GLASS prescription lenses

[3930dave]

Has anybody been successfull recently (within the last year or so) getting bifocal or progressive lenses cut in GLASS ?

Locally I'm told that the only thing available (and even this is getting rare) is single prescriptions in glass (ie. distance OR reading, not both).

I'm in Canada, but this is rare enough that I'm looking globally - anywhere on the planet will do.

Rgds, D.

 

[kf4uda]

I don't think that they are available in glass at my optometrist. I wear progressive lenses and even if they were available in glass I couldn't use them. They would be way too heavy with my prescription. I get them in the lightest weight material possible.

 

[Locoweed]

I got 2 pair of glass lenses about a year ago, one progressive & one single vision. It's not popular you know, to have a product that lasts a long time. Plastic scratches much easier, so you get to replace them more often. More money for the Optometrist ya know. Send me a private message & I'll send you the optometrist's info. He had to special order them & I don't know if they are still available.

 

[Western]

I was told last year, glass was special order, so I'd imagine you can find them if it means that much to you. I went with the "plastic" since I wasn't paying for the extra cost.

 

[JakeBrake]

I've ordered my glasses online for years. When I'm dealing with a new online provider, I get a prescription from my ophthalmologist and mail the prescription and an old pair of glasses to the online company. The online provider will then have your frame size and prescription for future orders. I Have taken my online glasses to my ophthalmologist to verify that the prescription is correct. So far, so good. By the way my ophthalmologist does not sell glasses.

Personally, I can't imagine why you would want glass lenses, but Prism Optical has glass lenses listed in their online calatog. I have ordered glasses from Prism and the glasses have been very satisfactory. There are other online providers that are cheaper, but the other online provider that I have ordered from did not have glass lenses.

In my experience the online eyeglass providers are much cheaper than your local store. Also their websites are much more informative about their products than any local store.


Lens Information

 

[3930dave]

Thanks for the info folks, that is a help already. (PM sent Locoweed).

I never quite had "Coke bottles" happening with the old tech glass material, but once the High Refractive Index glass came along, I never gave the weight a second thought. Realizing.... I'm in the minority, more than one person couldn't understand how I could wear my old glasses..... never bothered me.

I can't say that I go out of my way to beat on my glasses, but I do wear them all the time and over the years have usually managed to get at least one noticeable scratch on even glass lenses - I know plastic would irritate me with the scratches I'd end up with.

Thanks again, D.

 

[PhysAssist]

Try Zenni.com

I know that the lenses we used in radiology were leaded glass for shielding, but no one who doesn't have to will wear them because they are so heavy.

THomas

 

[Locoweed]

I also use the high density glass. I never had a complaint about the weight of glass, even when big lenses were in style. I did have problems with the individual nose pads & after going to one piece I never had problems. I think I got 5 years use out of my last pair of glasses & yep, I'm not a gentle guy with them. IMHO, the younger generation wants something new (usually style) while I want quality that will last for awhile. Just a old foggy I guess.

 

[PILOON]

I have worn glasses for 55 yrs, always glass 'til 2 yrs ago.
Generally because of my hobbies and pastimes my lenses were all pitted but I insisted as I believed plastic lenses would be horribly pitted in no time at all.
SURPRISE! (now 2nd pr plastic lenses) and no pitting at all!
AND no longer red nose from irritation.
And being so much lighter they never slip down on my nose.
I buy at COSCO and on 2nd day of owning the last new pair being cautious I removed them and hung on a tree branch as I was heaving rocks about and wanted to be careful. A rock bounced, shook the tree, glasses fell and rock landed on the new glasses flattening them.
Cosco replaced them FREE under the 'all hazard' warranty. Can't beat that!

In sum, I would never go back to glass lenses!

Can also say (after yesterday) that they resist hydraulic fluid. (Took a hydraulic bath)

 

[tallyho8]

I am very nearsighted and have fairly thick lenses. I wear hard contact lenses and only use my glasses in the late evenings and other rare times. I got some glass Zeiss lenses because they are thinner and lighter than ordinary lenses about 30 years ago and as my eyes changed over time I finally got a new pair of Zeiss a year ago. They didn't tell me the new pair would be plastic. The new lenses are already more scratched up then my 30 year old pair. $500 for a set of plastic lenses and I could have gotten plastic lenses at Americas Best for $99.

If I ever get another set of lenses, they WILL BE GLASS.

Get glass lenses here: http://www.visionsofcanada.com/csi/awb/voc/high-myopia.asp#4