Have You Bought Glasses From Costco Optical?

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42

charlieg, have you tried monovision, where one eye is prescribed for computer distance and the other for longer distance? Then if you need to see up close, you take the glasses off.

I tried progressives and found the channel of focus too narrow. I had to turn my head to read a book. So I went to monovision and love it. I can see the whole page, the whole computer screen, and everything in the distance. Only downside is my depth perception is a bit compromised since one eye or te other is a little out-of-focus depending on the distance to the object. Rarely notice it, though.

43

I worked in optical for 42 years at Kaiser Permanenteā€”Costco is good.

44

Iā€™ve done mono vision with a single contact lens correcting for near vision for nearly 20 years. It may be an acquired taste but Iā€™ve never had any issues. Still 20/20 for distance and no glasses to fool with. My optometrist is a bit surprised that Iā€™ve been able to do it so long.

45

I have not, so Iā€™ll need to research a bit. Ty

46

Yes and I hate them. What a supreme waste of money. They were never right for my face and the person selling me on all the bells and whistles to go with frames that do NOT fit my face, never measured ANYTHING! Go anywhere else! Even on-line I get these cheesy paper rulers to print out and measure my face and they are so much better!

47

Waited in line for about 20 minutes for optical, they told me I could not reuse my frames, and they donā€™t do ā€œdrill outā€ frames.

48

Iā€™m a Costco guy. And Iā€™ve chatted with Clark at an Atlanta Costco! And my cousin is an optical manager in a Missouri Costco.

But, my experience wasnā€™t great. The glasses came and I just couldnā€™t see right; my old glasses were better. They checked the prescription and it was fine. I called my optometrist and made sure the script was right. It was. Costco remade the lenses and the same thing happened. I decided to use the famous Costco guarantee and it turns out they donā€™t refund the price of the lenses but just the frame. And the optician very pleasantly showed me the document that I had signed that showed that. So, my fault.

But, interestingly enough, I had the glasses redone at Zenni, where Iā€™d been buying glasses for more than 20 years, and they were fine. And half the price. I donā€™t know what the deal is, but Iā€™ll stay with Zenni going forward.

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49

I have purchased glasses 2 times from Costco. No reason to buy there again however. I have to have lenses with prisms and also safety lenses due to being legally blind in one eye. Add these to the small cost of frames and the glasses cost $350-400 which is the same price range as Walmart and every other store. These days the cost of frames can be very low anywhere itā€™s the lenses that can break the bank and Costco provides no bargain.

50

I have used Costco optical for myself: progressives, computer progressives, progressive sunglasses, transitions and for my family: contacts, single vision, computer progressives, transitions. We have used scripts from the Costco optician (who I like very much) and private practice optometrist (who I also like very much). Our insurance coverage has varied acceptance at Costco but the out of pocket cost is always less than at a participating provider especially for progressives. All our family eye wear has been purchased from our local Costco over the last 8 years and I did purchase one pair at a Costco across the country, they pulled up my prescription. On the whole, the quality of the fames, lenses (especially progressive), contacts have been very good and very cost competitive with and without insurance. I am not particularly careful with my glasses but they are always on my face- so that is a big factor, I clean them under running water and dish soap, dry them using the inside of my tshirt.. I have been wearing prescription glasses/contacts for over 45 years, pretty much tried everything but online.

The good ā€“ I highly recommend people consider getting their glasses and contacts at Costco. Costco has many frames, I own Kirkland frames which I reordered the exact same sunglasses frames twice 5 years apart and several other frames including designer brands that Costco carries. Especially use Costco if you have an easy to medium complexity prescription (I am very near sighted with a moderate astigmatism). Husband and kids have straightforward prescriptions, they have never had a problem.

The caveat ā€“ Costco is not perfect and I also realized when I purchased frames from the across the country Costco, the service level varies, kudos to the Santa Cruz Costco; they sit you down at a desk and seem to be trained better in measuring and marking for the progressive lenses and making suggestions as to frames based on your face and prescription. My local Costco, you stand when they measure most of the time, they sorta help you with the frame selection, depends on how busy they are and who is there. My most recent progressives that I got including my computer progressives (my previous ones, I waxed poetic), I have just never been happy with and I havenā€™t been able to pin the problem to the prescription, the execution of the lenses, or is it because itā€™s the first time one of my eyes canā€™t be corrected to 20/20, thatā€™s just as good as it gets. And this is where Costco breaks down, the optical department canā€™t really verify if your prescription glasses actually match your prescription, even if it matches the prescription were the dots and lines drawn properly? You end up going down an investigative rabbit hole plus everyone will tell you, itā€™s progressives you need to adjust ( even if I have been wearing them for over 10 years, admittedly, progressives are a good workhorse, jack of all trades but master of none). Itā€™s hard to figure out what the issue actually is and where the responsibility lies and the Costco optical department is not set up to really help you. They will happily remake the glasses for you if you just say they arenā€™t right very soon after getting them, but if they still arenā€™t right, you are on your own to figure it out. In my recent case, I think it a case of this is just as good as it gets but the Costco Optical department really did fall short in helping me to figure it out, they seemed unwilling to help and they have neither equipment, training nor policy that helps out with the troubleshooting process. (and to be honest, I recently helped my MIL with an issue at an upscale optical department and they werenā€™t any better with the trouble shooting, they are all afraid they own the responsibility and yet donā€™t have the expertise to evaluate). Truthfully, at Costco Optical it usually does go well, itā€™s a great way to go for most people. I still recommend people try Costco Optical.

51

I had a pair of costco glasses where both lenses had bubbles between the laminated blayers. The bubbles were completely sealed so water didnā€™t get between the layers but I can see how yourā€™s did.

52

I bought 2 pairs of prescription progressive lenses glasses from Costco a few years ago. One pair with clear lenses and anti glare the other with polarized anti glare sunglasses. The sunglasses were great. Even the polarized coating held up fairly well till my prescription changed enough to replace them.

But the clear lenses somehow the layers started to delaminate. The lenses were always foggy, even when cleaned with dish soap, causing eyestrain, and eventually both lenses developed bubbles between their layers.

Iā€™ve since bought cheap glasses at payne com and have never had a problem with their lenses. And my glasses from Kaiser Permanente Optical the lenses last well from there.

This was a significant enough issue that Iā€™m wary of buying glasses from Costco again. The foggy lenses and bubbles started forming way past their limited warranty period. Eyeglasses should last at least a few years when properly cared for