Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rebekah on January 25, 2013 at 5:35pm

The first few times choosing frames are hard. My main advice is to take your time finding frames that fit, and to spend more if necessary to get ones that fit.

The optician can tell you if your prescription works better in different shaped frames. Strong prescriptions, which you likely don't have if this is your first time with glasses, can work better in square frames.

I'd divide frames into 3 kinds - wire, clear and pale plastic, and colored plastic. Colored plastic are the very obvious glasses like Sec. Clinton wore recently on the Hill, or like sunglasses usually have. Everyone will notice them, which may be a good thing or not. Studies show that glasses subconsciously indicate intelligence and wealth.

I'd recommend pale plastic for the first pair, because they're unobtrusive but sturdy. Wire frames are likewise unobtrusive, but they can get bent and lose nose pieces.

Costco, LensCrafters, etc., generally have better deals and more selection than your doctor's office.

[I wore glasses for 12 years before I had LASIK.]

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Permalink Reply by Marty on January 25, 2013 at 5:39pm

No pitfalls. If you are just getting your first Rx for basic reading glasses I suggest that you go to your local pharmacy or Walmart and just purchase an inexpensive pair of reading glasses.  There is no need to purchase expensive frames and custom lenses. Any more serious reason or diagnosis would require a custom more expensive purchase.  My first pair of reading glasses were half frames. Placing them low on your nose enables you to look over them for distance so you don't have to keep putting them on and then taking them off.

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Permalink Reply by Rebekah on January 25, 2013 at 5:41pm

Agree, based upon my parents' experiences with reading glasses. They get theirs at the dollar store.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Splash on January 25, 2013 at 8:12pm

+1 , I always wear mine halfway down my nose so I can look at the tv or talk to someone and not have to take them off .

I have had my plastic framed glasses for two years and there still as good as new , they are designer frames ( FCUK) licence'd to a department chain and were really cheap .

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Permalink Reply by The Dutch Dastard on January 25, 2013 at 6:08pm

Thank you! Thankfully there's no need for reading glasses. Those can be bought at the 'dollar store' (which we don't have). 

Good to know there aren't any real troublesome issues then. Money seems to be no problem (hooray for insurance), so I'll probably just get whatever I think looks good. 

Thanks again!

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Permalink Reply by Rebekah on January 25, 2013 at 6:56pm

4 more thoughts.

1. Especially for your first pair of glasses, the biggest comfort issue is weight - the lighter, the better. Plastic lenses are lighter than glass lenses, but not all prescriptions can be made with all lens materials. Talk about his with your optician. There's no tricks when it comes to frames.

2. There's lots they can do regarding fit at the bridge of the nose and the ear pieces, but there's nothing they can do about the width of the frames, corresponding to the distance from one temple to the other. Keep this in mind when trying on frames. I apparently have literally a small head and wore children's glasses even in my 20s.

3. You can get anti-reflective coating on some lenses. Dad likes it because it cuts down glare during outdoor activities.

4. There are also treatments that turn the lenses dark, like sunglasses, when you go outside. I don't like them because the process isn't instantaneous, so people are wearing tinted lenses inside for a few minutes. Also, not all windows block sunlight in the right way - then people with these lenses are wearing sunglasses inside all the time.

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Permalink Reply by Shahan on January 25, 2013 at 7:09pm

+1 on weight. 

As a lifelong wearer of glasses, I can testify to this. You don't want heavy lenses or frames. These will put pressure on your ears, and your nose, and for long periods of time, it's very uncomfortable. Thin metal, or plastic frames are probably the best, here. Nothing that's chunky and thick. That'll only add to the weight, which you want to keep as light as possible. Any weight at all should come mostly from the lenses, and even those should be as light as possible. 

When I was younger, spectacle-lenses were made of glass. And they're damn heavy. If you can get yours made of plastic, so much the better. 

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Permalink Reply by Aubrey J. Riley on January 25, 2013 at 8:01pm

A great site with inexpensive but classic frames are www.warbyparker.com You can select up to 5 pairs to try at home for free and it does not take them that long to ship them to you. I would not suggest going to sears or one of those chains since they usually have much larger price tag.

The only pitfalls comes with cleaning them since it is easy to scrape up if not done properly. What I found to work best is run them under water and then add some soap and wash them then dry with a cotton handkerchief. It usually produces the best cleaning with out any streaks.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Knight on January 25, 2013 at 8:08pm

Are you open to wearing glasses?  Or, is this an embarrassment that you'll have to wear on your face?

 

My first pair were the latter...it was an ego thing.

 

Unless you buy multiple pairs (very expensive), be aware that your glasses will be seen on your face, all the time, with all your clothing.  So consider that...the pair of UT burnt-orange frames may not go with all your suits.  (or is that just me?)

 

As for frames, they come in a number of shapes, including round, rectangular, triangular, cat's eye, and all sorts of other variations.  Pay attention to face shape, and get the opposite...round face = rectangular frames, etc.  And, think classic...gigantic oversized "Buddy Holly" glasses are currently in fashion, but that doesn't mean they're the best choice for your face.

 

Frames come in 3 basic varieties.  Full frame, partial rim, and rimless.

 

Full rim frames support the lenses with a frame, all the way around.  They're the strongest and best protected, but tend to be the boldest frames.

 

Partial rim frames support the lenses with a frame, usually on top, and fishing line around the rest.  The lenses appear to float in the frames, and look less prominent on the face.  These are a nice balance of strength and aesthetics.

 

Rimless frames have no frames around the lenses.  They just have the frame parts screwed on to the lenses, directly.  These are secure, but comparatively delicate...but can be almost invisible on your face.

 

And, once you figure out what you want to buy, you can buy in person *or* online.  I personally use http://www.zennioptical.com and have gotten a lot of compliments on my perfectly made, stylish glasses.  They start at $7/pair...at that price, you can afford to have more than one pair.

 

Here are two pairs I have...freed from the outrageous cost of the local dispensaries, I've found that I like bold styles.

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Permalink Reply by The Dutch Dastard on January 27, 2013 at 12:44pm

Well, thanks again everybody! Turns out my eyes are -.75 left and -.25 right (even though my right vision is still 150% whatever that means). Glasses will be as follows: 

I'm looking forward to them....(pun intended)

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Permalink Reply by Carl Monster on January 27, 2013 at 12:54pm

For your physical health?  Nearsighted or farsighted?

And have you considered contacts?

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Permalink Reply by The Dutch Dastard on January 27, 2013 at 1:42pm

Apparently I'm a bit nearsighted. 

I rarely have a problem in 'seeing' things in general because my vision is pretty good. The trouble is that my eyes aren't equally good which, according to my chiropractor (and confirmed by my optician and doctor) sets me back in recovering from and dealing with the results of a whiplash I got two years ago. Because of my whiplash my balance is poor, which i compensate with my eyes. My eyes are of, causing poor balance. Poor balance causes a lot of strain on my neck and back.

Surely it won't cure my problem, but it might help and I'm willing to try pretty much anything. 

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