I used to be an Optician and I can tell you one thing I won't penny pinch on is my glasses or contact lenses
When I say glasses I don't mean frames, I mean lenses. Frames are good and you can find a decent one at a good price, but the most important part of glasses is the part you're going to see out of. These are my reccomendations:
If you have a child, Poly Carbonate or High Index lenses, the way to go, yes poly and high index can scratch easier, but they are shatter proof and the safest lenses you can buy. Poly can at times distort vision, usually if this happens most reputable optical places will switch them to another material for free.
Transition lenses for most children and adults are a God send. Children especially, it protects their eyes. Transitions on high index lenses don't always get very dark, but they may have improved that by now. But for a child, unless they are just wearing them for reading, I recommend transitions any time. They don't care how dark it get's. But the glare off of eyeglass lenses hurts their eyes.
Anti Reflective coating, Crizal is the best, get the good quality, otherwise it's going to be a pain to clean them. Plus it lasts longer and effect at night and even in the day is fantastic. If you're on a computer all day, absolutely use AR coating. A must for your eyes. Yes AR for kids, I highly recommend it for kids. No glare they can see better, that's the point of glasses.
I understand AR can be expensive, most places can offer to tint your lenses a light 5 to 10 percent grey. Not as good as A/R but it will reduce the glare.
If you have a high RX. 1.66 or 1.67 lenses, the best, the lightest. Also have them roll and polish the edges, they'll look good, and they'll be lighter and more comfortable.
If you have skin allergies, tell the Optician, again TELL THE OPTICIAN! We don't read minds. We need to know. I don't want you wearing something made of nickle if it will break you out. Titanium is great, hypo allergenic and it works. If you don't want titanium, plastic is the way to go.
If you buy those frames that bend a lot, don't go around showing your friends how you can make them do yoga, you do that enough that memory metal is going to stay that way and there is nothing we can do about it.
Do not put your glasses on your head like a head band, NO, NO NO NO. They aren't a head band. Take them off, put them down. They bend, you have a fat head, I can't make them fit your face anymore.
NEVER clean your glasses with toilet paper, paper towels, etc or WINDEX. It will scratch your lenses. Windex will take off coatings. The best cleaner for glasses, water or Dawn dish soap, works wonders. Use a soft cloth to wipe them.
Those pretty rimless glasses, yeah if your a cluts a person who throws their glasses around, those aren't for you. They aren't for your teenager and they aren't for a person who thinks they can put them on top of their fat head or drops them, or even takes them off and on a lot. They look delicate because they are.
The best frames I've ever worked with are Luxottica, great frames, sturdy hold up well. But they do not hold up to, being run over, chewed on by a dog. Run through the dishwasher. Kid bending them, sitting on them. Getting them stuck in a drain or fire, yes I've heard all of the above, come in and say, well I was just wearing them, no, doesn't work.
Nose pads sometimes turn green, change them, it's disgusting.
Contact lenses, I don't care if you have eyes made of foam sleeping in them is not a good idea. But the FDA says it's OK. The FDA also says Aspartame is OK. Take a nap, OK. Sleep for years in a row, no, bad.
The best contact lenses I've found are Air Optix, or daily disposables. I also think the Accuvue contacts are nice. I've been wearing the daily disposables for years, love them, fresh pair everyday , these are great for teenagers and people that work in shops or swimmers.
