Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Where to buy cheap but good quality glasses in Europe?

news.ycombinator.com

71–80 of 100 posts

Re: Ask HN: Where to buy cheap but good quality glasses in Europe?

#71

What constitutes good quality glasses? Or rather: good quality lenses? The frames are mostly a matter of taste, but for the optical component, is a €150 piece of glass significantly better than a €100 piece of glass? Who has the lead in material science here? Japan, Germany? Any good sources on that topic?

More expensive lenses get you: * A material with a higher refractive index (-> thinner glasses) and higher Abbe number (-> less dispersion). Scroll down to the "Optical Glass Selection" in this article for a diagram: https://www.edmundoptics.com/knowledge-center/application-no... - the stronger the prescription, the more it matters, but generally the step up from the cheapest material is much more significant than fr…

Yep, seconded.

Some more anecdata: The lenses' coating from my cheap unbranded glasses (plastic lenses) have begun to disintegrate/separate from the glass. My other glasses' Zeiss lenses are fine still (both being 8 and 6 years old).

Other than that, to the OP: get what you like, if you need the super thin lenses (depends on your level of myopia), go with the expensive stuff, else the cheaper lenses will also work. The more expensive coatings will filter more reflections, do you need a polarizing screen (doesn't work well with LCDs though)?. Then there's the lens material: glass (more scratch resistant) vs plastic (safer, because shatterproof). If you need two zoned lenses thats also different, and way more expensive.

Edit: oh and make sure that the eye distance is properly measured (i.e. at all), that is to make sure that the optical center is ligning up with your eye

Re: Ask HN: Where to buy cheap but good quality glasses in Europe?

#72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After going to an expensive opticians for a good few years, I thought I'd get a "fun" second pair of glasses at one of the new optician chains, Ace & Tate. When they arrived the lenses were rubbish quality - I hadn't realised how lucky I was to have used a really good optician from the get-go. When I went back to him, tail between my legs, he explained a lot of what a sibling comment says about lightness, refractive…

Where do you find places with specific lenses? Basically nowhere in the UK seems to call out their lense quality from what I've seen - perhaps I'm just looking in the wrong places. Are you ringing each optician up individually and asking them?

The branded lenses are often expensive and therefore high margin, so most opticians will have them available, but few people order them so they are unlikely to mention their existence. As to which are best, you are best finding an independent local optician who seems to have an interest in the subject and asking for a recommendation. If you read the Optiboard forums you can get an idea of the passion some opticians have, although it's not useful for specifics.

Re: Ask HN: Where to buy cheap but good quality glasses in Europe?

#74

I've been to Lunettes pour Tous stores https://lunettespourtous.com/ in the past. It felt revolutionary, because you could walk in, get an eye test, and have your glasses made within 30 minutes at the same store, at a very reasonable price. It looks like they deliver as well. Hard to describe their price range as they have a million options you can pick as part of the ordering process - easy to end up with something…

I haven't tried "Lunettes pour tous" yet but I usually go to "Générale d'Optique" [1] where the basic glasses cost 25€.

Your advice has less shops in France but it seems very interesting and I'll definitely buy from them in the future if I have to. Générale d'Optique has a very restricted choice of frames which is why your link seems better.

[1]: https://www.generale-optique.com/

Re: Ask HN: Where to buy cheap but good quality glasses in Europe?

#77
post #66

I can recommend http://polette.com/ with glasses for 60 euro. I am happier with these than the more expensive ones I had before.

This is not exactly in Europe, this online shop is China based and not recognized by the health care system in France.

Re: Ask HN: Where to buy cheap but good quality glasses in Europe?

#78

I've been using VIU for a couple of years and can highly recommend. Good quality acetate frames, decent pricing and good in-store service. https://shopviu.com/en_int/viu-stores/ My partner previously also used VIU and recently had a good experience with Ace & Tate (who have been recommended already).

The german store greets me in germany with 185€ and up. I'm reading/writing this with my <25 € Fielmann Glasses ...

Re: Ask HN: Where to buy cheap but good quality glasses in Europe?

#79
post #24

https://www.selectspecs.com/ Caveat: they stock both Luxottica and non-Luxottica brands. You'll just have to guess which is which based on price and know your prescription already. I will define cheap as anything under €30. I managed to get three pairs of different frames with three pairs of custom lenses for €55.

Well, having around -7 in each eye plus some astigmatism, I define "cheap" anything under €300-400. Lenses get expensive quickly!

Re: Ask HN: Where to buy cheap but good quality glasses in Europe?

#80

Ace & Tate Beloved by hipsters all over Europe Free eye test, glasses around £100 a pair I personally love the clip on shades which have made summer actually enjoyable

> Beloved by hipsters all over Europe

They sell frames, but no lenses?

Post reply on HN