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Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

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Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#431

Post by repiret »

kstrauser wrote: post #413
patentatt wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’d take issue with “not complicated.” They are very tiny, have to be very low power, and they run a surprising amount of real-time DSP. Then the whole electronics package has to be integrated with an acoustics package including multiple microphones and transducers. And the higher quality all of those acoustical components are, the more transparent the end product. And it all has to be durable enough for continuous w…

I ask seriously: could this be replicated with AirPods and an iPhone, in software?

The latency between the AirPods and the iPhone is too high for the iPhone to do any of the real-time work. I have no idea if the AirPods have a DSP that would be able to do that work.

But cheap, small, low power DSPs can do an amazing amount of work these days. Even if the AirPods don't have such a DSP, they're a good example of a reasonably complex piece of electronics with speakers and a microphone that sits in your ear, but costs an order of magnitude less than hearing aids. I think they're a good datapoint to argue that a truly free market could make much cheaper hearing aids.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#432

Post by akira2501 »

fanzhang wrote: post #429
jawns wrote: post #15

Reminder, if you're in the US, the FTC says your eye doctor must give you your prescription after your exam. If a doctor refuses to do so, they can face legal action and penalties. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2016/05/buying-prescriptio... That said, I don't think the FTC stipulates what information must appear on the prescription. Many docs leave off your PD (pupillary distance), which is a necessary measuremen…

A optometrist I went to did my eye exam for $90, and then I decided I wanted the prescription to get my own contacts. First, I asked, and they denied it. Then I literally had to pull out this law and they finally granted it. But they did everything they could to obstruct me. Literally they refused to scan it and wanted me to show up in person. Then while writing it, the doctor himself said "sad to see you don't suppo…

> the doctor himself said "sad to see you don't support our business".

That I would want to question him about. Does he mean that the medical service is the loss-leader and that he gets a kickback off our purchase of eyewear?

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#433

Post by evarady »

sreekar545 wrote: post #291
evarady wrote: post #213

I'm Eric, the founder of Topology Eyewear. We agree that "stock" eyewear (a.k.a. off-the-shelf eyewear) is overpriced. Worst than overpriced, it doesn't fit you very well, because it wasn't made for you! Everyone is different, so we have figured out how to make every one of our glasses different: 100% custom made to fit each individual, like a custom suit; made from the same luxury Italian acetate (plastic) and full-…

I know doing the same for android is tough. But any plans to make an app for android?

Yes an Android version is on our roadmap, but honestly it will be quite a while. It isn't just the depth sensor, but also the ability to know for each phone model the intrinsic calibration of the sensor, the GPU, the IMU, and the screen size. We're doing real-time rendering and some very heavy computation at 60fps, which really does leverage tight software/hardware integration iOS and Apple hardware provides. That being said, if you are excited about what we're doing and the only think holding you back is the phone you choose to carry in your pocket, contact me or anyone on my team via the website and we'll be happy to give you a discount for the inconvenience of having to borrow a friend's iPhone.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#434

Post by velosol »

pkaye wrote: post #194
pugworthy wrote: post #19

You want to know what's outrageously expensive, yet equally important for basic ability to function in the workplace and other situations? Hearing aids. Hearing aids are glasses for your ears. But compared to them, glasses are unbelievably dirt cheap, and basically fully covered by a lot of decent company insurance plans. Hearing aids? Not the case. Imagine if glasses cost $2-3000 per lens. PER LENS. And your company…

I think the OTC hearing aid law will go into effect next year. For mild of moderate hearing loss, you will be able to buy the hearing aid directly without dealing with the hearing aid specialist.

It was signed in August 2017 and the FDA has 3 years to allow sale of hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#435

Post by burntwater »

pakitan wrote: post #204
Jemaclus wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, this is true. I'm actually fortunate in that I'm completely deaf in one ear and "only" profoundly deaf in the other. That means I only have to spend $3000 instead of 2x that. It's ridiculous. My hearing aid is 6 years old and I'm sure it's about to fail, but I can't afford a new one right now. It's absolute insanity.

Do the $3000 hearing aids differ significantly than, say, this: https://www.amazon.de/Audiben-PSA-H%C3%B6rverst%C3%A4rker-Pr...

My $3,000 hearing aid (which has allowed me to hear better than I ever have before and is worth every dollar) has, for example, 2 microphones, 4 switchable DSP programs to match different sound environments, telecoil (essential in my work), a level of water resistance (sweat and dirt is the primary killer of my hearing aids, worn 18 hours a day), and with an external receiver I can directly receive bluetooth and external microphones.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#436

Post by walterbell »

Someone was asking about glass lenses. They are now mostly a premium product, not many online suppliers.

https://www.2020mag.com/article/a-dawn-for-glass-lenses

https://www.eyeglasses.com/prescription-lenses/glass/

http://www.lensfactory.com/glass-lenses/

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#437

Post by CamelCaseName »

nomel wrote: post #196
wuliwong wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've been wearing glasses for over 25 years, the last 5 or so years I've been buying them from Zenni and it has been great. The best pair of glasses I've ever owned were about $25 from Zenni. I used to wear contacts a lot more until I got that one pair from Zenni. Now I wear contacts a few times a month. I had to get a new prescription, so I went to a Walmart. After, they said that they could replace the lenses in my…

> Why aren't people using them? I've converted several people, but not being able to touch them and try them on first appears to be a significant problem.

Actually, you need to be able to try them on to ensure that you get your OC (optical center) correct.

This isn't a problem for people with relatively low prescriptions, but the stronger your prescription, the more important it is to get this right.

Some online stores will try to get it from a photo, but your OC actually changes by how/where you wear your glasses along the bridge of your nose, and that in turn changes with the frame you wear.

So if you've got a low prescription, why not just go to the local pharmacy? They sell prescriptions as strong as +/- 3.5 over the counter for $15.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#438

Post by walterbell »

There is a famous US company that has been making frames and lenses for decades. They are still around, offering classic models in a variety of custom sizes. They will insert any lens you need, even glass. Think of them as a time machine. They have their own lab.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browline_glasses

> Browline glasses were invented in 1947 by Jack Rohrbach, then vice-president of Shuron Ltd., an eyeglass company. The first browlines – sold under the "Ronsir" model name – were made out of interchangeable bridges, eyewires, and "brows," allowing wearers to completely customize the size, fit, and color of their glasses. At the time, most frame manufacturers offered a limited number of colors and sizes, making browlines a unique means of customizing one's personal appearance. The style quickly caught on in popularity amongst eyeglass wearers, resulting in numerous other companies releasing their own browline frames.

http://shuron.com

Today, few frame manufacturers offer the same style in multiple sizes. Virtually none allow you to mix and match temple length, frame width, bridge, etc.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#439

Post by brymastr »

interlocutor wrote: post #107

The reason glasses cost so much is because one company owns: (1) nearly all brand name frames including Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada eyewear, Armani eyewear and so on, (2) nearly all retail stores such as LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical and Target Optical and (3) EyeMed, one of the largest vision insurance companies. See this eye-opening 60 Minutes story on Luxottica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDdq2rIqAlM…

There are other non-Luxottica options in the US. Warby Parker, Bailey Nelson, and Ollie Quinn to name a few. Almost everyone sells Essilor frames though but not quite everyone is owned by the eyewear conglomerate. At least with Bailey you can get some quality frames for a decent price.

Re: Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry

#440

Post by traek »

sudosteph wrote: post #321
patorjk wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This kind of blows my mind. A few years ago when I went to the eye doc, they refused to give me my prescription, I had to buy glasses from their store in their office. Last year when I went, they gave me my prescription at the end, without me asking. It felt really nice and at the time I figured they were doing it to create a better relationship with their customers. Now I wonder if someone knew about this rule and r…

I just got my eye exam done this morning, and I agree it really does make a way better experience. I think it's a state-level law thing. Here in WA State it's illegal for a optician to refuse you a plain eye exam or refuse to give you your prescription information, including pupillary distance: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=18.195&full=tru...

It's not, it's a nationwide thing enforced by the FTC. WA and some other states have stricter laws which include pupillary distance.

https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/com...

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