For those 4-eyed PTers....

[Karen]

I paid over $400 for my current pair of glasses, but I have an exceptionally difficult prescription, AND wanted the triple-compressed plastic lenses. I have had plastic lenses since they became available, as the optometrist recommended them to my parents for the sake of the weight resting on my nose. My vision is important to me, though, so the money was worth it.

In case you're wondering, I am very, very, very, very near-sighted, and have a different astigmatism in each eye. So without my glasses, not only would you be fuzzy if you were, say, 3 feet away from me*, but there would be about four of you overlapping each other.

When I have, on rare occasion, dropped my glasses on the floor where the light didn't hit them, I literally have to pat the floor, inch by inch, until I find them. It's pathetic.

*I cannot see clearly more than 2 inches beyond the end of my nose.

[K9karen]

I paid over $400 for my current pair of glasses, but I have an exceptionally difficult prescription, AND wanted the triple-compressed plastic lenses. I have had plastic lenses since they became available, as the optometrist recommended them to my parents for the sake of the weight resting on my nose. My vision is important to me, though, so the money was worth it.

In case you're wondering, I am very, very, very, very near-sighted, and have a different astigmatism in each eye. So without my glasses, not only would you be fuzzy if you were, say, 3 feet away from me*, but there would be about four of you overlapping each other.

When I have, on rare occasion, dropped my glasses on the floor where the light didn't hit them, I literally have to pat the floor, inch by inch, until I find them. It's pathetic.

*I cannot see clearly more than 2 inches beyond the end of my nose.

Me too!! The stigmatism in my right eye is so bad, I had to have a "gas permiable" contact made to try to have clearer vision. I have a soft contact in the left eye. I'm not eligible for laser surgery either. I see better in the contacts than I do with the glasses. I also spend hundreds on plastic lenses, and thinner lenses. I rarely wear my glasses but need a new pair since it's been 4 years since I've updated them. Thanks all, for the suggestions where to buy nice new frames (etc) using AARP! Big help! I'll start my search this weekend!!!

[critters]

I had VERY good luck with Wal-Mart on my previous pair, about 15 years ago. As a -8, I know I'm hard to fit. Before you decide on the where, you need to have an idea of what might work, especially if you're hard-to-fit.

For instance, I need a substantial, roundish frame that goes all the way around; otherwise, all that plastic in the lenses will be unstable and prone to breakage. For this reason I couldn't get glasses from W-M this time. The optician talked my mom, who was paying, into anti-reflection (VERY bad move) and double thin (I didn't care). However, she also discouraged color change and UV protection, saying neither would work with my Rx.

Oh, BTW, I ended up getting them from my optometrist's office.

[catnapper]

I just have this really good feeling about Penney's. I also have the feeling my lenses will be thick, but it won't matter much if I get the thicker plastic frames. I want to get one metal pair and one plastic. If the metal pair is offensively thick, I can always go back later and pay an additonal $200 for the thinner lenses when I have the extra money. They'd still turn out less expensive in the long-run than the other places I've been. I just can't justify spending so much money right now. One being that I don't happen to have it and the other being that Cameron currently is obsessed with ripping my glasses off my face. If he happenes to destroy a $65 pair of glasses, then nothing major is lost.

Hey Sparks if you read this, the JC Penney's I'm talking about is in the Park City Mall... are to meet up?

Laura, I'm going to see if we have that store around here. We do have an America's Best, which I think is similar. But they're an hour away.... which might be worth the trip!

Once again, everyone here ROCKS!!! Thanks you all for the suggestions. Please keep 'em coming.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

My husband has really poor eyesight without his glasses on, so he buys a special kind of lens so they aren't really thick, which can be really expensive if purchased at a vision store. He doesn't like any wal-mart frames, so he picks out frames from a diffrent store (last time, we found a little shop that sold frames, he got a nice pair for a decent price) and has walmart make the lenses to fit the frame, which they will do for free. That way, he gets walmart prices on the lenses but gets to pick out a frame he likes. He hasn't had any problems with this glasses...and it does save about $100. I think for everything he spent about $260 last time (about 8 months ago).

[Cataholic]

I think I am going to check out walmart next eye exam time! Those prices sound great.

[shais_mom]

I and the other being that Cameron currently is obsessed with ripping my glasses off my face. If he happenes to destroy a $65 pair of glasses, then nothing major is lost.

Laura, I'm going to see if we have that store around here. We do have an America's Best, which I think is similar. But they're an hour away.... which might be worth the trip!

Thanks RED HEDD!
I just looked up LESCO on yahoo and the only thing that came up was lawn chemical stuff.
I suppose if you've had problems with Walmart - I can't say I don't blame you for not wanting to go back. The only time I went with them was the last eye exam I wanted my glasses refitted b/c they were so crooked and it was $30. I wasn't happy but I just kept telling myself it was cheaper than a new pair of glasses!

And as much as I LOVE babies that is the one thing I won't tolerate when my nephews did it - their other grandpa thought it was funny- so he allowed them to do it -(his other grandma also teaches them its really funny to belch really loud in public and it INFURIATES my mom and sister when they DO do it in public) and my nephew was like 5 years old and wanted my attention one day when I was talking to someone and he ripped my sunglasses off my face. He got flipped over my knee (and had my attention ) before he knew what was happening. He never did it to me again -
I would nip that in the BUTT as fast and early as you can b/c as they get bigger and stronger then can only do more damage.

[catnapper]

And as much as I LOVE babies that is the one thing I won't tolerate when my nephews did it - their other grandpa thought it was funny- so he allowed them to do it -(his other grandma also teaches them its really funny to belch really loud in public and it INFURIATES my mom and sister when they DO do it in public) and my nephew was like 5 years old and wanted my attention one day when I was talking to someone and he ripped my sunglasses off my face. He got flipped over my knee (and had my attention ) before he knew what was happening. He never did it to me again -
I would nip that in the BUTT as fast and early as you can b/c as they get bigger and stronger then can only do more damage.

Trust me, I let him know he's not allowed to rip them off my face. But he's currently at the state where its really funny to do something he KNOWS he's not supposed to do. Oh yeah, a laugh riot to rip grandma's glasses off. And to push the buttons on the front of the tv. And to scatter feresh laundry all over the room. Oh, he's a comic! He is just learning no means no. He'll stop dead in his tracks and you see him deciding if he wants to listen to you or make a game of it. If he decides to listen he simply walks away. If he decides to make a game of it, he gets this sly little smile and starts being B-A-D.

[Cataholic]

Just one more way kids are so different. Jones has never bothered my glasses, and will now take them off my face, fold them, and gently lay them on the table when we snuggle, as the corner always gets him in the face.

He has two pair of sunglasses, wears them all the time, and makes me go back home to get them if we have forgotten them.

my son, my angel. (just slap me)

The pulling of single strands of my hair with his teeth is a whole 'nother matter.

[joycenalex]

my son, my angel. (just slap me)The pulling of single strands of my hair with his teeth is a whole 'nother matter.

* made me spit ice tea you did!!!!*snark

[shais_mom]

Trust me, I let him know he's not allowed to rip them off my face. But he's currently at the state where its really funny to do something he KNOWS he's not supposed to do. Oh yeah, a laugh riot to rip grandma's glasses off. And to push the buttons on the front of the tv. And to scatter feresh laundry all over the room. Oh, he's a comic! He is just learning no means no. He'll stop dead in his tracks and you see him deciding if he wants to listen to you or make a game of it. If he decides to listen he simply walks away. If he decides to make a game of it, he gets this sly little smile and starts being B-A-D.

same nephew- ran up to the TV one nite - turned the volume ALLLLLLL the way up
it scared him - he ran away
and refused to go back to the TV to turn it down!

[catnapper]

Woohoo... I just called JCP. They recommend that I go with the polycarbonate lenses on the metal frames but I could be safe with the typical plastic lenses on the plastic frames. The upgrade for poly is only $60 per pair. There is a warranty available for one year breakage on both the frames and lenses for ony $15.

Soooooo.....
$129 two pair special
+ 60 upgraded lenses on metal frame
+ 15 warranty on the metal pair since that'll be my primary pair
$304 for TWO pairs -- right in my origianl price range.

I also called America's Best. They offer free eye exams and 2 pairs of glasses for $69.99. They won't do my prescription for that price. They said mine will run about $200 per pair. BUT my son needs an exam and glasses. This is PERFECT for him. So while I am out at Penney's he can be at America's Best getting his exam and picking out his glasses. Both stores are a stone's throw away from each other.