The Guardian:
Almost everyone wears glasses at some point in their lives. In developed countries, the rule of thumb is that around 70% of adults need corrective lenses to see well.
Over the last generation, just two companies have risen above all the rest to dominate the industry. The lenses in my glasses – and yours too, most likely – are made by Essilor, a French multinational that controls almost half of the world’s prescription lens business and has acquired more than 250 other companies in the past 20 years.
There is a good chance, meanwhile, that your frames are made by Luxottica, an Italian company with an unparalleled combination of factories, designer labels and retail outlets. Luxottica pioneered the use of luxury brands in the optical business, and one of the many powerful functions of names such as Ray-Ban (which is owned by Luxottica) or Vogue (which is owned by Luxottica) or Prada (whose glasses are made by Luxottica) or Oliver Peoples (which is owned by Luxottica) or high-street outlets such as LensCrafters, the largest optical retailer in the US (which is owned by Luxottica), or John Lewis Opticians in the UK (which is run by Luxottica), or Sunglass Hut (which is owned by Luxottica) is to make the marketplace feel more varied than it actually is.
Having recently come home from the eye doctor/optician and spent upwards of $800 for glasses for my wife and I, this article simultaneously hits home and pisses me right off. This YouTube video condenses the issue.
Buy cheapies from Zenni, then; $50, delivered to your door, and that’s with fairly high-index composite, not the cheapest options.
(I mean, I buy fantastically expensive IC! Berlin frames, every six or eight years – and it’s worth it, for the lightweight and indestructible factor.
Lens replacements every other year.
Luxottica doesn’t make them – avoid “designer labels” and half your problem falls away.)
I’ve been wearing a pair of stylish $100 Warby Parkers for over 5 years and they are in fantastic shape. Why would you spend so much on glasses now?
I used to buy designer frames etc. But I now have 2 pairs of regular glasses from Warby Parker and a pair designed for computer work. All in cost for all 3 pair? $325. The cool thing is that as long as you have a current prescription on file with them you can simply order a new pair online. It helps, too, that they have stores in Seattle so I can go in, try on frames and then order online.
My wife loves Zenni.
I have not tried them yet as my prescription is more complicated.
My last pair were $150 from Costco.
I got two pair from Zenni for around $50 for both. You can get prescription glasses for as low as about $15.