Another person from Boston!
My last two pairs of Oakley prescription glasses have been off the web. I don't have eye insurance, so I tried to find a way to save some cash and get the most durable frames I could find.
Lencrafters quoted me $490 for my latest frame and another $500+ for the lenses. The lenses were just polycarbonate, high-index, with AR and transitions. I bought my latest pair off Glasses.com for $340.XX TOTAL. Exact same frame, same lenses. I paid almost $700 less! They came in a week and were perfect.
My previous pair (lasted me almost 6 years, still perfect) I got off framesdirect.com a few years ago. Again Lenscrafters quoted almost $900 for the pair and I paid under $400.
Even if I had eye insurance, my co-pay would have been higher than what I paid online.
My dad just got a pair of rimless progressive bifocals last week. He was quoted over $1,200 at Lenscrafters. $790 for the lenses! He paid only $350.XX at glasses.com for his glasses also.
I highly recommend two sites. ONLY these twos. I've done so much research on this. They have the best reputation and are 100% legit. Glasses.com and framesdirect.com. You don't have to settle for the crappy frames they sell in-stores or LC.
Good luck, any other questions, feel free to ask!
EDIT:
Couple tips
- make sure you have your prescription from your doctor and it lists PD (pupil distance). You NEED this. You can't order glasses anywhere without it. Upside is that your doc can measure it in like 30 seconds
- best way to buy online is to go to your local Lenscrafters. Once you find what you like, write down the model and size of it. Some frames come in multiple sizes.
- I was told my doctor that the frames that last the longest and are the most durable are: Oakley, Maui-Jim, Silhoutte (sp?), Ray-Ban, Nike, and Burberry. They are worth the extra cost in the long-rim.
- Then search for it on framesdirect or glasses.com. Glasses.com has been running tons of promotions recently because they're trying to get recognized. (They're owned by 1800 contacts)
http://www.retailmenot.com/view/glasses.com -> 50% off lenses and $20 off $150. You can stack both coupons
- After you get the glasses and need to get them adjusted, Lenscrafters does it for free, so you don't have to worry. I've been to the Brookline one to get my frames adjusted many times.
- best part is that, if you don't like them, they'll take them back. No fees at all.