Get Better Glasses! - Tips and Advice

Basic frame types and face shapes

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:12:00 -0400

Having spent a little too much time browsing the available frames at Goggles4U, EyeBuyDirect.com, and 39DollarGlasses.com, it has become apparent that there are only a few basic shapes of glasses:

From upper left to lower right: oval, round, square, butterfly, and angular. You'll find some variations on these shapes, but the basic premise stands. (All frames are clickable to their product page at Goggles4u.com)

And there are four basic face-shapes (see post #32, "Your face shape matters" ): square, round, oval, and angular (a.k.a. triangle or heart-shaped).

Here is a basic table to help you pick out the right type of frame for your face.

Matrix of Frame Shapes and Face Types

	Square Face	Round Face	Oval Face	Angular Face
Oval Frame	X			X
Round Frame	X		X	X
Square Frame		X	X
Butterfly Frame			X	X
Angular Frame		X	X

Great glasses for under $35

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:31:00 -0400

The mission? A fully configured, daily pair of prescription glasses for less than $35. This isn't fantasy, this is the world of online eyewear. A world free of brick and mortar overhead, free of monopolistic frame companies, and a world free of "industry norms" regarding price. I promise to dig up a number of extremely wearable glasses for less than $35, including shipping. I'm going to scour some of the top discount sites and show you what a measly $35 will buy.

Our first stop? The MA085 frame at optical4less.com. Shown in the picture below, it looks pretty good. A modern look, suitable for everyday wear and appropriate in any setting, from casual to business. Fully configured, it runs $37 including shipping. Too bad, this one doesn't count, we're off by $2. Another caveat, be careful if you have really bad eyes, as all prescriptions over 2.75 have a $59 surcharge at this website. Plus, at $37, it doesn't include any anti-scratch or UV coating. Inexpensive, to be sure, but can we do better?

Well, optical4less didn't quite cut the biscuit. Goggles4u.com, known for being a low-cost leader, offers the semi-rimless frame 21319 (exciting name, huh?) for $25.99. Again, this frame is shown below. That is truly an all-inclusive price. We're talking lenses, frame, UV coating, anti-glare coating, anti-scratch coating, and shipping! Great news for folks with really bad eyes, too, as the maximum surcharge for very strong prescriptions is $10.

$26, shipped from Goggles4u.com. I think we're going to have a hard time beating that. But we'll try. How about $39DollarGlasses.com? Well, as the name suggests, $39 isn't under $35. After $5 shipping, the out-the-door price for many frames will be $44. This includes UV coating, etc, but I'm not going to talk about it much more, since the price is above my $35 limit.

Moving on, let's check out EyeBuyDirect.com. The website says glasses start at $14.95. Let's see what we can find for under $35, including shipping. For $34.90, including shipping, you can even upgrade the frame material from basic alloy to flexlite. This allows for a lighter weight and more durable pair of glasses. The attractive unisex "Sand" frame is shown below. You can use the coupon "eyebuyfreeshipping" to get free shipping, knocking your order total down to $29.95 for a complete pair of glasses. Pretty sweet deal!

And it can get even cheaper. The attractive plastic women's frame, titled "Ancona," is a scant $17.95. Using the free shipping coupon above, this price includes shipping, a basic lens, and a UV coating. At eyebuydirect, anti-scratch and anti-glare coatings do cost extra.

So what is the final verdict? For finding a complete pair of glasses under $35, including shipping, the top choices are Goggles4U.com and EyeBuyDirect.com. Though fully configured frames at Goggle4U.com ring up closer to our $35 limit, this price includes anti-scratch, anti-glare, and UV coatings. On the other hand, if you choose EyeBuyDirect.com, you can upgrade to a flexlite frame and still come in under $35. If you want to spend the absolute least amount of money possible on prescription glasses, EyeBuyDirect.com is for you. Choose a basic plastic or metal frame (such as the Ancona shown above) and use the "eyebuyfreeshipping" coupon, and you'll be out the door for less than $18.

If you're like my wife and like glasses for fashion purposes only, any of the frames available above can be purchased without a prescription at the same cost.

So give it a try. It works. It's cheap. Don't know where to start? See my post, "From Square One: How to Buy your Next Pair of Glasses Online."

From Square One: How to Buy your Next Pair of Glasses Online

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:05:38 -0500

The purpose of this article is to simply describe what you need to do to buy your first pair of glasses online. I will not recommend particular retailers, as you can find that info in several of my other articles and also check out the links on the right of this page.

Purchasing eyewear online seems daunting at first. If you’re like me, purchasing and fitting prescription glasses always seemed like a complex procedure best left to professionals. The truth is, if you know your prescription and have your existing rx glasses handy, it is really quite simple to purchase glasses online.

The Seven Critical Numbers First, find your current prescription. I keep mine in the health file in my filing cabinet. If you can’t find your prescription, visit wherever you last had your eyes examined and request a copy. Your optician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist is required by law to release your eyewear prescription to you.

You now need to make note of a few critical pieces of information from your prescription (see example above--click to enlarge). Among other information, you should see three columns on your prescription--sphere, cylinder, and axis. In the example above, these are abbreviated SPH. CYL. and AXIS. These three columns will have two rows, Right and Left. In the prescription above, this is simply abbreviated R and L. Many doctors instead use the latin abbreviations, which are OD and OS. OD means right eye and OS means left eye. Jot down a quick copy of the six numbers or simply keep your prescription handy. These six critical numbers define how your lens will be carved. Any online eyewear retailer will ask for the input of these six numbers. In addition to these six numbers, there is one more critical number, the Pupillary Distance, or PD. This is a measure, in millimeters, of the space between your eyes. In the example prescription above, you’ll see the Pupillary Distance of the patient is 62. Jot down this number also, it is the seventh of your seven critical numbers.

A Final Measurement A somewhat less critical number is your temple length. If you’re lucky, you’ll also see a temple length and bridge size in your prescription. If not, don’t sweat it, you can figure it out yourself.

The temple length describes the length of the two bars that connect the glasses to your ears. It is measured from where the 90-degree curve from your lens structure to the side bars (temples) begins to the very end of the temple, including the curve. It is not measured from the flex point of the temples, because the “stub” between the flex point and lens structure is not a standard size (see this page for a visual description of this).

Now, take out some measuring tape (preferably the type of tape used for fitting clothes and sewing, as it is very flexible) and measure an existing pair of glasses that fit comfortably. An average temple length for men is 135mm or 145mm. For women, 130mm to 140mm is standard. If your tape only has inches, measure to the nearest eighth or sixteenth and multiply that number by 25.4 to get the measurement in millimeters. Temple lengths are generally available in 5mm increments, such as 130, 135, 140, 145, etc.

At most online eyeglasses stores, temple length is shown within a frame description and is not customizable. Therefore, you need to find a frame with an appropriate temple size. This sometimes varies if you are at a site specializing in designer glasses, where you have the option to input your own temple size.

Honestly, temple size is not a huge deal. I have one pair of glasses with 135mm temples and another with 140mm temples. Both pairs fit comfortably. If for some reason you can’t come up with a temple measurement, don’t let that stop you from making an eyewear purchase online. Instead, simply choose 140mm temples if you are a man and 135mm temples if you are a woman. Chances are, this length will fit comfortably.

What’s your Style? Armed with your seven critical numbers and an idea on your temple length, start browsing the myriad of online retailers. Pick out some favorite frames and open the individual pages in separate tabs or windows of your web browser. Similar to trying on glasses at a standard retailer, you need to figure out if the frames you like are appropriate for your face. You might visit my earlier post on the topic of face shape. If you have a nice oval face, you’re in luck, most any pair will look on you. If you have strong, angular features, a rounded or rimless pair will look god on you. If you have a very round face, choose a rectangular or hexagonal pair of glasses. If you just want a basic pair of professional glasses, go with titanium rimless.

Using your trusty measuring tape, you can compare other measurements of your existing glasses with what you are looking at online. The bridge measurement describes the distance between lenses, the height describes the distance from the lowest point on the front of the frame to the highest point, and the lens describes the distance between the end of the bridge and the beginning of the temple.

Some retailers also offer free virtual try-on. This service, which I describe in this post will allow you to upload a picture and place a variety of frame types on your face.

Place your Order So you’ve found the perfect pair of frames. Begin the checkout process. You should see boxes where you can enter your prescription information (the seven critical numbers). This will sometimes be in a table format similar to your prescription, or it may be a simple list. You’ll also have the option to choose from a variety of coatings and add-ons. If you will be wearing your glasses day-in and day-out, I recommend choosing the anti-scratch and anti-reflective coatings. These really do make a difference and ease night driving (anti-reflective) and the longevity of being able to see clearly through your lens (anti-scratch). You can add on the UV coating if you wish, though it isn’t critical. Photochromatic tinting (aka “transition lens”) is also an option. Personally, I prefer buying a separate pair of prescription sunglasses, but that is up to you.

If you only wear glasses occasionally (maybe as a supplement to contact lenses), or are just purchasing a pair of Rx sunglasses that won’t be worn every waking hour, you might choose to save money by skipping on the extras. If you are buying a pair for your accident-prone child, skimping on the extras might not be such a bad idea either. Avoid coatings and other add-ons will also allow you to get a great pair of prescription glasses for well under $40.

After you’ve placed your order, you’ll typically wait about 2-to-3 weeks for your glasses to be custom carved and delivered. The finished product will typically include a hard case and a soft cloth for lens cleaning. In my first ever post, I show a video of the exact product received from a popular online eyewear retailer.

Side Note One: “Help, I don’t have a prescription!” If it has been a long time since your eyes have been examined, or if you just can’t get a hold of your prescription, it’s time to go visit an optometrist. While your neighborhood optometrist may charge $100 or more for a simple examination, discount stores like Wal-Mart, or optometrists in working-class neighborhoods will often offer an eye exam for $40 or less. Grab your yellow pages and start making phone calls. Chances are, you’ll get the best price if you find an optometrist who has many customers without vision insurance.

Side Note Two: “How can it be so cheap?” The price difference between online eyewear and glasses bought from a traditional retailer, or even Wal-Mart or Costco, is startling. An identical pair of titanium frames might cost $60 online and $220 at Wal-Mart. How can this be? What about the quality? I will categorically state that the quality of glasses received from the majority of online retailers is equal to or exceeds the quality found at your neighborhood eyewear shop or optometrist. The price differential comes from a number of factors, including the relative obscurity of online eyewear purchases, the fact that highly paid optometrists do not spend one-on-one time with the eyewear purchaser, and the fact that insurance companies are typically not involved with online eyewear purchases, thereby discouraging inflated prices.

Give it a try. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied with your online eyewear purchase if you follow the steps outlined in this article.

Happy Holidays! Why not spend some of that holiday cash on new glasses?

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:19:45 -0500

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, etc. I love this time of year. I particularly love eating mince pie and the song "Auld Lang Syne." My wife and I are heading back home to Ohio tomorrow, so this will probably be my last update before Christmas.

Me in my $30 Rx Aviator Sunglasses

I have been getting a lot of use out of my aviator sunglasses from EyeBuyDirect.com. The 80% grey shading and large field of vision have been great for skiing and hiking on sunny days and, of course, for driving. They ran me less than $30! I also have a pair of ski goggles from EyeBuyDirect on their way. I look forward to reporting back to my readers on how those perform.

I'd like to thank all of my readers for making this blog the success that it has been over the past three months. Readership is increasing steadily and I hope that I have helped people realize the benefits and opportunities of buying prescription glasses over the Internet. Saving money sure makes my holidays bright! Happy holidays, everyone.

An eHow HowTo: How to Buy Eyewear Online

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:26:44 -0500

Here is another article giving instructions as to how to buy eyeglasses online. The author has the general idea down and I also should emphasize the importance of having an update prescription. I should add to this that if you would like to measure temple length, etc, the best place to start is by measuring the glasses you already have. In my opinion, buying glasses online is a low-risk, high-reward venture. You may not feel 100% confident with what you order, but chances are it will work out well, and in the end you'll have only spent $40 or $50 instead of $400 or $500.

Introduction
Sometimes we are so busy in our lives that we don't have time to fix dinner, let alone purchase new eyewear. The Internet has made it easier than ever to buy eyewear online with just your prescription and your personal taste.
Step One
Get a copy of your prescription. Before you buy eyewear online you must have your current prescription. Your optometrist will give you a copy of your most current prescription if you've had an exam in the past 12 months. Ask your optometrist to include the pupil distance or PD in your prescription. You'll need this when ordering online.

Step Two
Know your face shape. (editor's note: see my post, "Your Face Shape Matters") Some eyewear looks better on a certain shape face and because you won't be able to try on the eyewear, it's important to know what will look good on you. Most online eyewear stores will have a chart explaining which glasses fit best on your face shape.

Continue reading steps 3-7 at eHow.com...

Here is a great place to get started in your hunt for online eyewear (or check out the retailers list on the right side of this page):

[Technorati Tags: Glasses Online, Discount Eyewear, Eyewear, Eyeglasses, HowTo]

Another Online Eyewear Success Story

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 19:50:00 -0500

I found this over at 43 Folders, referred from a post at Get Rich Slowly

It is a nice overview of the basics of buying eyewear online, particularly if your goal is to save a ton of money over the stores. I actually didn't have as much data as he did when I ordered my first pair (frame measurements, etc.). I only had my basic prescription data, including PD. Everything turned out fine for me.

Adventures in $40 by Matt Haughey
Why Buy Online?
As a lifelong near-sighted person, prescription eyeglasses and especially prescription sunglasses have long commanded a high premium due to the seemingly precise and scarce nature of creating them. Until a few years ago, I only had two options for eyewear: my optometrist (here’s an employee admitting they pay less than ten bucks per pair) or a 1-hour place like Lenscrafters (which is part of a multinational monopoly). About ten years ago, when I was fresh out of college and scraping by month to month with my first real job, I broke my only glasses and had to pay $400 for an emergency pair (that were ugly and I hated and I wore for two more years before I paid off the old ones and could afford new ones). For far too long, glasses have been expensive.

Continued at 43 Folders...

[Technorati Tags: Glasses Online, Discount Eyewear, Eyewear, Eyeglasses]

Discount Eyewear, eyeglasses, eyewear, glasses online

Use your Health Savings Account to buy Glasses Online

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:47:52 -0500

This morning at work we had a presentation on health care plan options. With rate increases, our company is making us switch plans or pay out-of-pocket. One of the options we are looking at is a high-deductible plan in combination with an HSA (Health Savings Account).

I'm young and healthy, so this option is particularly appealing to me. What's more, I could use my Health Savings Account to buy glasses online! This is a huge step away from the paradigm of the insurer paying ridiculous prices to the eye doctor for glasses. My employer has agreed to contribute $500/year into my HSA, so for the first time ever, my glasses will cost me nothing out of pocket and the cost of eyeglasses will go towards my deductible! But I'll still have the incentive to go with the most cost-effective route (thereby using less from my health savings account), so I'll buy my glasses online with the HSA debit card.

So, if you have a health savings account, use it to buy glasses online! It is a qualifying expense (here is a list of qualifying expenses), so just save the receipt in your health expense file. Tax-free eyewear for under $100. Wow!

To my readers in other countries: do you have government assistance or private insurance available for the purchase of eyeglasses?

Don't forget, click the links on the right side of the page to be directed to any of the major online eyeglasses retailers.

Or click this link for a coupon for $10 Off Any Purchase at 39DollarGlasses!
(discount applied at checkout)

[Technorati Tags: Glasses Online, , Discount Eyewear, Health Savings Account, , Eyewear, Eyeglasses, Health Care]

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How to Fill Your Contact Lens Prescription Online

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 18:34:22 -0500

In 1887, Adolf Flick was the first to fit contact lenses. They were made of brown glass. Yikes!

I don't wear contacts. I used to, but then a scratch on my eyeball ruined everything. That was six or seven years ago, so maybe I could wear them again. I don't know.

Much like eyeglasses, you can buy prescription contacts online. You need one crucial piece of information to do this: your contact lens prescription. Your eyeglasses prescription won't work. You need to have had your eyes spefically measured for contact lenses. The basic prescription contains the following information:

PWR (power): the amount of correction the contact lens must provide
BC (base curve): describes the curvature of your eye
DIA (diameter): the diameter of your contact lens
CYL (cylinder): only applies if you have astigmatism
AXIS: again, only if you have astigmatism
ADD: used if you have bifocal contacts

For each category, your prescription will have two listings, OS & OD. Those are latin abbreviations for left eye (OS) and right eye (OD).

If you have been fitted for contact lenses by your eye doctor in the past two years, simply contact them and ask for your prescription. They are legally obliged to provide this information to you. If you haven't been fitted, set up an appointment to have your eyes measured for contact lenses. Be clear that you only want the examination and Rx (prescription) and that you'll fill the prescription on your own.

Once you have your Rx, check out the web. One popular sites for ordering contacts online is Lens World (use that link for free shipping on orders over $89.) The prices depend, of course, on what product you are looking for. Example prices are $25 for a one-month supply of daily accuvue contacts, $18 for six 1-2 week use lenses Freshlook Lite Tint (tinted contacts in a variety of colors), $37 (per eye) for a three-month supply of Focus Dailies.

I used to wear Toric contacts, which are for people with astigmatism. I remember paying about $200 for a single pair. At Lens World , a 12-pack of accuvue toric lenses is just $60. I might have to think about wearing contacts again.

Your Face Shape Matters

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:18:07 -0500

It is important to get glasses that compliment the natural shape of your face. I analyzed the shape of my face by taking a digital photo and tracing the outline of my face in a simple image-editing program (even Microsoft Paint will work). You can also trace your face on a mirror with a dry-erase marker or lipstick. This is what I came up with. As you can tell, my face shape is a slightly oblong rectangle (almost a square). Other common face shapes are square, round, oval, or triangle ("angular"). With my face shape, which features a chin of similar width to my cheeks, and a face that is longer than wide, it is important to minimize the length of my face by selecting a pair of eyeglasses that is wide enough to extend the entire width of my face. Another good rule-of-thumb is that you should choose a frame shape that is the opposite of your face-shape or jawline. I have an almost squared jaw-line, so I should have slightly curved glasses. If you have a round face, you should look for a more squarish pair of glasses. If you are lucky enough to have a nice oval face, any eyewear will look good on you. Finally, if you have a very angular or triangle face, or a very pronounced jaw-line, rimless frames are an excellent choice. My face, which has a somewhat pronounced jaw-line and is taller than wide, calls for a slightly rounded, fairly wide frame with a minimal rim. Your results may vary and you may not fit neatly into a given face shape, but take on aspects of several. If you'd like me to analyze your face shape and recommend a general frame-type, shoot me an e-mail and attach a picture. Make sure to include a descriptive subject line. Be warned, I'll post my analysis and your picture for everyone to see. Resources: A glossary of face shapes. And here is a video on the subject: [Technorati Tags: EyeGlasses,Frames,Eyewear,Glasses Online Fashion]

eyeglasses, eyewear, fashion, frames, glasses online

Buying Glasses Online in the UK

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:36:41 -0500

A number of Brits have stumbled upon my little blog looking to buy glasses online in the UK. Of the retailers that I work with, most ship to the UK, but only one has offices and ships directly from the UK and this retailer is Goggles4U.com, if you click on the picture below you'll go right to their site. I apologize for the bright orange banner.

Also, Optical4Less.com ships to the UK or Australia or several other countries for $8. I'm not sure where they are shipping from, I suspect Hong Kong. I have noticed that many of the "satisfied customers" that give brief testimonials on their web page are from the UK or Australia.

39dollarglasses ships internationally from the US for $12.95. Basically, if you're looking for rx glasses shipped to the UK from the UK, go with Goggles4U.com

[Technorati Tags:EyeGlasses,Glasses UK,Eyewear,Glasses Online]

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Six Ways to Look Spectacular in Eyeglasses

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:28:41 -0500

This is good advice. Sorry about the mention of LensCrafters (yeah, I'm a hater). Oh, and the microfiber cloth in itself seems to be enough--I haven't seen a need for using other cleaners.

(NewsUSA) - A look at any fashion magazine, TV show or movie proves that eyeglasses are a hot fashion trend.
"With so many people wearing glasses, people are starting to use eyewear as an accessory to match their personal style," said Kristin Bonfield, accessories product manager of LensCrafters.

The secret to looking good all the time, said Bonfield, is proper care habits that keep glasses looking great.

1. Keep glasses sparkling. Nothing spoils your look like smudged, dirty lenses. Make cleaning a daily ritual. A spray bottle of professional eyeglass cleaner and soft micro-fiber cloth in your purse, car or desk drawer makes it easy.

2. Use the case. If you need to take your glasses off, put them in their case. Stuffing them in a pocket or purse is an invitation to scratching.

3. Keep your shirt on. According to one study, 52 percent of people clean their glasses with their clothing. Dust and particles in clothes can scratch lenses. Even dry paper products can grind dust and fibers into the lens. Disposable moist cleaning towelettes make it easy to keep your world sparkling.

4. Give high-tech lenses high-tech care. Today's lenses are thinner, made of lighter materials and often have coatings that prevent glare or add other benefits. Don't damage them by using household cleaners. Even today's concentrated or "extra strength" dish soaps can damage coatings over time. Eyewear cleaners are formulated to safely remove fingerprints, cosmetics, dirt and grime.

5. Wear goggles for do-it-yourself projects. Removing paint spatters with rough rubbing or chemicals can easily damage a lens. Sawdust and plaster dust can scratch or get ground in during cleanup.

6. Take time for a regular eye exam. Nothing ruins your look like squinting!

More on cleaning eyeglasses

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 22:38:26 -0400

The 3M Micro-fiber Lens Cloth. $4.95

A couple weeks ago, I said "don't use your shirttail to clean your glasses," but then went ahead and admitted I do just that all the time. Well, no more! I started carrying around a soft microfiber cloth in either my back pocket or inside of my wallet. I have been amazed how easily it removes the eyelid oil that accumulates in the upper inside area of the lenses, near the nose pads. Basically, I can clean my classes faster than ever and find no need whatsoever for wetting the lenses and then wiping with something else. So, the soft cloth is the ultimate way to clean a pair of glasses. If you have a lens coating (UV coating, anti-reflective, etc.) on your glasses, NEVER use a product with ammonia, including windex. This will cause havoc to your lens. All of the major online merchants include a soft cloth, the kind I described above, with ever pair of glasses purchased. Very handy.

Designer Eyeglass Frames without a Prescription

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 06:59:15 -0400

Believe it or not, there are people out there who are looking to recreate the joys of life with glasses--people who don't actually need glasses but are looking for a nice frame with a non-prescription lens. In some situations, wearing eyeglasses is helpful: you can take them off quickly with one hand and then pose a dramatic, "I'm thinking about it" posture. You can push them up when you need a nervous gesture to take the edge off in social situations. Plus, some eyewear just looks really good and makes a strong (or understated, depending on the frame) fashion statement. Often, eyewear cannot be ordered without a prescription. The exception to this tends to be designer frames, which can often be ordered with a non-prescription lens. FramesDirect.com (click, opens in new window) offers Oakley Eyeglasses without prescription lenses (except for those frames that say "Rx Only").

The Oakley Candidate 2.0 is a nice looking frame with or without a prescription.

The rimless Oakley softail gives a sophisticated, understated look.

To mend or to buy new?

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:43:00 -0400

This post will be about the relative costs and benefits of professionally repairing broken eyeglasses versus just buying a new pair. First, however, I shall digress. As a somewhat environmentally conscious individual, computer printers have become a huge pet peeve of mine. An average printer for home will cost maybe $100 and include a color and black and white cartridge. Once those print cartridges expire, new cartridges cost about $50-$60, or more than half the cost of the printer. A couple of years later, that old printer gets harder and harder to justify, when you could just spend an extra $40 over the cost of cartridges and get the new state-of-the-art. Or maybe the old printer broke and a repair bill is $50-$60. The old printer gets tossed, discarded like a burrito wrapper from Taco Bell. What happens is that it becomes economically rational create significant waste. After all, who, except for someone living far away from the dollar-and-cents world, would spend the extra money to repair a printer when a new can be had for so much less? Let's bring this back to glasses. I have seen many sites around the internet that offer to weld broken glasses or remove the scratches from scratched lenses. Typically this will cost $20-$50 for the service. But how much is a brand new pair? Online, a basic pair can be had for $25 and nice titanium-framed pair is $55-$75, including new lenses. So to whom is it economically rationale to use the online repair service. I see that it would be rational to two groups of individuals: (1) Those who buy their glasses from retail outlets and thereby would be saving substantial money and (2) Those people who wear designer frames (Oakley, etc.) and even at discounted online prices pay $150 for a pair of eyeglasses. What do I recommend? Well, if you just broke your glasses, I recommend the following course of action:

Temporarily mend the breakage. Someone posted nice instructions at ehow.
Buy a new pair from any of the multitude of online glasses retailers. You can hold out two weeks with that old frame.

Five tips for healthy eyes

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 16:47:38 -0400

Do we take our sight for granted? Probably, but we Westerners (and humans, for that matter) tend to take pretty much everything for granted--our relative wealth, our family, our friends, our communities, and, yes, probably our sight. I suppose part of the human condition is focusing on overcoming what is wrong rather than enjoying what is right. Consider our evolution as a species. If we had been content with our nakedness and not focused on the twigs and branches bothering our reproductive organs, perhaps we would have never invented clothing. Had we been content with eating the marrow out of zebra bones in Africa, we would have never learned to hunt and cook. In today's world, our evolutionary instincts seem to just get in the way...we have long since been provided with life's necessities. In the spirit of enjoying our advancements as a species and taking some time to maintain what we already have, let's look at five tips for maintaining healthy eyes and eyesight.

Be aware of eye diseases and get regular eye exams
Wear sunglasses
Avoid eyestrain and fatigue
Wear Safety Goggles
Exercise, eat well & take herbs for vision

There we have it, some tips provided by askmen.com (I figure the tips also apply to those readers of the fairer sex). Follow that link for excruciating detail on each of the five tips. Enjoy your eyes and the splendid cornucopia of color provided by our favorite organs.