Questions Abt. high index lenses I purchased today at lenscrafters?

Question

I went to lenscrafters today for a new set of eyeglasses and ended up purchasing new frames w/ their superview 1.67 high index lenses. My prescription is -7.00 and -7.50, which is why the salespeople suggested it. I paid $275 for the lenses and an extra $85 for AR which they told me had to be included w/ hi-index lenses as they won't sell them without it. I did some searching online, and it seems there are high index 1.74 available, and I was wondering if 1.67 high index was sufficient for my prescription. I purchased a thin, rectangular, metal frame and do not want the edges to protrude too much or be noticeable and wondered if aesthetically, the 1.67 lenses would be a good fit. Also, is there a signficant difference in thickness between the lenscrafter featherwates I've worn previously and the high index lenses I purchased today? I tried to ask the salespeople, but they couldn't give me a straight answer. Are high index lenses pretty durable, or do they scratch and shatter easily? And I was wondering if $275 + $85 AR was the normal going rate for high index lenses, or if lenscrafter just overcharges. The cost would have come out to almost $600 w/out my 30% BCBS discount, which just seems ridiculously exorbitant, and I was just wondering if it would have been cheaper if I visited a private optometrist for my eyeglass needs instead. Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

Honestly?  You would have been better off ANYWHERE but Lenscrafters.  In fact, Wal-Mart employs ONLY Licensed Opticians and has great prices.  Lenscrafters has a bad habit of charging you for things already included in a specific lens.  You may have been better off at a private OD, but financially speaking, you can't beat Wal-Mart.

Answer 2

With your prescription the 1.67 is adequate. The flatter surface needs AR. However, you CAN purchase it without the AR, just not at Lenscrafters. In my office the 1.67 would be about the same, but I would have suggested a better AR than they sell. Mine is $104, has a complete two year unconditional warranty against scratching, and if I had your specs of your frame, (THe eye size and the DBL) and your PD,   I could calculate the differences in thickness. Depending on your frame, it could have made a big difference or not. Sometimes the 1.74 is the better product, somethings the difference is negligible. At my private Dr.'s Office you would also have a liscensed optician (ME) and a 2 year unconditional warranty on your frame. At Lenscrafters, you will have to pay half of the price you originally paid to replace them under warranty. My frames start at $90 and go up over $800. Unlike the employees at Lenscrafters, I get paid NO commission. I get paid the same no matter what duties I perform, so that I can take care of what is BEST for you, not for my paycheck. Personally, I think you did ok, but next time do shop around and ask some questions of other places.  Lenscrafters feathers the nest of a pretty rich man who lives in Milan, Italy. He likes his sales people to sell you on all sorts of stuff, and they do not back up their products. Good optical stuff is expensive. It is not cheap if you want the  best for your vision, but you have to understand what you are getting and the best way is to shop around and ask not only about price, but warranty and what you are actualy getting. If they can not find out how to calculate thicknesses for you, they need training!

Answer 3

Personally, I would have chosen a small slightly rounded shape for you.  Reason---minus lenses are thicker at the edges as the frame gets wider.  A rounded frame takes more of the center of the lens blank, therefore your lenses would have a thinner edge to them.

As for the difference between the 1.67 and 1.74 hi index, don't sweat it.  Not that much difference for your script.

I just hope LC measured you for optical centers besides the pd's.

Answer 4

In my experience, Lenscrafters overcharges, and they do not back their product. I purchased lenses from them awhile back and they got cracks on the INSIDE. I have about the same prescription that you do and had the featherlights or whatever they call them. Lenscrafters would do nothing about the product (even though it was very obviously a product flaw) beings they were over a year old. I do not recommend that company.

That being said, I came across your question while trying to look up the differences in high index lenses myself and thought you might enjoy the website that I found. http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php

Eyeglasses (and frames) for $8 plus $37 for the high index? Seems like a good deal to me.

Only thing that stinks is that you cannot try them on. Normally (after my experience with Lenscrafters) I shop at Shopko optical and have had no problems there!