If anyone in your family has had glasses done at Union Eye Care, you should be eligible too, even if you do not belong to a union, or so I was told. 

If you have an auto club membership, it may entitle you to a discount that surpasses a store's best "deal" -- they will usually run the numbers both ways to see which is the better deal for you.

Frame styles are largely a matter of personal preference, but you will see what you like as you try frames on.  Pay attention to the different sizes of frames, and then you will need to determine how high you want the top of the frame and how low you want the bottom of the frame to be. 

Good luck!

I did what sunshinetreva did, sorta.  I was not clever enough to buy from a company that would service for free, but I did invest in a pretty expensive pair of titanium frames for around $300.  Last exam, I didn't get new frames, just new lenses.  I've had these for eight years.  The titanium is good, because if you crush the glasses (by sitting on them) you can usually bend them back into the original shape.  I've sat on these at least twice, once really bending them.

Prior to getting these nice onces, I went for the discount frames.  They didn't work so well for me, because they were harder to adjust and fit to my head (which is fat),  When they got crushed, they were toast.  Parts were not replaceable.  So I'd buy a new pair almost every year.

Presently, my titanium frames lenses are scratched, so I am wearing my backup glasses.  These are Drew Carey style frames I got from a flea market for $5.  They're durable - as many things sold used are - and look retro.  I asked them to pop out the lenses and put my prescription in.  That cost around $70 five years ago.

Thank you all for your advice. Ultimately, I decided to go with sunshine's MO. I found an attractive pair of frames, then added AR to the polycarbonate lenses. While the glasses cost much more than I anticipated, insurance took care of nearly half the bill. Ultimately, although the lens were expensive with the extras added on, I hope that this will still be cost-effective because the glasses will last a lot longer and be more comfortable. Furthermore, they made me look like a cute, sexy librarian/secretary type and not a total geek, which was my primary goal.

orbisongirl:

Furthermore, they made me look like a cute, sexy librarian/secretary type and not a total geek, which was my primary goal.

OMG!!!  That's totally how I felt when I bought mine!!!  I'm so glad I'm not the only one!  LOL

I have been nearsighted for most of my life and my prescription has become progressively stronger over the years.  As a result, the cost of my lenses has increased exponentially.  Under my old vision insurance plan, my last pair of eyeglasses cost approximately $700.  This included anti-scratch, reflective coating, no-line bifocals, and thin lenses.  These features are well worth the money, particularly the thin lenses.  With my current prescription, the lenses would be as thick as Coke bottles and the glasses would be very heavy.

A couple of years ago, my company changed our vision plan so that we can now go to places like Wal-Mart, Target, etc. to buy eyeglasses.  I decided to do some research on the Consumer Reports website.  Their research stated that Costco was the best place for price and service among large chain retailers.  They earned the same rating as a doctor's office or private optical store.  Most importantly, another report that I read in the news stated that of the large chains, Costco made the lenses exactly as the doctor had prescribed them. 

With this in mind, I went to Costco last year for new eyeglasses.  The service that I received was excellent.  The total (frames & lenses) was $138, a huge reduction from my previous purchase of $700!! I have been wearing these eyeglasses for almost a year and have had no problems.  The only thing I might change next time is to buy frames elsewhere since I thought that the frame selection at Costco was very limited.

I have had photochromatic lenses in the past and did not like them because they seemed to stay too dark in rooms with fluorescent lighting.  I have been buying wraparound sunglasses that fit over your regular eyeglasses, which I like very much, particularly in cold or windy weather, since the wind cannot blow into your eyes to irritate them.  Walgreens carries them for about $20 and they are well worth the price. 

i go to this website fatwallet.com and in their hot deals section there is a store online called

Zenni Optical
27 Sunny Oaks Dr.
San Rafael, Ca.94903
Phone 1-800-211-2105
Fax 1-415-491-4516
service@zennioptical.com

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/231255/ 

this webpage has all the info and it seems alot of people have bought from them, all you need is your prescription and measurements. I haven't bought there but from all the pages it seems worthwhile to look into it.

 Just FYI, I've used Zenni recently and love them.  Prices are SUPREMELY inexpensive... bought two pair (of cute glasses) for less than $30.  I highly recommend them.  HOWEVER, I've worn glasses forever and was confident in what I needed.  I wouldn't recommend online ordering for the a first-time purchase of specs.  

Dear All, This year, Medi-Cal (Medicaid) is allowing members to buy 2 pairs of glasses (every other year).  I am getting one pair of reading/computer glasses & one pair of street glasses.  My current reading glasses (wich is all that I have now) makes it impossible for me to recognize anyone until I am nearly "on top of" the person.  I hate bifocals, so am getting the 2 pair.

Medi-Cal offers a nice selection of frames (I'm getting the same, flattering, frame in 2 distinct colors).  The lenses are plastic.  You have to pay extra for scratch-resistance (I'm not payig) & for a hard-sided glasses case (I'm paying for one; I have one already).  I have room in my new Jil Sander tote bag to carry the spare pair.

I have a pair of sunglasses for distance wearing; I've been naughty about them & haven't been wearing them, but I'm developing cataracts & really must get into the habit.

Yours in Him, Deb

Go online!

If you want to buy the cheapest  eyeglasses, go to zenni

If you want to buy trendy eyeglasses at reasonable price, go to Opticalchic

WalMart glasses in this region are run by America's Best, a franchise out of Texas.  Their basic no-frills glasses usually run 2 pr for $59, including exam.  Call 1-800-twopair and you can locate one.  Bifocals cost more so I generally do one bifocal for driving and one computer pair. 

I can't afford titanium frames or the frills.  Metal frames consistently fall apart on me so I get plastic and have good wear out of the cheapest--and I wear them every waking minute.