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Need advice about regular prescription glasses

Doug Hemken · · Madison, WI · Joined Oct 2004 · Points: 13,668

Bifocals are annoying when climbing, but you can get used to them.

Not having bifocals is annoying if you need to use a guidebook. Learn to do without (the guidebook!) You are of an age where the kids will respect you for being old school. You're not lost again, you're having an adventure!

If you need bifocals and occasionally cheat by looking at the guidebook (I've seen *other* people do this), you'll want to be able to look around/under the lenses on your face, so smaller lenses can actually be a plus.

You'll learn to cope with whatever system you go with and you'll always be annoyed at having crappy eyes. Shake your fist as you squint at the sky.

If you didn't realize getting old was going to be like this, well ... it's too late to do anything about it now.

Mark R · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 65

Be careful with really large lenses if you have a strong prescription. The lenses can get pretty heavy and will have a tendency to pull down your nose when you look down which can be annoying while climbing.

Mark E Dixon · · Possunt, nec posse videntur · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 974

Thanks for all the great beta!

I went to the Optician today and glasses are expensive. Lightweight photo gray progressive lenses in Sillhouette frames can cost $1000! That's getting towards Lasik prices.

I may just look at a pair of online, single focus beaters and see how they work out before I spend that kind of money on something I hope not to use too much.

teece303 · · Highlands Ranch, CO · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 596

Glasses are ridiculously expensive. I strongly suspect there is some kind of cartel pricing going on.

(As a point of reference, a nice pair of lenses with coatings and bifocals and decent frames will rival the price of a nice, pro-sumer, vibration-reduction zoom lens. There is no way in hell the glasses cost more to make, or even close, to the camera glass.)

alpinejason · · Minneapolis · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 176
Warby Parker

Can't say enough good things about these guys. Great business model. Great customer service.

$95 frames and lenses. Small upgrade for the high index lenses (for high prescriptions).

Don't pay stupid money for glasses!
Fat Dad · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 60

Mine were $500 with a discount. If you have AAA, places like Lenscrafters gives you a 30% discount on frames and lenses. Mine would have been far cheaper except that I paid extra for the thinner lenses. My prescription is strong enough where they'd be coke bottles if I didn't. Keep in mind that you can do the bifocals if you want to keep the cost down somewhat.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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