Where do we find super cheap replacement lenses?
OK – I figured I would check for the nearest America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses to Stamford. The Stamford zipcode I entered into the store locator on America’s Best’s website (www.twopair.com) was 06901. Unfortunately, the closest store to there is 74 miles away, in Brick, NJ. However! Depending on your MPG it might actually be worth your time to make an appointment and drive there some Saturday. Because their big selling point is “Two pairs of glasses, and an exam, all for $69”. And it’s for real! I got mine at the store here in Ann Arbor, and they have a wall of frames that are the “two for $69” variety. I believe the next wall up is “two for $89”, and then maybe the more designer brands on a wall for “two for $129” or so. Bifocals are two for $99. There are actually a decent amount of choices on the $69 wall, and this is where I got mine a couple years ago. I’m pretty sure you can choose 2 different pairs, or two of the same pair.
The last pair of (not especially fancy) glasses I bought from the optometrist was around $495!!! Insurance paid for most of that but I was still gouged for $198. Yes, I said gouged… I ordered some (emergency backup, so I thought) bifocals from Eyebuydirect.com the same day, using the same prescription; they arrived in my mailbox the same day the optometrist called to say my expensive glasses were in… long story short, I had to return the expensive ones to be reworked, the $40 mail-order ones were just fine right out of the box. I’m now wearing the $40 glasses every day. I just began researching this, and so far the cheapest deal I’ve found is Zenni Optical, at $8 for single vision clear glasses (frames plus lenses), $25 for clear plastic bifocals (lenses and frames). Add postage (in the US) and the $8 glasses cost $12.95, bifocals $29.95. That’s far cheaper than the cheapest price I’ve found for replacing lenses in old frames!!!
