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Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)

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Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)

#131

Post by cto_of_antifa »

UIUC_06 wrote: post #82
epmaybe wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ophthalmologist or optometrist? Very different, and I think the difference needs to be overstated more and more.

I've been seeing the same ophthalmologist for years, but last time, they told me I needed to get the COVID booster for next visit. So there was no next visit. I have other doctors and a dentist, and none of them push that. He's also absolutely dogmatic and dismissive about how LASIK is safe (although he didn't push it for me). He did give me my PD, though.

Pretty messed up they wouldn't let you endanger them at their own workplace

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)

#132

Post by tistoon »

petilon wrote: post #19

Glasses are expensive because there is no competition. One company - Luxottica - owns pretty much everything. You go to LensCrafters and prices seem super expensive, so you go to Pearle Vision and that's expensive too, so you go to Target Optical and prices are still high and then you think maybe glasses are expensive, since you went to multiple stores and they all have similar prices. What you don't realize is that…

Wow you just described Canada in every industry sectors! It’s the same. That’s why Canada is overpriced everywhere (telecom, banks, groceries, etc): no competition.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)

#134

Post by piaste »

For many people, there is an option that side-steps the racket entirely, massively improves their QoL, and can even save money in the long term - laser eye surgery.

(disclaimer: prices are likely to be different in other countries)

Prices and quality of LES seems to have dropped significantly even as glasses have become more expensive. I had some annoying myopy / astigmastism combo so I used to pay up to 200-300€ for glasses, and prescription sunglasses were also expensive.

Femto-LASIK surgery cost me a whopping 1500€ a couple of years ago, whereas an older acquaintance told me that he had paid 10x as much in the mid-aughts. A couple of decades of glasses would not have cost me much less, and the difference it makes in quality of life cannot be overstated. Easily in the running for the best money I ever spent.

Of course, not everybody can get lasered - children and teenagers, first and foremost - but a lot more people do than realize it.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)

#135

Post by AdrianB1 »

wrycoder wrote: post #61
adzm wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to mention the pupillary distance is not commonly included on optical prescriptions which creates a significant hurdle, even though it can be measured yourself or usually given when asked.

My ophthalmologist claimed he didn’t have the equipment to add PD to his prescription. Bald-faced liar. BTW, the app is called PD Measure.

A simple ruler is enough. I am wearing glasses for 30 years and I had the few pairs with wrong PD, the next optometrist used a simple ruler and I am working with him for the past 20 years.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)

#136

Post by guidoism »

chasil wrote: post #90
imroot wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I worked on the retail IT side of things at Luxottica. I don't even think that you've scratched the surface of just how prevalent Luxottica is: you've touched the retail side of things, but, you also haven't touched the manufacturing side of things (Lux has patents on the hinges used in glasses), the wholesaling side of things (Lux supplies generic and branded frames to your local optician on less-than-preferred term…

Glasses aren't that expensive. I buy them from https://zennioptical.com I don't think that I'd ever pay more than $100 for a frame again. The sunglasses that we buy in a drugstore can be had for paltry sums, why not prescription eyewear?

I paid $11 (shipped) for a pair of glasses from them for use in VR. I didn’t want to screw up my normal glasses. For eleven bucks they aren’t bad at all. Not my style. And I didn’t get any coating so the reflections are bad but man, I can’t see for shit without glasses and I’m happy that if I even fall on hard times I can at least pay for a new pair of glasses.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)

#137

Post by atemerev »

Glasses are expensive because they are not just a medical device, but also a fashion accessory, and this market is a fashion market.

I have to try about 20-30 frames or so, until I find something that looks OK on me.

But! It is still possible to buy cheap enough frames that look fine. Why the _lenses_ are so expensive, that’s a different question. I routinely pay $700 or so for the lenses. Many professional multi-component _camera_ lenses cost much less than that. And it has nothing to do with Luxottica.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)

#138

Post by otherme123 »

wyclif wrote: post #110
asicsp wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably mass-produced? Glass lenses cost me Rs 1000 (about $12.5) a few months back (myopia, -5) - I'd say these were on the cheaper side, and no special coating (they cost as much as the lenses themselves!!). Frames on the cheaper end also cost around this much.

I also prefer glass lenses. The tradeoffs seem to be weight (glass weighs more) and durability (glass can be cleaned with cloth or a towel without scratching, plastic lenses need to be babied with a microcloth or else you get little swirly scratches that will eventually ruin the lenses). I'd rather have my glasses weigh a bit more if the lenses are more durable.

Don't clean your glasses, wash them.

The scratches are caused by particles of dust pressed by you against the lens, and then rubbed all around. A quick rinse removes almost all the dust, and then you can dry them with any clean towel, tissue or even the shirt. I also use a drop of soap to degrease them.

I have plastic lenses with zero scratches after five years of use.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)

#139

Post by londons_explore »

petilon wrote: post #19

Glasses are expensive because there is no competition. One company - Luxottica - owns pretty much everything. You go to LensCrafters and prices seem super expensive, so you go to Pearle Vision and that's expensive too, so you go to Target Optical and prices are still high and then you think maybe glasses are expensive, since you went to multiple stores and they all have similar prices. What you don't realize is that…

They grew big by buying every startup eye brand.

Anyone want to start a little low-cost, low-quality glasses manufacturing company, with the aim of being bought by Luxottica and closed down?

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The industry prefers to keep that blurry (2019)

#140

Post by ohgodplsno »

petilon wrote: post #19

Glasses are expensive because there is no competition. One company - Luxottica - owns pretty much everything. You go to LensCrafters and prices seem super expensive, so you go to Pearle Vision and that's expensive too, so you go to Target Optical and prices are still high and then you think maybe glasses are expensive, since you went to multiple stores and they all have similar prices. What you don't realize is that…

Leica (makers of lenses for cameras and phones) is moving in the market. They have the knowledge and the tools to make it, but they are still very small compared to Luxottica.
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