Why are glasses so expensive? The eyewear industry prefers to keep that blurry • Hacker News Board

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

#591

Post by wrycoder » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 2:12 AM UTC

loufe wrote: post #297

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…

I'm not sure if the professional designation changes country to country, but here in Canada an ophthalmologist would not be the person to give a comprehensive eye exam. That would be an optometrist. (source: optometrist parent)

Your parent had it backwards. An ophthalmologist is an MD.

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

#592

Post by wrycoder » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 2:27 AM UTC

dzhiurgis wrote: post #446

afarrell wrote: post #245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think this is why Bose entered the market with “hearphones” to help hear people in crowded bars. So they could try to market them without spending the money to be a medical device.

> help hear people in crowded bars. It's a tall people problem too. You can hear everyone in the bar except person in front of you, 30cm below.

It’s a short people problem too, for the same reason. At least the tall person can lean over.

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

#593

Post by wrycoder » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 2:29 AM UTC

burntwater wrote: post #435

pakitan wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 exte…

That’s about $150 worth of parts.

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

#594

Post by vamega » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 5:59 AM UTC

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…

Wow, I used to go there 4 years ago and liked the place. Never had trouble getting my prescription.

So sad to see how that place changed.

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

#595

Post by sigi45 » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 8:26 AM UTC

I bought 40€ glasses online, send them back and got 200€ glasses at a normal shop.

I see the issue that everyone should be able to get glasses as it is that important but I will not compromise my eyesight quality because of a few hundred bugs.

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

#596

Post by riahi » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 3:09 PM UTC

mancerayder wrote: post #453

Contacts are even worse. Did anyone notice that online vendors in the US like the 1-800 one were well cheaper, and now somehow they all have the same pricing? And that a special contact lens check is required, at a separate price, to get a prescription for contact lenses renewed, even if the script is the same for glasses and contacts, and you just did the glasses? And that while you can buy 100 years of contacts, th…

Your prescription cannot be the same for contacts as it includes additional parameters like curvature. The diopter may or may not be similar, true.

The whole point of a separate contact lens exam is to assess lens fit and check for corneal complications usually related to over-wear.

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

#597

Post by burntwater » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 3:14 PM UTC

wrycoder wrote: post #593

burntwater wrote: post #435

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 exte…

That’s about $150 worth of parts.

Plus R&D, plus technical and warranty support, plus 6 audiologist fitting appointments, plus all the other standard business expenses and, yes, profit.

Parts are a minor piece of the puzzle.

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

#598

Post by howlingfantods » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 4:51 PM UTC

Warby Parker is a good alternative to the Luxotica monopoly but I think even their lenses are Essilor

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

#599

Post by Jemaclus » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 5:16 PM UTC

burntwater wrote: post #435

pakitan wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 exte…

Yes, mine does the same. It's a really nice hearing aid. It's just a shame it's so expensive and not covered by insurance. I literally cannot function at a job without one, but insurance (or disability) won't cover it. Bizarre.

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

#600

Post by mathis » Fri, Jan 25, 2019, 5:53 PM UTC

yabatopia wrote: post #527

brymastr wrote: post #439

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Does anyone know the non-Luxottica options in Europe, where the market is much more fragmented across countries?

I can recommend Viu. They are available in some European markets and by focusing on a essential selection of frames, they are able to satisfy most peoples needs. Paid 150€ for mine.