The one thing I would say is that scratch resistant lens are a must. I once bought a pair that didn't have the scratch resistant and they were all but useless within six months. I have very good close up vision and need glasses for driving and the like. I don't wear them for work but at other times I have to take them off if I'm looking at stuff that's only a few feet away, so they end up on top of my head, with the arm dangling from my mouth or on the ground and this is why they tend to take a bit of a beating. Without the scratch resistant I would be forever renewing the lenses.

I'm not gonna talk about my experience with eye glasses as they have pros and cons just like what I'm gonna suggest. I got pinhole glasses a few weeks ago and they work wonders. However I don't know about long term yet. I read tons of reviews before I got them of long term use and it really depends on the person.

From personal use pinhole glasses reduce the amount of light that hits your retna making it easier for you to relax your eyes and see clearer at a distance. They reduce your peripheral vision (at least the glasses I got do) only cost $2 and being near sighted these were a great investment. I got a pair in bulk and seeing how my friends and neighbors like it. So far everyone likes it except for small indoor use and nights lol. I'd recommend to give these a try before you spend $60+ on a pair of glasses. Tons of good reviews on this being a good natural alternative to eyeglasses, and tons of people have seen massive improvements with their vision. I can not make and long term claims though, but it is a suggestion you may consider.

I have been to a place like that here in Australia. I have only had to wear glasses for about 14 years.
Shops' name is 'SpecSavers'. They sell 2 for a small price too but they always try to put on extra and extra. Must be how they make their money.
I think it is important that you look after your eyes so if you can afford it go for the best.

I have a pair of pinholes too Mike and under certain conditions, they work fine but not for me on computer screens.

I thing that "O" had the best advice! "I think you'd be better off going to a private optometrist." I went for years to storefront operations. I didn't seem to have any problems. A friend convened me to go to his which was like a regular doctors office. He found that I had cataracts and recommended that I have them removed. Apparently I have had them for some time but at the other place it was never mentioned. I don't heed any glasses now, and everything is much brighter in the world with better colors.

Cataract Surgery works great for most people. Especially for distance. Most people will still need readers though for up close.
In my case, the cataract surgery worked great but in the meantime I developed double vision where when I drove a car, everything split and I would see 4 white lines instead of two. the same thing when I watched TV. Everything was double. I ended up with special prisms made right into my new glasses which took care of the double vision but I still have to wear glasses, both to drive and to read. I got a pair of prescription sunglasses at the same time so between the two, it came to over $1000. That isn't counting the eye exams, which is covered here in Ontario.

Bottom line, your are correct, when it comes to the eyes, go to a licensed optomitrist, you won't get a second set.

I don't wear eyeglasses (yet) but I once did a high school project where I interviewed an ophthalmologist in depth. I can still recall him saying that you should always get at least two independent opinions on your vision correction. He said one of the most common mistakes made by optometrists is "close enough" meaning they are in such a hurry to complete the examination that they often miss on the lens correction by .5. He said that in addition to headaches and other issues, over two years (the recommended time between new lens prescriptions) that the wrong lenses can cause a marked difference in vision and actually accelerate the need for a stronger prescription. If it's me I'm taking his advice on the two or three independent prescriptions. The last thing I want is a minor issue turning into a major one because some optometrist cares more about rushing through someone who refuses to pay a fortune than he or she does about the patient's vision.

Thanks for all the great input and suggestions.

The Doctor that I saw was licensed and the test seemed rather thorough, so If I went to someone else, who gave different results, I'd still not be sure which Doctor has made the better diagnosis.

I do wish I could buy the best of the best but sometimes, you can't afford the new Cadillac and you just have to go with a beat up Pinto.

I'm supposed to get the glasses later this week so Ill know then whether the prescription actually improves my vision, or not. If not, I'll just put the glasses aside and try again, at some other time.

When i got my last exam my Dr told me one pupil was deforming into an oval shape. No idea what that meant but i was prescribed glasses that brought my vision back to 20/20 BUT one lens is coke bottle thick.

This caused a great problem when welding because everything magnified and my one bad eye (white) would get blistering red. Needless to say i no longer mig weld.

I know what you mean about scratch resistant also. never again will i buy a pair without that option.

Just picked up the glasses and I'm pretty impressed. The readers are excellent, best I've ever had and the far vision pair makes a huge difference when looking at the monitor from 7' away. The text and graphics on here are crisp and vibrant with these specs and quite fuzzy without them. This really confirms that I definitely do need glasses.

Next time around, I'll probably go for a little higher quality. The lenses on these cheapos are not very thick, as they suggested they might be. I guess my prescription is just not that strong.

Thanks for the input. Your suggestions and opinions have been very informative.

Lovely Tux, welcome to the over "40" group.

That would be the over 50 group.

Those are some stylish specs, huh?

I went with frames that didn't have those tabs on 'em that pinch your nose. I never liked those tabs on sun glasses so I avoided the tabs with these glasses. I think maybe I'll go with larger lenses next time.

I knew that...lol but 40 is supposed to be when it is down hill all the way from there,
I have the tabs on mine. I always have trouble with them sliding down my nose so the tabs are easily adjusted to make them sit up better. Anyway, the most important is thing now is that you can see well without straining and that they are comfortable. woo hoo.