Fortunately I don't need prescription glasses ... yet. However the spousal unit needs a new pair and I said "Why not look on-line, you might get a much better deal" So now I'm tasked with researching the procedure and reporting back. I know, should have kept my mouth shut.

I'm aware that Zenni has been mentioned before but other reputable vendors? What are the pros and cons particularly with progressive lens'. Experiences both good and bad would be appreciated.

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So spouse has never had progressives before?
The positives.... haven't quite tuned in on them yet, although I continue to like the idea of progressives. I think I have 3 kicking round now. The only selling point I recall reading was that somehow having lines on your lenses makes you look like an old fogey.
Negative-- you need to stick to glasses with large lenses otherwise the corrected area is going to be so compacted that they'll be harder than usual to get used to. And even then there's a learning curve because you have to learn to tilt your head for the right corrected area for the moment. Some people never seem to be able to adapt to that.
Zenni will give you 100% credit towards another pair if an order doesn't work out.

I like my Zenni progressives, chose a medium-sized lens.

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Black
So spouse has never had progressives before?

Yes her current pair are progressives with regular size lenses. I'll mention the advantages of larger lenses, thanks.

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Spock,

Previously, I would have said avoid Zenni at all costs because of poor quality, improperly made lenses and customer service that was so bad I put them on my <censored> list and marked them in a manner that they will _never_ be removed from it under any circumstances. They skewed glasses for several members of my family as well. The savings just ins't worth it.

Now, I'll also say avoid EyeBuyDirect.com. This is despite several great experiences with their glasses and customer service. The reason? They got the prescription correct but skewed the optical center of the lenses. This is bad and can result in issues with your eyes. It's unfortunate because I happen to like this particular company.

As a result, I'm sticking with a reputable local shop. My first time using them, I tried progressives and it didn't work out. No problems at all swapping them for single-vision glasses. I recently went back and got anotehr pair of cheap single vision glasses and a pair of sunglasses.

Robert

Think mine from Costco were $150?

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

It took me a long time to get used to progressives. I should be wearing them now but I bought a $15 pair of regular glasses from Zenni to check them out and have been wearing them for four years. (I got a new pair when my prescription slightly changed since they were so cheap.) So to read I just look over or under the lenses.

She may want to get a $15 pair of single vision glasses from Zenni to see how they go. If she gets progressives laws she'll have them as a backup.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2015 06:04PM by Dennis S.

The only negative with ordering progressives from Zenni, and I have been wearing progressives for many years, is that you can't adjust the size of the near, middle, and far parts of the lenses. I have gotten used to what they use, and I am OK with it, but when I could adjust, I usually asked them to make the near/reading section a little larger.

I have also found that I prefer to have a pair of computer, single vision, glasses, instead of having to tip my head back with my progressives.

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rgG
I have also found that I prefer to have a pair of computer, single vision, glasses, instead of having to tip my head back with my progressives.

OK, but if you're reading on the bus or train, and someone walks by that you have to, uh, you know, check out.... isn't it a bit awkward to peer over the rims?

Be aware that there are several types of progressive lenses. I got one of the cheaper options from Costco several years ago and never got used to them. The focal point for the lower lens is too small, so I always have to move my head to read.

It took me about 3 years to start to get used to them. I still have a problem avoiding things that I don't look at, because the depth of field changes between the upper and lower and I run in to things with my shins.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2015 06:30PM by Filliam H. Muffman.

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Black

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rgG
I have also found that I prefer to have a pair of computer, single vision, glasses, instead of having to tip my head back with my progressives.

OK, but if you're reading on the bus or train, and someone walks by that you have to, uh, you know, check out.... isn't it a bit awkward to peer over the rims?

I only use the computer glasses at my desktop, so unless they walk up to the door on my deck, I am good.

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Roswell, GA (Atlanta suburb)

I guess someone who easily adjusted to them and has no issues with their eyes could but I would never personally buy progressive glasses online. I have gone back and forth to a great local Optician a number of times because I couldn't handle them and he kept working to make adjustments until I could finally wear them. Since I count on my eyes to make a living I don't mind spending more. I don't think I could have adjusted to them without this Optician's continued help.

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JoeM

I've used progressives for about ten years, only local shops. As my eyes change with age, the "reading channel" has needed more correction and the need for accurate custom fitting goes up. I have no inclination to use an online source because there's no way to align the sweet spot in the lens to my eyes. They just have to go with some kind of average and hope for the best.

Friend of mine got progressives online and had to tilt his head down to see distances because the reading part was so high in the lens. Sent them back for a refund and is still waiting after months of waiting and many phone calls.

Might be worth checking out, for the price.

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My current pair of progressives are HDV lenses by Carl Zeiss with the real wide central corridor.
No hunting left/right for the sweet spot reading a book or sitting the proper distance away from my computer monitor.
I'll notice up/down getting out of focus pixel-peeping but 9/10 times I'm sitting too close to the monitor again and I just lean back a bit.


I don't know if I could get used to narrow corridor progressives again.
Plus these current lenses are super thin.


Zeiss normal/wide/HDV extra wide:
(pic is too wide for forum window)
[experiencevelocity.com]

Yeah, they're a bit pricey.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/2015 08:04PM by billb.

I've been using glassesUSA and eyebuydirect with no issues. Keep in mind that your local shop most likely sends your prescription out and they will be made by the same (un)skilled workers as the online shops use - you just get to pay more.

The hardest part for me is measuring the PD. Get you dr to do that if possible. If not what I do know is take a photo of my face with a metric ruler by my forehead. I then select the ruler in photoshop and move to my eyes to get a accurate measurement.

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I've used Zenni and Goggles4U for mail order glasses. Zenni has been fine for single vision, but I've had much better success with Goggles4u for my progressives. I recently purchased photochromic progressive from them for running and other outdoor activities. I can switch from my $500 glasses to the Goggles4u with absolutely no adjustment period or headaches, so they must mirror each other well. I get split PDs from my eye doctor (my eyes aren't equidistant from the center). However, so many folks are no longer buying glasses through him, I've heard he may start charging for the PDs in the near future.

Another great MRL thread for eyeglasses...!

For both my son and I, the formal eye test and prescription did not list the PD unless we specifically asked.

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TLB
I've used Zenni and Goggles4U for mail order glasses. Zenni has been fine for single vision, but I've had much better success with Goggles4u for my progressives. I recently purchased photochromic progressive from them for running and other outdoor activities. I can switch from my $500 glasses to the Goggles4u with absolutely no adjustment period or headaches, so they must mirror each other well. I get split PDs from my eye doctor (my eyes aren't equidistant from the center). However, so many folks are no longer buying glasses through him, I've heard he may start charging for the PDs in the near future.

TLB - can you elaborate more on how Googles4U were better for progressives than Zenni?

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TLB
... I've heard he may start charging for the PDs in the near future.

That would mean his practice is tied to the prescription side of the business and so he's hurting. I've often gone to independent optometrists. They share an office but don't really care if you buy eyeglasses from them.

That said, they'll be reluctant to provide the PD number(s) without a caveat because if / when eyeglasses don't fit correctly guess who gets the complaint?

My advice is to measure it yourself (with a ruler and a helper) and buy a very cheap set online. If everything checks out, you have your conformation that the PD is correct.

For both my son and I, the formal eye test and prescription did not list the PD unless we specifically asked.

This makes sense since that measurement is usually made by the person filling the prescription (optician), not necessarily the person giving the exam (opthamologist/optometrist).

That's not really necessary part of an exam or refraction.

I'm not sure how I feel about an examiner charging for the IPD measurement.

And when not done by whoever is filling the prescription, how does one know if the problem is with the IPD and whether or not the measurement was make correctly?


My advice is to measure it yourself (with a ruler and a helper) and buy a very cheap set online. If everything checks out, you have your conformation that the PD is correct.

I think this is the most logical way to go. If they check out great. If not, try again.

Using a ruler, pic, and PS is a great idea.

In the past, I've had about a 50% success rate in getting glasses ground properly on the first try. The only time one optometrist got it right first time (twice) was at a place called Foreyes in Berkeley, on Shattuck Ave, if memory serves.

The optometrist there was great, but he's at least retired by now. On my next 'script, I'll try Costco, and maybe take a ride to check out foreyes.

I've got lots of old frames, and most places seem to not want to use them if they didn't sell them originally, wanting you to spend more at their shop.

Anybody have a problem getting the temple length they need?

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TLB - can you elaborate more on how Googles4U were better for progressives than Zenni?

Bought a couple pair from each vendor over the past 4 years. I keep an active/outdoor pair and an every day/work pair. Even though my doctor recommends multiple sets of progressive be ground at the same lab from the same blanks, the every day pair usually comes from my eye doctor and the active pair mail order or warehouse club. I simply could not adjust to the Zenni glasses and had headaches whenever I wore them. I though perhaps the prescription or optical center was off but Zenni's recommendation was to wear them exclusively for at least a week. The Googles4U could be switched with my everyday glasses right out of the box. Maybe just coincidence or dumb luck but the G4U worked for me. YMMV.

Thanks for all the information. I will pass it on.

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One other thing-- make good and sure you have an idea how wide the bridge needs to be and how long the temple length needs to be. Had to return a pair because of both of these considerations.