Optical Options: Part 2

Years ago I created a post about online options for those of us whose eyesight is less than perfect. Well, I have a couple more entries, and a few updates.

Firmoo:
The glasses are great. The website is well designed and easy to navigate. Also, it's one of the easiest to find exactly what I was looking for. The prescription quality is top-notch - easily on par with coastal.com. They've got a different sort of selection, which is greatly appreciated. The frame quality varies with style. I chose a frame without spring hinges, but other options include them. Shipping was extremely fast, especially so since these were shipped from China. I'm estimating that from the time of order to the time the UPS man stopped by to drop them off, maybe a week had passed -- I wasn't expecting them to show for a few more weeks! Packaging was good, and I was especially happy with the case. It's much more solid than with some other companies. Overall, Firmoo gives Coastal a run for its money. Its pricing is on par with other companies, though you can usually find a great deal if you search for promotional codes. Selection is great. And the prescription quality is awesome.

EyeBuyDirect:
A couple months ago I started to realize that my regular pair of glasses (ie. my "work" pair) were starting to get seriously scratched up -- if I didn't have them pressed to oculars every day I'm sure they wouldn't have been in such sad shape. So I decided it was probably time to find another cheap backup pair of glasses. I searched for discount glasses and came to Eyebuydirect.com. The selection they offer is great, and you're likely to find a new style to try. The pair I found was one of the least expensive, but had an interesting look to them. I wasn't expecting much, because they were so cheap, but I was pleasantly surprised when they arrived. They're single hinge (no surprise there,) and incredibly light. So far I can't attest to the durability of the frames, but they definitely feel solid enough. The prescription was very slightly off, but not enough to warrant any major complaints. It just takes less than a second for my eyes to adjust. Overall, eyebuydirect is a great place to find yourself a new look or a new backup pair of glasses for super cheap.

Goggles4U:
Update: I ordered two more pairs of glasses from Goggles4u and was happy with what I received. I don't think you can find a better price than what they offer, (be sure to look for promo codes.) Both pairs were what I expected from my previous experience. A great place to buy for those 'just-in-case' pairs.

GlassesShop:
Update: I did go ahead and ordered another pair from glassesshop.com. Just like the original I ordered, these ended up beating my expectations. They're stylish and good quality. The prescription is very good, and the prices are pretty good, too.

Who Needs Vision Insurance?

I've been paying into my optical insurance for years, costing me roughly $100 per year, for a plan that only allows for one annual pair of glasses or contacts, often requiring another out-of-pocket payment of around $200. The last time I had an eye appointment I ended up with a pair of glasses that cost well over $200, didn't fit at all, and caused double-vision and major headaches. Pair that with the frustrating sales pitches they threw at me when looking through their meager stock of over-priced frames, and it's enough to swear off vision insurance altogether. My prescription never really changes all that much, I'd much rather not deal with the pushy sales folk, and I'd really like to stop spending those extra hundreds of dollars every year.


Enter the age of the internet.


I hadn't really heard of any alternatives, so I decided to do a little bit of research. I found there are a ton of places around the world that fill that certain niche I was looking for. And better yet, they all offer a better selection, more options, good quality and, when you catch a sale, insanely low prices. Low enough that I decided to buy some from a few different places, just to see if they could hold their own against the optician's offerings.