There are so many more options these days for buying prescription eyeglasses, I recommend just getting a normal pair for a spare.

This spring I bought three pair at Costco for what my normal eye doctor would have charged for one pair (bit over $500).

Took my eye doc's prescription to Costco, where there was less selection on frames but plenty in the style I wanted. To my surprise, my favorite pair of frames were just $49. The most I paid for a frame at Costco was $123 (Giorgio Armani). Lenses (high-density but not progressive) for each pair were about $80.

I was planning on getting two pair but turns out Costco gives you $25 off each additional pair so I went for the third. And they were ready for pickup in five days.

Now I have a brand-new pair as a spare and they are kept in my car's glove compartment.

Brutal competitive environment for small business optometrists. Sweet deals for consumers.



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