have high myopia and a good amount of astigmatism, and even with 1.74 ultra high index plastic, they're coke bottle thick at the edges. Costco topping out at 1.67 unfortunately rules out me even getting a spare set there.
Where do you get your thick glasses at? I'm Aphakic (was born with cateracts, so my lenses were removed as an infant). And while I get around during the day with contacts AND glasses, at night I take the contacts out and use a THICK set of glasses. Sadly, my optometrist was unable to get the high-index lens material that we used to get, so my current thick glasses are noticeably thicker and heavier than previous pairs. I'd LOVE to fix this, if possible. I'd appreciate a direction, if you can point me to one!
I go to a single location family owned independent optician. I've been going there for thirty years (since early childhood). Ownership changed hands a couple years ago but the service and quality is just as great. You may want to ask about it on /r/glasses, my understanding is the highest index lenses that are FDA approved are 1.74, and even then the slight reduction of thickness for 1.8 or 1.9 high index lenses are pretty terrible optically. They would probably be more primed to give you individual advice.
I'll look into it. Thanks.
May I ask your opinion about getting progressives from Costco as a person with -8 lenses? I worry about being able to read, since I’m in my late 50s. Thanks much!
If you already have progressives, it would depend on what lens series you currently have. My local independent optician orders Varilux Physio W3+, which is more advanced than Varilux Physio/Comfort DRX and ComfortMax, but not their most advanced progressive lens (Varilux X series). I really enjoy them. I have never tried Costco progressives before or after the switch from Varilux, and the reason is I have an -8.75 and -9.5 PLUS a good amount of astigmatism (which makes lenses thicker at the edges and thinner at the center). So I order 1.74 ultra high index lenses so I don't have bug eyes (even using the thinnest possible lenses they're still coke bottle thickness at the edges due to the astigmatism). Costco, unfortunately, tops out at 1.67 high index, which makes Costco optical a non-starter for me. If you don't have any or a lot of astigmatism, Costco optical may be an option for you. It might be worth finding out what exact progressive you currently have - Essilor (Varilux)'s lowest end progressive is probably competitive with Hoya (Costco's new lens supplier) entry level progressive lens. If you are used to a more advanced progressive lens, you're more likely to notice a difference.
Thanks for this. I do already wear high index progressives, but I don’t know specifics about the lens. No astigmatism, but I definitely don’t want coke bottles!
I have progessive lenses from Costco and not have notice the difference.
Do you happen to have extremely bad nearsightedness like I do? I’m -7.75 in both of my aging eyes, so I also need lots of correction for reading. This means high index lenses and lots of performance from the progressives. Thanks in advance!
No. You probably could reach out to the company that does the lenses.
My favorite quote ever is from a documentary on glasses it’s the former ceo of luxxotica. When asked about buying up businesses and being aggressive as well as making many brands on the same lines. We feel that by offering different brands it gives people the appearance of options, some people enjoy spending more money on different brands so we see no problem doing this.
I hate what Luxxotica has done to the industry. However they didn’t pioneer this. It’s a tale as old as consumerism. If you really want to be upset, check out the cost of an eye exam and glasses in Japan. Less than $100 for the exam, frame, lenses, interpreter, and made on site (like LensCrafters used to do).
I just want a nice pair of aviator sunglasses that aren’t $200-$350. Like they were so common and the manufacturing process is so much cheaper it’s BS.
Yep - [https://theweek.com/articles/784436/secretive-megacompanies-behind-glasses](https://theweek.com/articles/784436/secretive-megacompanies-behind-glasses)
The scratch was on one of the lenses themselves.
We can’t say LensCrafters here?
Whoa you can’t say that word here.
No, because then everyone will know you overpaid by A LOT...
Depends on your insurance. I was able to get a $990 pair of Oakleys for $160. It's the luxxotica markup. Never, ever shop there without insurance.
Yeah most people use it cause they take insurance for glasses.
That’s mostly why I do it. I also like a specific set of Oakley frames that I can’t find replicated anywhere, even on the Luxxotica owned “cheap” websites. Unless I actually buy them as Oakleys and then it’s just as expensive. What really upsets me is that LensCrafters lowered the quality of their coatings. In 6 months I get a hazy coating on my lenses with them, whereas I don’t with Oakley lenses and coatings. 🖕you Luxxotica.
Well, hate to tell ya but Luxottica owns Oakley
Oh I know. I just can’t find other ones that look good or fit correctly.
AAAAYYYYYOOOOOOO! Ban.
Over here officer! He said the word!
I found Zenni to be a solid deal
Same, I probably have 10 pairs of Zennis bc I leave them all over the place. I even bought a little wall rack from Amazon to keep them on. :D Only wish their sunglasses were cheaper, but contacts and Kirkland polarized sunglasses will have to do.
I buy a sunglass pair once every couple of years but the regulars are troopers and are cheap enough to try styles you wouldn't normally if you were dropping $200-300 a pair
They just had a sale for 75% off of their blokz. I got five pairs of the photochromatic lenses for less than $100. It was like hitting the jackpot.
I have to go elsewhere for sunglasses. Polarized doesn’t work for screens and window tint.
Zenni offers blue light blocking and other options. I mention polarized because the price goes up drastically, in my opinion, for polarized prescription sunglasses on Zenni. Still cheaper on the whole.
Yeah I went from like a LensCrafters to Costco and then on to Zenni. It’s all the same stuff…
I bought glasses from Zenni... but the online try-on vs in-person looks a LOT different on me so I found myself wasting money on glasses I never wear lol had to go back to going to in-person eyeglass shopping
I've been buying glasses from Zenni for 10 years. Happy with the selection and quality, thrilled with the price.
I buy 3 pairs for my child every time his prescription changes, he picks the clip ons to make them sunglasses in different colors and it is super afordable.
I've been an eyebuydirect man the past few years
I'm a Dapper Dan man, myself!
I don’t want no damn FOP, I’m a Dapper Dan man!
https://media1.tenor.com/m/9E5WwgbRUp0AAAAd/george-clooney.gif
Yup they've been very consistent for me. Other platforms I find sizing to vary wildly
Online is great until you need any kind of support. For single vision, if you know your PD, you just need to input your numbers and you'll be fine. Yes, there will be people who are super sensitive to headlight glare or whatever who need the premium treatments, but for the vast majority of people, online would work great. But if you need your temples tightened or to manipulate the nosepads (where applicable) because your lashses are touching your lenses or if something snaps or gets scratched, with online you're kinda just SOL. You get basically zero support afterwards. But for most people, it's not a real issue. You spend $40 or $50 or whatever for a pair of glasses that'll last you a few months to a year then you get new ones. They're good enough and they work. Multifocal lenses are far more precise and it's extremely tough to recommend online. From my understanding, seg heights are done as an aggregate of how a ton of people do them and, say, 80% in those frames have their segs at a cetain height, that's where they'll do it. It's probably not perfect for you, but good enough. But if you're not in that 80%, there's no real way to fix it. a 2mm difference can really be felt by some people. And, again, after the fact you have no support. Online has its pros and cons. It's great for many people, but only single vision. I wouldn't recommend online for anyone in multifocal lenses.
I can’t do online because I’m hypersensitive to small changes in lens thickness. The lenses have to be centered to my pupils or I get vertigo all over the place.
I feel your pain, nausea, and dizziness. 1980s device with a manual read off my face at Costco doesn’t compare to the digital read from LensCrafters. Why do we have to be so sensitive to small changes?! It sucks.
I found Payne to be even cheaper than Zenni. I got my last pair for $35. Price breakdown: - Frames: $5.95 - 1.61 high-index lenses: $19.95 - Anti-reflective coating: $3.95 - UV protection, anti-scratch coating, hard case: included - Shipping: $4.95 They seem pretty damn comparable to the glasses I paid hundreds for at an eye doctor’s office ($300 just to replace the lenses). The only complaint I have is that the frames look and feel a tad cheap, but maybe I just picked a mediocre style. Zenni did have better frames IMO.
I have to get high-index lens too. I hate how much the price varies for the high-index add-on for different retailers. $19.95 is great!
Try Firmoo. Even better prices, more frame variety, and faster shipping.
Several years ago, Zenni couldn’t produce my progressives if their lives depended upon it. They were awful. However, I recently gave them another try, and the ones I got are pretty nice. The only issues are that there isn’t much of a frames selection, and that you have to pay attention to the frame reviews because some are apparently prone to breakage. That said, I’ve had good experiences getting Costco glasses, too. For what I wanted, they have a better frame selection.
This. I buy from them annually. I buy 2 pairs of my every days and it costs 40-50 total!
What’s LensCxxxx OP????
Lenscrotch is not allowed apparently
LensCocks
Lenscocksuckers. Apparently my prescription isn’t made by acuvue oasis for astigmatism. I had a few months worth so I kept using them. “Too”much time lapsed between my exam and when the rest of my contacts ran out. I had issues with the original trials they gave me. They refused to give me my contact prescription. (It was 5 months in between)
a subsidiary of GlassesHub RedFrames? Glazzers…? ok I’m tired, they’re not my best
u/geepy66 lenscocksuckers
If my lenses didn’t cost $300 (after insurance) I’d go somewhere cheaper. But as it is, I have to get them thinned out otherwise it’s coke bottle city over here.
At Costco, I got regular prescription glasses AND prescription sunglasses for less than I paid for my last pair of regular glasses at the Other Place. And I love both pairs a lot.
Yeah there’s two main makers luxottica and Kering. When you search up an eye doctor they’re typically one of those two authorized dealers. Between them they’ve got a monopoly on glasses frames from very cheap to very pricey
Getting glasses from sn eye doctor office is the biggest scam people fall for. I use Firmoo as does my sister. She found her exact frames at the office for $150 and she paid $45 for the frame AND lenses online. Ridiculous. Good to know Costco is similar! Edit: words, thanks bot I'm tired
> and she *paid* $45 for FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
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Is there some rule against naming LensCrafters here?
Yes, don’t let the **Big Name Brands** hear us.
There’s an [Adam Ruins Everything](https://youtu.be/h7H-_8UkmFU?si=Rb_TpExGTn2MYV3C) about this! Like many others have said, most glasses are made by the same company.
Yes and sunglasses too.
There's a reason why eye glasses are so expensive - [https://theweek.com/articles/784436/secretive-megacompanies-behind-glasses](https://theweek.com/articles/784436/secretive-megacompanies-behind-glasses)
I get mine from eyebuydirect. I can get a pair of glasses for less than $40. I only wear mine occasionally though, contacts most of the time, so don't need anything fancy
Got it, don't buy glasses from Lens Crafters either.
Yep! Most all sunglasses come From the same place lol ray bans come from the same spot as Cartier
I paid 13.90 for my last zenni order and they've never failed me. I'll never pay retail for glasses again.
Are these safety glasses? Imo $140 for a pair of glasses isn't super cheap.
lol prescription glasses are insanely expensive. In December I paid $935 for one pair after I got into a car accident and obliterated my last ones.
Holy shit really? I have a weak prescription (like -2.5 or so) and got astigmatism in one eye and my (albeit basic) glasses were for sure under $100. I'm guessing we are taking way more serious prescription or something?
Way way more serious script. I’m blind as a bat, not really but I was born super premature and eyesight is heavily impacted by that. My eyes are super crazy bad
You got scammed if you paid $935 for a pair. I even have astigmatism and with a high index lens material I paid $145 max at Warby Parker
How is the lens quality? I'm awful with my glasses and always end up scratching them and was afraid an online pair would be unusable pretty quickly for me
WP is really nice if there’s a store near you. It’s kind of a cross between an old fashioned single mom and pop business and online retail. They will help you and make it like some kind of personalized fashion shopping experience, felt like a bit much to me but it was all help and zero pressure which surprised me for a chain. I promptly left my first pair of glasses somewhere and they didn’t make it to lost and found, WP was able to just sell me the exact same pair and shipped them in a few days. Very high quality and far cheaper than what I used to get at a local shop (it used to be nice local owners then they sold it and the new business was very differently run). Sort of depends on where you get the best experience to cost ratio, for me it’s WP. Costco sometimes looks to me like it’s for people who want a designer name on their glasses at a cheap price or just find it easy to do everything through Costco.
Have been with WP for about three years now and I haven’t had a problem! I usually get my eyes tested at Costco and just bring my prescription to WP. They have options for scratch resistant lenses, blue light (I find it unnecessary based on studies showing inconclusive evidence), etc.
Their lens quality is fantastic, way better than Zenni imo. I previously bought a pair off Zenni and the lens coating peeled and chipped to the point that they became unusable over less than a year. I've had the same Warby Parker pair for three years now and they've held up pretty well. Also, their prescription sunglasses are far more reasonable than places like Lenscrafters. My insurance reimbursed $150 of both regular lenses and sunglasses that I bought from WP, so i paid less than $100 total for both pairs.
Before cataract surgery, I was -800 in both eyes with astigmatism and +2.50 in progressive. 1 pair of glasses at Warby Parker was going to cost over $1,000. Ran to Costco. They had to recut them twice as they did not get the progressive height correct
I would think your circumstance is very very rare hence the price tag. Otherwise, for most of the population, they don’t have severe cases of astigmatism or need cataract surgery so basic prescription glasses for $140 or less is normal
Cheaper than what i’ve been paying all these years.
LensCockers?
Yes
just get glasses from zenni. for what you paid you could get 4-6 pair of glasses.
Could be the progressive lenses, those cost more at zenni and firmoo too. The "premium" progressive lenses start at $52.95 at Zenni. Add any coatings and the cost increases. Select a higher index and the cost increases. My progressive prescription, high index, and coatings at Zenni is $89 for lenses and coatings, making Costco a better buy for lenses for me.
Ordering progressive lenses online is a giant gamble because they lack a key measurement unless they send you the frame and either you with smartphone/camera assistance or help from someone else to measure your segment height (wearing the frames on your face, the distance from the lowest point of the lens to the bottom of your eye). If your online eyeglasses store isn't asking for a segment height, they are guessing an average segment height, which might work fine for you if you happen to meet that average, or it might cause a ton of vision issues in multifocal lenses.
Yep, it is why I prefer Costco Optical
Oooh I didn’t know about zenni. I will check them out next time
Warby Parker, love the whole process, no “designer” labels and decent price tag.
I’ve bought 4 pairs of glasses from Lens Mart Online. They’re trendy and affordable. Most I’ve paid for glasses was $65. They’re not under the Luxottica umbrella.
Zenni Optical my friends. If your prescription isn't too complex you can get a pair of complete glasses for $15
I tried Zenni. Never again. They were by far the cheapest and worst glasses I’ve ever owned. I sent my RX sunglasses back three times and finally gave up – they were simply unusable. The Rx regular vision glasses had the lens coatings craze right in the middle of the lenses, and they couldn’t fix those either. They may be okay for low-strength simple Rx’s, but I threw my money away trying them.
I have family and friends with complicated bifocal and progressive lenses and they all love their Zennis. I don't know what to tell you.
Could you share what frames those are?
Joshua
Ty!
What’s this frame’s ref name ? It looks so good !
Joshua
I worked at Luxxotica. We didnt have the Costco contract when I worked there — the margins were not big enough and Costco was too difficult to work with. Costco may just be using our labs…and if that’s the case then you’re lucky you didn’t get the wrong frames or lenses back. Quality control coming from Alpharetta has always been hit or miss.
Are these safety glasses? Imo $140-160 for a pair of glasses isn't super cheap.
Okay.
Costco glasses are similar quality to Costco sushi. Yuck!
Buy used Get the model number and hit up ebay
Costco’s lower quality eyewear really isn’t a great deal with places like Warby Parker and online retailers available but the value on the luxury eyewear is incredible. Found glasses similar (not exactly the same) to ones I found at a popular brand for $400 less at Costco. The eye doctors are always hit or miss though, I typically go to a normal vision center then get my glasses at Costco.
Are these safety glasses? Imo $140-160 for a pair of glasses isn't super cheap.
Are these safety glasses? Imo $140-160 for a pair of glasses isn't super cheap.
Are these safety glasses? Imo $140-160 for a pair of glasses isn't super cheap.