Get Better Glasses!

EyeBuyDirect just got even cheaper.

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:45:00 -0400

EyeBuyDirect is among the more popular and reputable retailers of prescription eyewear online. Today I received an email from their sales team saying their price range now starts at $7.95. It used to start at $12.95, so there is a possible savings of 5 bucks in there. They've also added some hip new stock photos featuring women wearing glasses and listening to iPods. Between the iPod-listeners and a pair of glasses for the price of a burger, how could you go wrong?

Click on the banner or text to go to the site and check out the cheap glass:

EyeBuyDirect.com

NPR: Cheap Eyeglasses a "Best Kept Online Secret"

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:35:14 -0400

NPR recently ran a story about one correspondent's experience with buying eyewear online. Gettin' the word out an saving people money! Just what the eye doctor ordered.

Click here to listen to the audio story. (links to official NPR website)

Eyeglasses? $300 is too much!

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:45:58 -0400

From "Think Cheaply," a consumer blog:

Stop spending $300 for eyeglasses, order online.

I was sitting with a friend at lunch the other day, he was talking about his new eyeglasses, and how they were way overpriced. He had paid $300 for eyeglasses at the local shopping mall, and felt like he had been ripped off.

Now, I thought I was a step above him. I would buy my eyeglasses at an discount optical store called America's Best Contacts and Eyeglasses. When I was a kid, this was the place that my parents had dragged me to, and had me pick eyeglasses off the 49 dollar rack or whatever.

Continue reading at Think Cheaply...

His glasses look a whole lot like mine. No matter which site you choose for your eyewear, you'll get a case and cleaning cloth similar to that shown above.

EyeBuyDirect: Buy one, get one free

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Sun, 11 May 2008 14:57:00 -0400

From Monday through Wednesday (May 14, 2008), EyeBuyDirect.com is offering two pairs of prescription eyeglasses for the price of one. They last ran this special last November, so it doesn't come about too frequently and lasts a very short time. So if you need an eye exam, go get one ASAP. If you were going to order today, just wait one more day to take advantage of this great offer.

Click here to go to EyeBuyDirect.com

The Wallstreet Journal on internet eyewear stores

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:52:47 -0400

Even though this article is from way back in 2005, I just tracked it down today. Its primary focus is on designer online retailers that offer true apples-to-apples with what you'll find in your local optometrist (hint: check for the serial number on your frames and do a search at bestbuyeyeglass). One point I found interesting from the article is these sites' unique ability to serve Americans living abroad who simply don't have access to an American optometrist.

Brick-and-Mortar optometrists have a problem: the rise of Web sites that sell eyewear at a steep discount.
A dozen or so Web-only companies including BestBuyEyeglasses.com and GlassesOnWeb.com now offer thousands of designer frames at prices as much as $75 less than conventional optometrists. While data on this still small sector are sparse, the sites say sales of eyeglasses online have grown steadily over the past few years...
continue reading the article publishedin the Wall Street Journal (direct PDF link)

Comparison of top discount online eyewear retailers

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:38:00 -0400

In this post, I will explore some of the differences between the following four major discount prescription eyewear retailers: Note that I am not including the discounted designer eyewear sites. I am also not including every possible configuration as this becomes prohibitive with half a dozen lens types plus half a dozen lens options for each type. This table provides a first look into the most common options with which you will be presented.

	Goggles4U.com	EyeBuyDirect.com	39DollarGlasses.com	Optical4Less.com
Base price §	$13	$15	$39	$15 ^
Thin lens (1.6)	+$12	+$42	NA	+$35
Thinner lens (1.67)	+$27	NA	+$50	+$35
Anti UV Coating	+$0	+$5	+$0	+$0
Anti Reflective Coating	+$0	+$7	+$25	+$0
Anti Scratch Coating	+$0	+$0	+$0	+$0
Photochromatic Lens %	+$8	+$36	+$50	+$59
Sunglass tinting	+$0	+$5	+$10	+$8
Bad eye penalty #	+$10	+$0	+$0	+$59
Priciest standard config @	$50	$74	$114	$109

§ For this exercise, I chose the cheapest frame available. Typically a basic alloy frame.
^ This low-cost frame is from their overstock section
% Photochromatic lenses are "transition" lenses -- they automatically darken in the sunlight
# Some retailers have a surcharge if your prescription is > +2.75 or < -2.75
@ Does not include photochromatic or sunglass tint options.

Conclusions? Goggles4U is the cheapest. EyeBuyDirect nickles and dimes the price up but has the best selection. 39DollarGlasses and EyeBuyDirect are good options if you have very bad eyes because they don't charge for extras. Your mileage may vary depending particularly on the type of frame you choose. I always recommend titanium. Another note, I recently posted a link at fark and one user commented that his glasses from 39DollarGlasses were a little wonky, so I don't enthusiastically recommend that company at the moment.

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

Protect your eyes with a free UV coating at EyeBuyDirect

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:26:57 -0400

That sun is bright and loves to emit those darn UV rays. Use the code "springsale" and save the $4.95 this coating usually costs. As an example, this ladies' frame, the "Mozart" can be had with anti-scratch, uv, and anti-reflective coatings for under $25 after applying the coupon..

Click here to visit the yeBuyDirect homepage. They've redesigned everything and even added a few name brand frames (Calvin Klein, DKNY, others)

BestBuyEyeglasses.com: Take 5% off and get free shipping through mother's day.

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:44:20 -0400

Looking for designer frames or sunglasses? BestBuyEyeglasses.com will give you 5% off plus free shipping from now through Mother's day (that is...uh...Saturday May 10...don't forget to call mom!). Simply use coupon "lcmomday" upon checkout.

Just click at the bottom of the entry or here to be taken to their website (will open in new window). Make sure to write down the coupon code "lcmomday" so you have it at checkout.

My pick for mom's day is the lovely Prada PR 72HV frame, shown below (click to go straight to that product page). $205 plus the cost of the lenses. Retail on this frame is about $360.

Bloggers love cheap glasses (hey, who doesn't?)

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:48:00 -0400

Who isn't in love?

From Greenstew.com (recession inspired grocery shopping)
So I really have a special love for my glasses and contacts. I really believe that you should have an extra pair or two of glasses. But really who could afford that? Well now you can, here is a web site that offers very cheap glasses, starting at $9.00.

From Helmet of Mambrino (I have no idea what that title means)

Here are pictures of the glasses I got. I could take shots of me wearing them but I figure no one wants to see my fat mug.

These cost $8. I got them with dark blue on the inside. So they look almost completely black. I like these for their sheer nerdiness.

Trend-setting: Save money by buying your designer eyewear online

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:36:00 -0400

Designer eyewear is pricey. Though a pair of nice frames with lenses can cost well under $60 on sites like EyeBuyDirect.com or Goggles4u Eyeglasses, a pair of designer frames with lenses bought online will cost you three or four times this. In stores, designer frames with lenses tend to cost about twice what they cost online. Generally, someone shopping for designer frames isn't what might be called a bargain shopper. Despite this, why pay double for literally the exact same pair of glasses?

Choosing designer over regular eyewear gives you cutting-edge eyewear fashion. Or, if you bought designer frames in the past, you can probably find the exact same frame online for a portion of what you paid for the glasses you are wearing now. This is a good opportunity if your glasses have broken and you are looking for an identical replacement.

Here we have the Ray-Ban RX 5095 at BestBuyEyeglasses.com. An undeniably slick frame, this will cost $131 with basic lenses or $198 with polycarbonate lenses. $200 seems a lot for a pair of glasses, but this same frame runs well over $400 at any retail optometrist. It is available in three colors and in two frame sizes. The frame sizes are almost identical, though it can be configured with an extra two millimeters of width per lens. If you're confused about sizing your frame, check out this link.

Next up is a woman's frame, the Burberry BE 2001. A perfectly fashionable and lovely frame, fully configured it costs $174 with basic lenses or $242 with premium polycarbonate lenses. You can find it in two colors and two frame sizes. If you have a smaller face, go with the 52 - 17 - 31 - 135 sized frame, if you have a slightly larger face, go with the other. This frame is designed to have a large field of vision and is fairly large.

Happy surfing! If you find designer eyewear just isn't for you, or if you just can't afford it right now, check out EyeBuyDirect.com or Goggles4u to find great frames including lenses for well under $60, often for less than $30!

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."

Drew Carey Glasses: the Shuron Freeway

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:22:00 -0400

Large plastic glasses are not only stylish in that indie sort of way, but they are also very practical. The large lens provides an enormous field of vision and improves peripheral eyesight. Using online eyewear merchants, you can get a pair of shuron designer frames to match Mr. Carey, shown above. The style is known as the "freeway" and is available in black, tortoise shell, or a couple of other colors.

Click on the picture or here to see these frames at bestbuyeyeglasses.com The frame runs $68 (about half of retails) and with lenses, the price will probably be twice that. Though $130 isn't chump change, it is far less than the $250-$400 for which these designer glasses would retail.

Eyewear Trends and More for 2008

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:45:00 -0400

The Greenville News put together a nice little piece about some of the happenings in eyewear. When you're shopping for 2008 eyewear, be sure to check out the retailers on the right of this page. I think you'll find just what you need at a price far less than "$79 to $200 and up," which is the price charged by the eyewear store manager being interviewed in the article below.

Frame designs are stylish, colorful and bold.

In the past, people looked at eyewear as more of a medical necessity, but now it's touted as a fashion accessory, says Craig Hall, optician and store manager for Visionworks in Greenville, S.C.
Eyewear choices are more diverse than ever. Some customers have three or more pairs simply to coordinate with outfits, Hall says.

Eyewear is not only more fashionable but more affordable, with prices ranging from $79 to $200 and up. Hall says many designers also make generic brands so consumers can get stylish looks for less.

Trends differ when it comes to men's and women's styles, says Lisa Gear, director for product management for LensCrafters, the national eyeglass chain. "Overall, what's really hot right now is color," she says.

Multicolored frames are trendy. Popular hues include blues, greens, reds and pinks.

"For the women, it's more on the front of the frame," Gear says. "And for men, it's kind of on the back of the frame - like a jazzy lining to a coat. So for a woman, the color might be a bright blue frame, and for a man, it might be a black frame with kind of a translucent blue on the backside that doesn't really stand out as much."

Other trends in eyewear include bolder shapes and frames made with a hybrid of materials.

"Men and women are tending to lean more toward plastic frames than they have in the past," Gear says. "A plastic is a bolder look than a metal. ... A metal frame kind of disappears a little bit. ... Or you might have a plastic front or the temples might be metal or vice versa."

Some frames also may boast a rhinestone or a designer's logo on the side.

Designer glasses, in particular, are fun because of how closely they reflect the clothing and accessories, Gear says.

Continue reading at ArgusLeader.com

Finally, a little advice for mixing eye color and frame color.

Color is everywhere on eyewear, Mango and eggplant, black and white, and black and red are popular pairings for 2008. Look also for orange and two-tone browns with some blue mixed in. And cranberry is in its fourth year of popularity, Dudas says.
Eye color can be enhanced by glasses, so here's Dudas' general guide to choosing an eye-popping frame color (without the benefit of considering skin color and tone): Brown eyes: blue, plum and cranberryGreen eyes: copper and greenBlue eyes: brown and plumHazel eyes: take your pick

Driving Glasses: Prescription Sunglasses for the Open Road

nospam@example.com (Adam Zekmueller) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 10:20:00 -0500

One place where I consistently where sunglasses is when I am driving. I used to buy large, cheap sunglasses from the gas station. Sunglasses so large I could actually wear them over my regular glasses. No more. Now my prescription aviators, which I bought for $30, are the only glasses I wear when I'm on the road. This looks a lot better than my two-pair system, is far more comfortable, and is probably safer.
Let's look at some options for prescription driving sunglasses from EyeBuyDirect.com:

Above, the "Moritz" frame from EyeBuyDirect is a classic driving and sport frame. You'll have full prescription sunglass cover in the entirety of your vision. Excellent peripheral coverage is a requirement for great driving glasses.

Above, the Carlton Frame (a ladies' frame), would actually look pretty cute with an 80% grey tint (this option is available at checkout). This large frame provides a large field of vision and keeps that pesky sun out of your baby blues!

Finally, the Louis Eyeglasses Frame would again be a great driving pair if you put an 80% grey-tinted lens in. For both this and the Carlton Frame shown above, the look will be changed substantially with tented lenses.

Another option would be to spend an extra $20 on the transition coating...then you'd have sunglasses when you're on the road that would automatically convert to regular shades when you're picking up snacks at the 7-11.
Don't forget to use the discount code EYEBUYPROMO to take 5% off your entire order!