Eyeglasses
 

Anyone know of a good place to buy eyeglasses? I've tried Walmart in the past but not really satisfied with their product.

Go to a place called "Peepers" at 301 Colony Plaza in TV. Phone is 259-1621. Wonderful place.

I second the recommendation of Peepers. Very good service. The optician is first rate. Was able to adjust my wife's glasses first try better than she experienced from several others here and in CA.

One place I would NOT recommend is the Optical place by Papa John's Pizza and 5 Guys. Bought glasses there last year and have trouble actually seeing through them. Generally there is a "getting used" to time with glasses (at least that's been my experience especially with the bifocals part). I called them to complain and they said they'd NOT stand behind them because I was a few days past the 30 day guarantee. Had NEVER had that happen in any way before. I guess I got what I paid for. I've also heard good things about Peepers!

As long as we're on this...how can the price of glasses be of a vast difference? Expensive at the eye doctor's place and getting cheaper depending where else you might visit??

Another vote for Peepers.

As a retired optician I can vouch for the fact that there is a vast difference in the quality of eyeglass frames and lenses. It's pretty much like most things in that you "usually get what you pay for". There is also a huge difference in opticians! Some are just there to put in their time while others really care about the patient's satisfaction. Progressive bifocals require extreme accuracy with the measurements, as to how the lenses will sit in the frame. Even if that is done correctly the lab must make sure that the prescription is correct in the lenses. So, there is a lot involved in making a great pair of glasses. Personally, I would never do business with these "bargain" optical shops, knowing what I know about frames and lenses. That said, we did venture to Costco in Altamonte Springs recently for sunglasses for my husband. He paid $229 for sunglasses in a titanium frame with spring hinges, and polarized progressive lenses with an anti-reflective coating on the backs of the lenses. At Mid-Florida Eye Ctr he would have paid well over $500 for the same glasses. Costco warranties their glasses for one year against normal problems. The optician fit the frame so well that I haven't had to tweak it at all! Don't hesitate to take glasses back to be checked if you can't see well within a few days to a week. Too many things can be wrong with them. A reputable optical shop will stand behind them and fix any problems that are found.

So VillagesFlorida! Would a place like Sam's be comparable to Costco? I have a story about these glasses that didn't 'fit'...amd part of it could have been me. I understood the opthalmologist to tell me I needed an RX so that's why I'd gone out to purchase new glasses. It was about a month before we headed up north for a few months. I had another checkup with the opthalmologist up there as a re-check that was ordered. Just in case--I brought both pairs of my glasses along to ask about my RX and what was going on from their perspective. The technician told me my RX had NOT changed. But that when you purchase glasses from the places such as I did...that the quality of the lenses could be a factor and it's just as you stated. I learned my lesson BUT that being said and now that we're fulltime here I need to have some recommendations on places to go. Now I have Peepers, Costco (which is close to Orlando) and ???? I won't purchase from my eye-doctor's place as I KNOW they're out of sight with cost. Seems like highway robbery and one is between a rock and a hard place when they need to see. Just my humble opinion.

Another vote for Costco.

Another vote for Peepers!

have been pleased with both Costco and Sam's

JenAjd, it seems that there are already enough positive comments here about "Peepers" that you might give them a try next time you need glasses. I have not been there so I can't recommend from MY personal experience. Costco is great as far as quality for what you pay but it is a 65-mile drive from my home in The Villages, one way. We don't mind the ride every now and then. IF you have any problems after you get your glasses from a shop that is that far away, then you have to drive all the way back to get help. Something to think about with Costco. I have never purchased glasses from Sam's so I can't help you there. In the December issue of Consumer Reports Costco Optical came in 1st in overall satisfaction among 30,000 readers. "It was also the only retailer surveyed that stood out in another area: lack of problems, such as loose lenses, distorted or blurred vision, or damaged frames, in the first few weeks after purchase." The article went on to state that if one wasn't "a Costco shopper you might do better by getting your glasses at your doctor's office or from an independent optical boutique." Most all of the other chain optical shops did not rate very well. Personally, I miss my little optical shop in Belleview, Cox Optical. It was owned and operated by a husband and wife team and the service was outstanding. The frame selection wasn't great but I usually bought my frame elsewhere and had Mike make the lenses. Unfortunately, they went out of business due to the bad economy.

As a Costco fan, I, too, would purchase my glasses from the Costco near our home in CA, bringing my prescription to their optical department. Glasses were always right, the first time. When we moved here, had a prescription filled at one of the local optometric offices....scrip was correct, adjustments needed were handled well. Then I went to Sam's to fill another prescription. I won't go back again, and it wasn't because the opticians weren't good, BUT getting the frame took forever. Getting frame adjustments was time consuming because you had to wait your turn and if the store was busy, it could be a while. For some reason, when I'm in Sam's, especially near the optical dept, so are half of the people in the store... ;)

Peepers was visited after positive reviews from posters here. Hubby had an eye exam, got new glasses and while I was waiting for him, the optician made an adjustment to my glasses that made their fit on my face, more comfortable and that means I wear them more, as I should. Hubby was impressed with his examination, the doctor, the optician and his glasses. As far as our household is concerned, Peepers is our choice for eye exams and any needed glasses.

Peepers then....what does he charge (ballpark) for glasses with progressive lenses?

Eyeglasses
 

I listen to consumer expert Clark Howard. He mentioned an eyeglass place on the web at zennioptical.com. If you send them your eyeglass prescription including the pupil distance (ask your optometrist at your appt.), they can make you glasses under $60 in most circumstances. They have a limited selection of frames on their website, and obviously, you can't try them on; this is not for everybody. I ordered some progressive bifocal glasses, and I am satisfied with them. I also ordered some prescription sunglasses.

My daughter in law ordered her glasses thru Zenni and was happy. I looked into it and truthfully got nervous about it. You were fortunate that you got yours and you were happy...Reason I was nervous is that I'd have had to do the measuring and didn't want to deal with 'wonder if's' of making a mistake. It I didn't have the bifocals I'd probably go for it.