If you rely on reading glasses, you know the routine. You begin with the most affordable pair available, perhaps grabbing them at the pharmacy checkout. They cost around $20, work for a week, and then everything falls apart.
I went through three tiers of readers before I finally discovered a pair that lasted. My journey took me from cheap, headache-inducing plastic to finding genuinely high-quality reading glasses. The price increase was modest, but the improvement in quality was immense.
I need reading glasses for computer work and detailed tasks. When I first started using them, I assumed all lenses were created equal. I was mistaken. The inexpensive ones gave me headaches, felt uncomfortable on my face, and looked unattractive.
I needed better clarity, a better fit, and greater durability. I grew tired of replacing my glasses every month and decided to calculate how much I could save by spending a little more upfront.
My first pair cost $20 and lasted only three weeks. These glasses were light, but not in a good way—they felt like brittle plastic. The lenses were often blurry around the edges. I opted for a standard transparent far-sight presbyopia style, but the execution was poor.
This is where frustration sets in. You keep purchasing cheap glasses and keep losing money. They never feel secure or comfortable on your face.
Verdict: Avoid this stage. You'll end up spending more on replacements than you save initially.
I upgraded to $40 glasses, typically bought online from larger discount sites. They promised HD lenses or anti-blue light coatings. They were... acceptable.
The frames were often metal or slightly thicker plastic, lasting about four or five months before needing replacement. This phase taught me that while product quality can be decent, the buying experience can be a nightmare. I learned a lot about poor customer service here.
On one occasion, I paid extra for express shipping, expecting quick delivery. I was essentially scammed—the package still took weeks to arrive. When I tried to contact the company, I encountered some of the worst customer service I've ever experienced.