I understand the struggle. You need help with reading, but you also want frames that look stylish. The P57317 Ultralight Round Photochromic Reading Glasses appear fantastic in photos, promising a featherlight feel and lenses that adapt to sunlight.
In my rush to buy them, I made five major errors. Learn from my experience to avoid wasting money and protect your vision with your next pair of cool reading glasses.
I was determined to save every penny and chose a seller based solely on the lowest price. This was a significant oversight. When it comes to products that affect your eyesight, a low price often reflects poor quality control.
The frames might appear identical, but budget sellers frequently compromise on lens quality. This means your +2.00 diopter lenses might not be accurately calibrated.
Verdict: Avoid the absolute cheapest version of the P57317 style. Quality optics require a slightly higher investment. Seek out sellers who verify the use of TR90 material and precision diopter manufacturing.
The product name P57317 highlights 'Tr90 Optical.' TR90 is a flexible, durable, and lightweight material—exactly what you want in reading glasses. However, a seller claiming to use TR90 doesn't guarantee high-quality material.
I overlooked signs that the plastic felt thin and brittle, focusing only on the 'ultralight' feature. I should have paid closer attention to the hinge construction in customer photos.
Action Step: Inspect the hinge quality. High-quality TR90 glasses should feature sturdy metal hinges securely screwed into the frame. Avoid models with plastic-on-plastic hinges whenever possible.
Reading glasses must provide the correct lens strength. Even a slight deviation can lead to eye strain or headaches. I mistakenly assumed mass-produced lenses would be accurate.
The primary function of reading glasses is to help you read clearly. If the strength is incorrect, they become practically useless.
Lesson Learned: Read customer reviews that specifically mention vision strength. If multiple people complain about inaccurate diopter ratings (like +1.00, +2.00, etc.), avoid that seller entirely.
The P57317 frames feature photochromic lenses, which darken when exposed to UV light (sunlight) and clear up indoors. This sounds ideal, but I misunderstood how they function.
I expected them to transform into full sunglasses instantly. They don't. The transition takes time, and they rarely become as dark as dedicated sunglasses.
I often found myself indoors with partially darkened lenses, which made reading difficult.