Why Are Eyeglasses So Expensive- Yahoo Answers

The number one question I get asked from friends and strangers- is ‘Why are Glasses So Expensive?’ This is from Yahoo- what do you think?

Why are eyeglass frames so expensive?

I’m pricing eyeglasses for the first time in many years and I cannot get over the fact that they cost 100, 200 300 and sometimes much more. I know they are made to be adjusted in different places, but they are just plastic and metal. Then the lens price is added on and that’s crazy expensive, too. After an eye exam, contact lens fitting/purchase and eyeglass frames and lenses – a person could spend $700 to $1000. Why?

Best Answer – Chosen by Asker

these are all MY OPINIONS…but…there are multiple reasons:

1) the cost of multiple “remakes” and “warranty” replacement is built into the cost of the frame & lenses. something like 15% of all glasses purchases have to be re-done or totally replaced for one reason or another. most of the “warranty” replacement really shouldnt be “warranteed”. its patients driving over their glasses, sitting on them, etc etc but they gripe enough that we have to take it back and replace it for nothing.

2) there is no money in contact lens sales anymore

3) there is not very much money in examination fees anymore

so of you buy glasses at a private practice, you’re paying for the doctor’s student loans, staffing, rent, overhead, materials, expensive equipment, etc etc etc with your glasses purchase. for the record i drive a 1999 dodge pickup, not a lexus or anything

Source(s):

optometrist

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-wSz1Uw8ha…

I think this explains it – it’s overhead! The frames themselves probably cost nothing to make. I found the Kate Spade frames I wanted online for 1/3 the price of the store and will still pay $100 for the frames and $200 for the progressive lenses. Grrrr!

Frames can be pricey – especially if you’re someone who has to have designer labels. EVERYONE who’s ANYONE in the fashion industry has a frame collection – Prada, Armani, Versace, Calvin Klein, Hilfigger, Donna Karen, Kate Spade, Ferregamo and Dolce & Gabana – to name a few. And these are probably some of the most expensive names in fashion AND eyewear. I think some people are of the mentality that “well, its just a pair of glasses.” How many women do you know who would spend hundred’s on a D&G handbag or a Kate Spade handbag if they could? Or hundreds on a pair of Prada shoes? There are people out there who have very expensive tastes and only want the best. But having that type of lifestyle has a hefty price tag that most of us normal folks cannot afford. Heck, I’m an optician and even with my employee discount, I couldn’t afford those names! LOL But if I could, I would…

Yes, the frames are more expensive because they are a designer brand, but the quality of the frames is also better. The designs of the frames are very unique and the attention to detail on them is incredible compared to budget frames. Pay close attention to the solder points on an Italian designer frame – you often times can’t even see the solder points. On a regular frame, you can see them. Look at the hinges and how the pattern lines up exactly when the temple are is opened. Its little things like that that make the frame a higher quality. Also, the material that the frame is made out of is better quality. They use more stainless steel and titanium.

And depending on your prescription, your lenses may actually wind up costing more than your frames, like the person above me mentioned. Single vision lenses, with all the upgrades and extras can run almost $300. Progressive bifocal lenses with the extra options, such as ordering them as Transitions in a polycarbonate material, with the anti-reflective coating, can run you almost $500. So even if you got the cheapest frame you found, it would still be $500 for them.

I have worked in an Ophthalmologist’s office as their Optical manager and I’ve found glasses usually cost more there than they do if you go to a non-private doctor’s office, or even a national chain. Also, boutiques tend to carry mostly all high-end product, so if you’re finding it to be a little too salty for your budget, than try a Pearle Vision or a Lenscrafters and see if you can find something a little more modestly priced. But beware, sometimes you really do get what you pay for. Inexpensive lenses can sometimes mean poor quality material and coatings that scratch VERY easily and cheap frames can break with just normal wear and tear over a few months…just be careful!!

Good luck and I hope you find something!!!

Source(s):

Certified Optician w/10 yrs. exp.

For the same reason some clothes are expensive: The designer “snob” appeal of frames that say “Cartier” or “Versace”. My most recent eye exam and new glasses were nearly $700 when all was said and done. I don’t wear contacts — it’s strictly eyeglasses, but my lenses were actually the most expensive part of the whole thing — nearly $400.

am amazed about the eyeglass + frame prices too, since I moved to the USA.

They are just making a massive amount on overpricing them.

When I was living in the Netherlands, I used to get a pair of glasses, complete, for a $140, prescription an all ready and very good quality.

I still wear the ones I bought last year august and I always had new ones every other year to change the style.

It seems almost impossible here, unless you have a very decent income or health plan. my father is on health plan there that allows him to have a new pair for free every other year, but only from certain places.

Edit: I wanted to add that eye exams are always free there, if I was doubting about my prescription, I would run in for them to check me up, now I can’t do it, although I feel I might need an adjustment.

Yeah. What a rip-off. I can buy glasses at the market, X1.5, X2.0, X2.5 etc for a couple of dollars each. Nothing wrong with the frames & they come with lenses for that price!

I know, it’s ridiculous. I last bought glasses about 3-4 years ago, and with the lenses they cost $575 – and they were on sale! I didn’t even buy designer frames. When I was a kid, my dad’s insurance payed 100% – which was good because my prescription changed every year back then! I feel bad for people who have no insurance and honestly can’t afford to pay $500+ for a bit of metal and plastic.

ll where i work we have frames starting at $18 going up to $128…lens in a polycarb single vis. are 110 going to 160 for hi-index. Now when you get to bi-focals is where you see the increase, but still 210-275 is the range for a no-line bi-focal. So its all a matter of where you shop. A good word of advice, Dr. offices are going to be alot more expensive, same with places like lens craters, try finding a shopko or a wal-mart and you can drastically drop those prices down.

Edit: Forgot to add, places like wal-mart already come with all the coatings :uv, No-glare(AKA Anti-reflective), and scratch reisitant coatings. And lens are made by companies such as Nikon and Ziess

Source(s):

Optician

usually get my glasses for $200 – $300. That includes progressive lenses (lineless bifocals) and transitions lenses (photogray). I spend a day or two shopping around for the best deals that still get me a set of frames that I like. Of course, now that I think about it, I forget how much my insurance pays.

he company pays the designers, the company sells it to the eye doctors for even more money, then the eye doctors sell them for more, so they make a profit. Its the designers that effect the price the most. <<This is what i guessed.. but i really dont know why they cost so much.

Source(s):

my imagination

Alrighty then…prices are high for eyeglasses, sometimes. Consider that when you go to an optical shop, a private one, not a chain store…consider the expertise of the optician. Also, consider the materials used for the frames. Why is a titanium frame priced at $125, then you find one priced for $210? There are different grades of material. There are at least 15 grades of titanium, at least 10 grades of plastic.

Do you want a frame made out of buffalo horn? How about wood? How about a precious metal? With jewels?

All things come at a price…how much would you pay for a tattoo? Car stereo? How about a necklace?

Every store that sells something sells for a profit pr else they would not be in business very long.

I had a man ask me to justify the cost of a $200 frame…after telling him of material costs, research and development, maufacturing costs and overhead, he still couldn’t justify the cost. I asked him what kind of car he drove and he stated it was a Lincoln. I then asked him to justify the cost when a Ford Taurus had the same things for $15,000 less. He stated his car was “comfortable”. I came back with “it’s also the same with frames”.

Source(s):

optician for 19 years

They are so expensive because people HAVE to buy them, so they can get away with making the price SO high

Source(s):

My mom wears glasses (is looking for some new frames right now and running into the same problem.)

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