By Dr. Richard Carlin
Just like with any purchases, you can buy cheap glasses. But here are some problems to look out for:
First, optical shops that sell low-cost frames are often selling “seconds”; frames with imperfections or that did not pass quality testing. Hairline cracks in the plastic or metal, weak or poorly constructed hinges or nose pieces, can lead to early breakage, meaning more inconvenience and incurred expenses for repairs. Cheap frames may also be out-of-date models or those no longer being manufactured. As such, patients sacrifice style and appeal and if they break, parts may not be available necessitating purchase of another new frame.
Second, there is a great variation in quality of optical lenses. Economical lower quality lenses may have waves or distortions which can result in less clear vision, eye strain and headaches. Bifocal lenses, especially progressives, may not be “premium” quality and have design flaws such as narrow or almost absent corridors leading to poor intermediate vision or small reading areas making it hard to find a “sweet” spot through which reading is possible. Therefore, daily visual tasks become more difficult and more stressful.
Finally, shortchanging on the expertise of the dispensing optician can make a BIG difference. A less experienced, less skilled optician, or in the case of an on-line order in which the consumer becomes the optician, can lead to a frame that does not fit the structure of the face, not properly support the lens, or a bridge type that slips or is uncomfortable. Having an expert help select a style that optimizes your appearance and proper measurements of eye size, bridge size and temple length ensures the frame will look and feel good. Also measurements of optical centers, segment heights, pantoscopic tilt, frame wrap, vertex distance, etc., if not done accurately, can lead to glasses that provide less than perfect vision and other eye symptoms.
With eyeglasses, it seems you tend to get what you pay for. So the question is – are “cheap” glasses really worth it? Since your eyes are one of your most valuable senses, shouldn’t you deserve the best?