I’m currently wearing a good pair of reading glasses – the lenses are great and the frames are excellent but the inferior lens coating is making it difficult for me to see through them as the coating has been bombarded with fine scratches. I have no doubt that this pair would have been better off with no coating at all.
One of the biggest problems with budget glasses is that the lens coatings can be less than ideal. Nothing wrecks a good pair of glasses more than an inferior lens coating that wears of or scratches after a few weeks of wear.
I did a review of my distance glasses about 7-8 months ago after buying them from Optical4Less. My review was reasonably positive but over time I have discovered that these glasses are in fact far superior than any other cheap glasses that I have purchased on the internet. My review suggested that the frames might not last the distance as the nose pads broke off.
Well, I have dropped these glasses, I have walked on them and bent them back into shape and they have been great. The lenses have been fanststic and not one scratch on them which is remarkable as I am very rough with them. Optical4less did replace the nose pads and I have not had a problem since and because of this service and quality I have no hesitation in recommending Optical4less.
My suggestion when buying glasses online is to ensure you know that the lens coating is quality as a poor coating can really stuff up a good pair of specs and it is probably good advise not to buy the frames from the cheapest selection – pay just a few dollars more to get a better quality frame as those cheap brittle frames will cause you grief in a short period of time.
I have given Optical4less a good rating in this article but I am sure there are other online retailers that also have good lens coatings – please let me know of other retailers who supply good lenses that don’t scratch.
Buying a new pair of prescription glasses can often be an experience similar to buying a used car. The basic price might seem reasonable but then you add the lenses price and things start getting out of control. The sale person then tells you all about the other things that you need – UV coating, anti scratch coating, anti reflection coating etc. Those $120 frames are now costing you about $350 … and this is for basic frames with single distance lenses.
.... all of a sudden the price of those $120 frames are now closer to $600
When buying a new or used car at least you are prepared … you know that the sale person is just a sale person and he/she may or may not know too much about the car. You also know that the sale person is going to try and extract every dollar out of you that he/she can. You are prepared for a fight and you are going to get th best deal that you can. But with prescription glasses it seems to be different. We often feel that the sale person is a professional, who has superior eyecare knowledge, and really wants the best for us ….. so are defences are down and we agree that the Transitions super index lens are best for us and all of a sudden the price of those $120 frames are now closer to $600 – are’nt you glad you did’nt buy those designer frames at $350.
Make no mistake, prescription glasses and their accessories are very high profit items and your friendly eyecare professional is making over $400 on that $600 deal … and that’s after his/her overheads. Maybe we should’nt be so harsh on the used car saleman.
Buying eyeglasses online is a little different as you make the choices yourself and if you want all those extras you can see the costing as you go (some of those extras are also free online) … nice and easy, no stress and no pressure. The prices that you pay are considerably less and you can get a basic pair of glasses for under $50 and that’s puts a big smile on my face 
The best part of buying your prescription glasses online is that it forces you to learn about your glasses. You don’t have that sale person leading you along – you are learning and you are making the decisions … and that has to be good!
SPECIALTY LENS PARTNERS WITH TRANSITIONS TO ADD POLARIZED PHOTOCHROMIC SUNLENS TO iRx® POLAROID® LINE
New iRx® Polaroid® Transitions® SOLFX™ Sunlenses Offer
Enhanced Visual Performance for Outdoor Activities
PALM HARBOR, Fla., March 18, 2009 – Specialty Lens Corporation is partnering with Transitions Optical, Inc. to add new polarized photochromic sunlenses to its iRx® Polaroid® prescription line. The iRx® Polaroid® Transitions® SOLFX™ lenses will be available in two colors and in single vision 1.50 plastic, the new product combines the polarized technology of iRx Polaroid with the advanced photochromic technology of Transitions® SOLFX™ sunlenses to offer enhanced visual performance for outdoor activities.
Like all Transitions SOLFX sunwear products, the new lenses change from dark to darker in sunlight – providing patients with the right color and tint for optimal performance in varying light conditions. The iRx Polaroid polarized technology works to further enhance visual comfort by improving contrast and reducing blinding glare from sunlight reflected off the surface of objects, water or snow. The lens also helps protect against harmful UV rays by blocking 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays.
“Through our iRx Polaroid line, our philosophy has always been to provide a polarized option to meet virtually any patient need,” said Pascal Gery, president, Specialty Lens Corporation. “We are pleased to partner with Transitions Optical to introduce our first polarized photochromic product in two color options to help wearers achieve the ideal tint and darkness, whether they’re boating, skiing, hiking or just spending time outdoors.”
Color options include an ash gray to darker gray lens – which transmits colors evenly and allows for true color recognition in bright light and heavy glare situations such as fishing, running, driving, rock climbing and reading outdoors, and a caramel brown to darker brown lens – which improves contrast and depth perception in situations such as motorcycling, fishing, golfing, hiking and mountain biking.
“By combining the Transitions SOLFX sunwear technology with the iRx Polaroid polarized technology, we’re able to meet the unique visual demands of even more consumers,” said Grady Lenski, director, Transitions sunwear. “In the sun or in the shade, the new lenses help wearers look great, see better and perform at their best while they’re doing what they enjoy most.”
New iRx Polaroid Transitions SOLFX sunlenses are available in prescriptions ranging from -7.00 to +6.00. For more information, visit www.irxlens.com or www.Transitions.com/Sunwear.
About Specialty Lens Corporation
Specialty Lens Corporation, a subsidiary of Essilor of America, is one of the leading manufacturers of polarized lenses providing the optical industry with the most comprehensive polarized lens offering in the U.S. Its innovative lens technology and comprehensive product portfolio have propelled Specialty Lens into the forefront of the polarized lens arena.
iRx® Polaroid® is well-known for its industry-leading availability of lens styles, materials and colors. iRx Polaroid products are available in 14 colors and five lens materials, allowing eyecare professionals to recommend a specific lens that best meets each patient’s needs, whether motivated by fashion, optics, performance, comfort or safety.
For additional information, visit www.irxlens.com or call (888) IRX-LENS.
About Transitions
Transitions Optical, Inc., headquartered in Pinellas Park, was the first to successfully commercialize a plastic photochromic lens in 1990. As the leading provider of photochromics to optical manufacturers, Transitions Optical offers the most advanced photochromic technology in the widest selection of lens designs and materials.
Transitions Optical’s core product line, Transitions® lenses, are the #1-recommended photochromic lenses worldwide. As higher-performing everyday clear lenses, Transitions lenses change from clear indoors and at night to sunglass dark outdoors in proportion to the intensity of UV light. Transitions Optical also offers several special-purpose dynamic sun lenses that change from a tinted state indoors to a darker state outdoors when activated by UV light. These lenses are marketed as Transitions® SOLFX™ sunlenses.
Transitions Optical has manufacturing operations in Pinellas Park; Tuam, Ireland; Laguna, Philippines; Sumare, Brazil and Chonburi, Thailand. Sales offices are located in Cambridge, Canada and nine other countries.
For more information about the company and Transitions lenses, the first to earn the American Optometric Association’s Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbers/Blockers, visit Transitions.com or contact Transitions Optical Customer Service at (800) 848-1506 (United States) or (877) 254-2590 (Canada).
