Hacker News Reader

Comment by nickjj | Hacker News Reader

Do these online places include prescription lenses in their low quotes, because that's where the bulk of the cost is in most cases.

I picked up glasses at Costo in 2016 and the cost was $237 which included an exam. Here's the break down:

- $49 eye exam

- $39 for the frames

- $149 for the prescription lenses

- $0 hard case and a microfiber cloth (it comes as a bonus)

I paid a premium for the lenses because they are of the light weight material that's also scratch resistent and turn into sunglasses when exposed to UV light. The transition lens coating alone was like $49 but since I go outside a lot it's totally worth it.

View on HN

Yes. I recently bought frames from Zenni and paid $30 total, including an upcharge for an oleophobic AR coating (something I have not seen available offline).

These were 1.50 index cr-39 which is fine for my light prescription. But higher index lenses are only a few dollars more.

That seems incredibly cheap (in a good way). Almost too good to be true but I'll definitely look into that for my next pair.

I can't find my receipt so I don't know my exact prescription but I know it's single vision and I'm near sighted.

I'm not sure if I'd consider my prescription light, but I was eligible for the super thin lenses if that says anything.

On the other hand, it's just a piece of plastic machined in an automated process. Exactly the type of thing that has become nearly free in the modern age.

> become nearly free in the modern age

.. and/or insanely profitable if you can vertically consolidate the supply chain and exclude/delay competitors from your closed ecosystem, e.g. Apple and Luxottica.

Except for CR-39 (1.50), all plastics lenses (e.g. high index, poly, trivex) block 100% of UVA and UVB light, so any UV-blocking coating is unnecessary, https://www.eyecarebusiness.com/issues/2012/august-2012/a-lo...

It's also good for your eyes to have a small amount of UV exposure, at least a few mins per day, so take off your glasses for short periods when outside. Everyone who does not wear glasses and is not wearing sunglasses 100% of the time is receiving some UV exposure.

Do you have any scientific links which states having occasional UV exposure to your eyes is a good thing?

Natural light affects circadian rhythms. See also Seasonal Affective Disorder (less natural light in winter).

http://bjo.bmj.com/content/92/11/1439.full

This is a really nice link, thanks. Instead of an entire book I can point people to this article now! It does still seem unclear that some UV exposure is beneficial, though. Light therapy lamps aimed at affecting circadian rhythms are UV-shielded, and that seems to be sufficient.

Yes, I bought a pair of prescription sunglasses glasses and a pair of regular prescription from Zenni for less than $100 total.

That breakdown makes a lot of sense to me, with bulk of the cost going towards the lens.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com