How To Buy The Right Eyeglasses

How do you find the right eyeglasses for you? This is a topic I know about because I have been wearing glasses since I was seventeen. I actually probably should have got glasses when I was fourteen, but my mom thought I was exaggerating when I said things were becoming blurry in the distance around that time. I actually was still able to write things off the board up until my senior year of high school, but then I learned how bad my vision really was when my teacher had us take a test off or our projector for US government class. Who makes their kids take a test off a projector? To me, that is just not good planning because I can say right off the bat some kids do not have glasses and will not be able to see. After that experience, I was going to get glasses, but being called into the school counselor to talk about it was kind of silly. Yes, I know that teacher had good intentions, but I was slightly offended because I had already told him that weekend I was planning on getting glasses. Also, I had never talked to a school counselor during my entire time at school up until that point, so it was very annoying.

There were so many other kids that acted out in class and who had real issues during their senior year, so I find it a little silly that I had to go talk to the school counselor over glasses, but other ditched class and talked back to teachers without much recourse. I was not ten, but in that situation, I was treated like an elementary school student. When I went to buy glasses that weekend I learned my vision was not really all that bad. I simply could not see things in the distance, but distance vision has become worse over the years, so I wear my glasses all the time now.

Back when I was seventeen I discovered Lenscrafters was the quickest place by far to purchase glasses. I had my eye exam at a Sears optometrist, but my mom and I did not like the limited selection of glasses there. Also, I would have had to wait several days to obtain my glasses, which was just unrealistic considering we had to travel up and down the mountain to get these. My sisters got their glasses and contact lenses at the local optometrist, but he took over a week to fill their prescriptions. Their glasses and contact were often more expensive than the deals at Lenscrafters, which used to have many affordable options. I have never had vision insurance, so I would usually pay for my glasses upfront, or I would charge these and pay these off over time. I will no longer charge a pair of glasses because the amount of interest paid is just not worth it, but it is helpful to have this option if you do not have insurance and need glasses right away.

In my late teens and into my late twenties, I had a love affair with Lenscrafters because of the wide selection of lenses to choose from. The lenses my dad and sisters got from their local optometrist were often thicker and scratched more easily than mine. I liked the featherweight lenses sold at Lenscrafters for this reason, which during the last two years have been indispensable considering my prescription has gone up quite a bit. At the time, I thought paying extra for featherweight lenses and anti-glare lenses were completely worth the investment.

My first glasses at seventeen were multicolored frames that reminded me of a rainbow cheetah. I absolutely loved these glasses, as did my mom, so these were the ones of choice. Unfortunately, one lense did fall out a year later, but I simply bought a glass repair kit. You can also go to Lenscrafters for free cleanings and adjustments, which is what I have done more recently. I know some people are thinking well, of course, they are willing to offer these services because they hope you will buy new glasses, but I actually appreciate the fact they go above and beyond.

When choosing a pair of glasses I have always find the sale representatives to be very helpful and to discuss frame options with you at length. Several times I have had a rep spend up to a half-hour helping me decide which frames look the best on my face. I usually pick several frames to begin with, but since I am an indecisive shopper I thus begin the process of elimination.

Around the age of twenty-four, I started buying strong plastic frames as I have learned my metal frames often break easily. Okay quite often this is my fault because I fall asleep with these on from time to time, but given I do that I have opted from stronger and more sturdy frames. Also, my lenses, even with featherweights, have become thicker over time with my higher prescriptions, so the optometrist pointed out that it would be better to buy plastic frames. I could have still bought the skinny metal frames as I used too, but the lenses would definitely protrude out of these. Once I decided to start buying the colorful plastic frames I have not looked back, and I have not had broken in frames in years. I still have my silver frames from 2003, and this current burgundy and rhinestone pair I bought in 2008. If you or your kids find that metal frames are often breaking, I definitely recommend the stronger plastic ones!

Choosing from all the colors and styles available at Lenscrafters is half the fun. I used to be that wearing glasses was considered quite nerdy, but today it is often very trendy and fun. If you have the budget there is the possibility of buying several glasses to go with all of the ensembles in your wardrobe, so the glasses frames of today are definitely trendy.

Yes I have bought the Italian designer Armani frames and it makes me feel kind of cute and sexy, but I was sad to learn many of the newer Vogue frames were made in China. I definitely still love these frames, but something about wearing the Italian ones is just more fun! My burgundy and rhinestone frames are definitely very elegant, so I am not exactly complaining.

There is no need to buy designer eyeglasses, and many of the lower end frames are actually very cute and some are priced around fifty dollars, which is good for families on a budget. However, since my first pair of glasses, I have been buying the mid-range to higher-end frames. My first pair was around three hundred and my most expensive pair was around five hundred, but I wore these for several years too!

Also, people I know who wore contact lenses spent much more than I did on my frames, and they often had a nice pair of the back of glasses to boot! Contacts were intriguing to me a few years back, but I have decided I love my glasses.

Once I told my sister she looked really nice without contacts, and the clerk at her optometrist office said women could only look fashionable with them. I felt this was sort of a put down towards me since I was wearing glasses at the time, so I pointed out to the clerk I felt very trendy with my glasses. I do not usually always speak up for myself like that in public, but my firm opinion is no one should feel awkward because they wear glasses. Even as of recent I still hear adults talk about how kids and other adults look dorky or funny for wearing glasses, and I just wish people could get over their prejudice on this one. You may not like glasses for yourself, but the nerdy stereotypes of people wearing glasses are just way overdone in my opinion. Ironically, this has changed in recent years since many people on social media platforms such as Instagram are sporting fake eyeglasses simply for asthetic purposes.

Several times in my early twenties I attempted to learn how to put contact lenses in, but my eyes would never allow me to do it. Once my grandpa told me he was glad I wore glasses and not contact lenses, and that I should be proud of the way I looked with my spectacles on. All these years later I have never found the desire to have LASIK surgery or to wear contacts. I have heard horror stories where LASIK surgery caused damage to vision, and I just do not want to take that chance. People call me chicken for being apprehensive, but that is me.

Even in cases where LASIK surgery worked well my friends said they would never have this procedure done again because it wears off after several years. They initially paid several thousand dollars to have these surgeries, and they did not feel like doing it ever several years. So they are back to wearing glasses and seem happy with it.

I have never felt like glasses were heavy on my nose or cumbersome, and I actually am very used to the extra weight they place on my face. I love my glasses and would not have it any other way!

Several years ago when I wrote this article I was an avid Lenscrafters fan, but over time I realized paying extra for a pair of eyeglasses is just not monetarily conducive. Recently I have started purchasing my prescription eyewear on the GlassesUSA website, which often runs promotions to purchase two pairs for the price of one. So now that I am more budget conscience than I was in years past, I will be sticking with purchasing glasses online. There are several online websites that are similar to GlassesUSA where you can upload your prescription and buy a pair of glasses online.