| Prescription eyeglasses. It’s a need 72% of | | | | “Why should eyeglasses cost so much? |
| Americans have, and chances are, you or | | | | Buying eyewear should be a democratic process |
| someone you know will go through the process | | | | and affordable to everyone,” says CEO Roy |
| of purchasing them sometime in your/their life. | | | | Hessel. Companies like his are able to sell trendy, |
| However, there are issues that prevent us from | | | | top-notch prescription frames starting as low as |
| getting what we really want, and sometimes | | | | $14.95 USD because they have lean organization |
| buying a frame with pre-prescribed lenses from | | | | structures with the lower overhead costs from |
| Walmart or Costco seems to be the easiest and | | | | being online. “I was really pleased with the |
| most efficient way. | | | | quality of the glasses I bought from Frames |
| The truth is, our eyes, those windows to the | | | | Direct. For $90, including shipping, I got glasses |
| world, deserve much more than a cheap | | | | that I would have paid $300 for anywhere |
| investment and a hasty decision; opting for | | | | else,” said Gary Morison of New York, New |
| cookie-cutter craftsmanship could end up causing | | | | York. |
| considerable damage, costing us many times the | | | | But there is one more obstacle that is keeping |
| price of our original glasses. If only we | | | | customers from the advantages of glasses on-line |
| weren’t that cheap. | | | | purchasing: the “touch and feel” factor. |
| But, in a world where optical correction will exist | | | | Considered a medical purchase, some customers |
| as long as humanity does, a group of e-retailers | | | | feel the need to interact with their new pair |
| have begun what it’s now referred to as | | | | before actually buying them, but according to |
| “The Optical e-Revolution” in which buying | | | | some “professional e-buyers” such as |
| custom-made eyeglasses has been rendered | | | | Candy Surret, “There is nothing more |
| affordable, fast, and as easy as one-two-three. | | | | personal than trying on your new glasses and |
| Too good to be true? In the past decade the | | | | being able to share them with 10 of my friends |
| Internet has leveled many playing fields and the | | | | before actually making the decision.” And |
| eyeglass industry is no exception. In this era of | | | | that’s what some e-visionaries are doing: |
| consumerism, where the power no longer sits | | | | Helping you make your decision by sharing with |
| solely with producers and where supply eclipses | | | | friends. |
| demand, consumers will simply not accept being | | | | While 39 Dollar Glasses’ SmartFit system |
| constrained by inflated prices. Companies such as | | | | allows you to print out a full-size picture of the |
| EyeBuyDirect.com, Frames Direct and 39 Dollar | | | | selected frame, Frames Direct’s Framefinder |
| Glasses have proven determined to help rid us of | | | | technology is a virtual try-on system that allows |
| the number one enemy of our pockets: Retail | | | | you to upload your picture and try on as many |
| Cost. | | | | glasses as you want. But other companies such |
| Try to guess the actual cost of production for | | | | as go a step further with their EyeTry technology |
| those cool designer brand-name glasses | | | | that allows you to share your photos, so that |
| you’re wearing. I’ll give you a hint: For the | | | | your friends or family members can get involved |
| highest quality glasses that exist, it’s no higher | | | | when deciding which pair looks best on you. |
| than $15 USD. | | | | |