Buying glasses…can’t make a decision

[VillainV]

It’s time to update my prescription. I’ve been wearing different styles of Warby Parker for the last 5 years or so. I like them, they’re fine, if a little boring. We have a store locally and I like that I can try on real glasses before I buy.

I’ve been seeing ads for Pair glasses, which look cool. I like that I could snap a different color on if I want to jazz things up, or snap sunglasses on. Is the quality okay? One review said they felt kind of flimsy. Bonus is they have free returns in case I don’t like them.

I’ve also looked at Roka, which are targeted for active people/athletes as being lightweight and sturdy. They look really nice, but are a lot more expensive. Their virtual try-on sucks and they don’t offer free returns, so I’m hesitant to commit. I also don’t wear my glasses while being active, so I’d be paying for lightweight/sturdiness that I don’t particularly need.

I’ve used Zenni before and found them too cheap/not sturdy enough for daily wear, and I don’t like their virtual try-on.

Auuughhhh!!!! Anyone have reviews, or other places to look?

[wanderingback]

Yeah I’m old fashion and like to go in person and try on glasses. I personally am not a huge fan of warby Parker but they have local stores here and I tried them on, so I have gotten 2 pairs before but probably won’t get more. So all that to say I personally vote to go local

[bears]

My friend got pair glasses for her 7 year old and they've held up really well. I've been considering then for myself

If you have a Costco membership, their frames are very affordable.

[bittybomb]

One cousin swears by Pair glasses but her sister tried them and didn’t like them and returned them all. I was just with my cousins this weekend and she was wearing the clear base pair of Pair (lol) and I think they looked nice. She didn’t snap on anything snazzy or fancy or different than clear while I was there though.

[mala]

I got Pair a few weeks ago. I like them a lot more than I thought I would. Quality is fine so far. They arent the lightest glasses I've had, but they're comfortable. I love that i can change the loom, but it does add weight. Im not crazy about the sunglass toppers which was the whole reason I got them. They're ok, just not great. One thing I didnt think of is that I got the clear frames and when I have a regular topper then the sun topper, if i stand at an odd angle to the sun the light comes in the aide of the clear frame and bounces around oddly between the regular lense and the sunglass lense. I would get Pair again, but I'd get black frames next time.

[abs]

Feb 4, 2024 8:14:06 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Yeah I’m old fashion and like to go in person and try on glasses. I personally am not a huge fan of warby Parker but they have local stores here and I tried them on, so I have gotten 2 pairs before but probably won’t get more. So all that to say I personally vote to go local

Yes this. I have a small face and finding the right pair takes a ton of work. This is definitely one thing where I cannot just order online. I go to a local place and they’ve always been super helpful in finding the right thing and making adjustments as needed.

[VillainV]

Feb 4, 2024 8:26:56 GMT -5 mala said:

I got Pair a few weeks ago. I like them a lot more than I thought I would. Quality is fine so far. They arent the lightest glasses I've had, but they're comfortable. I love that i can change the loom, but it does add weight. Im not crazy about the sunglass toppers which was the whole reason I got them. They're ok, just not great. One thing I didnt think of is that I got the clear frames and when I have a regular topper then the sun topper, if i stand at an odd angle to the sun the light comes in the aide of the clear frame and bounces around oddly between the regular lense and the sunglass lense. I would get Pair again, but I'd get black frames next time.

I really want to like clear frames, but they look terrible on me. So I’d probably get black or tortoise. I like tortoise for my “everyday” look because it warms up my features. My concern is how fun colored tops would look on the tortoise base. Or conversely, how would the tortoise top look on the black base (ie: does it look like real tortoise, or does it look like the printed-on pattern that it is)? I guess I can always order and see how I like them. Bonus is that if I find a frame shape I like, and get fun tops, then next year when I update my prescription again I can get the same shape frame and re-use the tops.

[orval]

I have used eyebuydirect a number of times. I prefer lightweight frames so I always look at the weight - the latest pair I got were titanium gold rim frames. Only 5 grams I think. They were more expensive than others but still only $180 with premium progressive lenses.
You can return them at no charge within 14 days. I have done it when the frames just were to small. It was easy to return if you don't like them or the scrip is off.

[thebreakfastclub]

I have zero interest in a virtual try on. So I use Costco Optical and get 2 frames for the price of 1 at the optometrist.

[fortnightlily]

I've had decent luck with Costco, and they're very affordable.

But I have a face that's hard to fit so I don't trust the online places. So many common styles, especially the trendier bigger frames like what you find at Warby Parker look terrible on me. I found a local shop with a few locations that carries a lot of European brands that are funkier but also more petite. They're comparatively expensive, but it is what it is. I did snag my current pair at their annual sidewalk sale.

[penguingrrl]

I only buy my glasses in person. Last time I got new frames it took 2 months of going everywhere local (from local boutiques to the warby Parker store to costco and everything in between) to finally find frames I liked when I tried them on, but for looks and for comfort, so I wouldn’t even consider trying to buy frames online.

[VillainV]

Feb 4, 2024 9:33:22 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

I have zero interest in a virtual try on. So I use Costco Optical and get 2 frames for the price of 1 at the optometrist.

I looked at Costco online (the closest one is further than I regularly drive) and they only had maybe 4 styles in my parameters , none of which came in colors I can wear in uniform. Maybe if I end up getting a “fun” pair I can keep these in mind for that, but I don’t think it will work for an everyday pair.

[elefun]

Oh, I like Zenni and get tons of compliments on my glasses and I got some cool prescription sunglasses too through them

[felicity]

I got my last glasses at Target and have been happy with them. I have a horrible time finding glasses that I think look decent so I prefer to try on in person.

[gemini79]

I am a regular of Rokas! I wear their sunglasses and just got a pair of prescription sunglasses. I love the brand. They are fantastic.

LOVE them. They are incredibly well made, comfortable glasses. The frames hold up and the lenses are awesome.

It was easy to order from them and you can try to do reimbursement...

They actually do have a return policy on prescriptions. It's like 10 days. They sent directions on returns and exchanges with my order. I was surprised bc I also thought you could not exchange prescriptions but you can.


I've worn warby parkers and Rokas have some similar lines/styles, but thier craftsmanship is a step up.


I wear my glasses every day...and I feel like I just divided the cost of them over 2 years..and then I justified that they aren't *that* expensive for something I wear everyday, so I need to like them.

[stemmie]

I try to support small business where I can.

I bring my prescription to an optician locally who does nothing but eyewear. He's pretty fashion-forward and carries a range of designers at different price points. He tends to seek out the next new design line and trends. So long as I follow his advice I always get compliments on my glasses. Plus, he uses Varilux progressives which are just better optics than most places use. I did try the Costco glasses/HD lenses which are highly regarded, but I couldn't adjust to them. Both my eye doctor and optician said they were filled properly.

What are the parameters to conform to uniform guidelines?

[VillainV]

Feb 4, 2024 12:05:18 GMT -5 stemmie said:

I try to support small business where I can.

I bring my prescription to an optician locally who does nothing but eyewear. He's pretty fashion-forward and carries a range of designers at different price points. He tends to seek out the next new design line and trends. So long as I follow his advice I always get compliments on my glasses. Plus, he uses Varilux progressives which are just better optics than most places use. I did try the Costco glasses/HD lenses which are highly regarded, but I couldn't adjust to them. Both my eye doctor and optician said they were filled properly.

What are the parameters to conform to uniform guidelines?

Black, brown, gold, or silver. I don’t like metal frames because the nose pieces hurt, so that leaves me with plastic or acetate with the molded nose piece. I feel like tortoise meets the intent of “brown” as long as it’s relatively uniform and not like a really light brown with very dark spots. The frames can’t have any ornamentation, and if there’s a logo on the lenses it has to be very small.

[Alex]

I'm struggling with this right now. I have a weird face and need the nose pads. There are so many more options when you can do the moulded plastic/acetate.
I also have limited myself by only wanting EasyClips or Takumis. They have the magnetic sunglasses toppers that I love. It is so much easier than carrying a full pair of sunglasses for me. I am a light sensitive squinter.
That said, I couldn't find a new pair that I like so I have ordered my current pair in a different color. I don't like change I guess.

[stemmie]

I think we've talked about this before.

If you can find an iGreen retailer, they have a lot of glasses that aren't boring in that color range. Mine are a thinner schoolboy frame with a keyhole bridge. They're medium tortoise fading to matte black at the temples. They have a tone-on-tone name on the arm that slips behind your ears. It comes with a magnetic clip on. The clip-on is Polarized, so not work appropriate for you. For the life of me I can't recall if my sunnies are matte black or tortoise. They've very light even when the clip on is on. They ran me around $225.

[VillainV]

Feb 4, 2024 14:34:59 GMT -5 stemmie said:

I think we've talked about this before.

If you can find an iGreen retailer, they have a lot of glasses that aren't boring in that color range. Mine are a thinner schoolboy frame with a keyhole bridge. They're medium tortoise fading to matte black at the temples. They have a tone-on-tone name on the arm that slips behind your ears. It comes with a magnetic clip on. The clip-on is Polarized, so not work appropriate for you. For the life of me I can't recall if my sunnies are matte black or tortoise. They've very light even when the clip on is on. They ran me around $225.

Ooo, I like these. It looks like we have a few stores that sell this line near me, I’ll have to see if I can get to one this week.

[BlondeSpiders]

I am an evangelist for Pair Eyewear. I have 15 or so toppers and I love switching them out. Talked my husband into getting them as well, and he independently chose the same frame style as mine, so now we share all our toppers.

I wish I gotten clear frames though; some of my toppers are not very opaque and my navy tortoiseshell tints the colors a bit.

I've found the quality to be terrific, personally. I do have to clean them more often, but I think it's because they're closer to my face. I had nose-pad glasses before these, and didn't have to clean as often but I had dents in my nose.

Also, I think I remember that you are a Cricuter? Check on Etsy for SVG files of every frame style. One common complaint I hear is that people don't like Pair's try-on feature, but the cut files will let you cut out all the frame shapes so you can see how they truly look on your face. 

[VillainV]

Feb 5, 2024 19:53:12 GMT -5 BlondeSpiders said:

I am an evangelist for Pair Eyewear. I have 15 or so toppers and I love switching them out. Talked my husband into getting them as well, and he independently chose the same frame style as mine, so now we share all our toppers.

I wish I gotten clear frames though; some of my toppers are not very opaque and my navy tortoiseshell tints the colors a bit.

I've found the quality to be terrific, personally. I do have to clean them more often, but I think it's because they're closer to my face. I had nose-pad glasses before these, and didn't have to clean as often but I had dents in my nose.

Also, I think I remember that you are a Cricuter? Check on Etsy for SVG files of every frame style. One common complaint I hear is that people don't like Pair's try-on feature, but the cut files will let you cut out all the frame shapes so you can see how they truly look on your face. 

Thanks for the review! I ordered Pair last night, figuring that I’d give it a try and I can return them if they don’t work. I actually thought their virtual try-on was better than almost anyone else I tried! But the proof will be in how the frames actually look on me.

I have found that lenses with the anti-reflective coating get smudged easily and need to be cleaned with a microfiber cloth (ie: a tissue or the hem of your t-shirt just smears it around more). I can definitely see how holding the topper (like the sunglasses topper) would make it smudgy because there’s not much else to hold onto.