Worth it to have glasses made in Bangkok?
 

Hi-
My mother would like to get prescription sunglasses and I suggested she wait until we're in BKK.
However, I've searched on this, but not really found any indication as to price so I can't tell if it's really a good deal or not.
Can anyone give me an indication as to cost? She's not looking for super expensive "designer" frames.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a specific place to go?
Thanks!

Tong's husband is an optician...family shop.

My wife has had her glasses made twice when we have been in BKK. The last time Tong's husband made her an awesome pair for about $80US. She has a very thick RX and we paid about 1/4 what we would of paid here, plus we could never of found anything like these where we live!!!!!!

I <i>knew</i> I had read something about Tong's husband being an optician but I couldn't find anything when I searched for it!
That's great as we have a day scheduled with her while we are there. I will contact her.
Thanks!

Cheryl has had glasses made in Bangkok and in KL. In Bangkok last year she had glasses made with a great Armani frame that we've never seen in the US for about one-half the US price for other Armani frames. She chose the highest quality lenses and they were progressive, so relatively expensive, but obviously much less than in the US. She bought at a store in Siam Paragon, Paris Miki. There are half a dozen optical shops in Siam Paragon, all on the same floor and in close proximity. Each of those shops carries different frames (and I would guess that Tong's husband's shop carries yet different frames).

Oops, I forgot to mention that Cheryl had really great prescription sunglasses in a stunning frame for a great price as well... much less than the other glasses as the lenses were single vision.I 'm thinking about having custom reading glasses made for me this year.

Hi Kristina

I've had glasses made on a number of occasions. I have progressive lenses and my husband has single lenses. Both are about half australian price so I don't know how that compares to US but I'm sure it should still be good.

Sunglasses are well made but there is just one consideration. Unless its very recently changed, there is no factory producing polaroid lenses so you can only get tinted ones. If this is an issue then you will have to think about it. I'm very happy with the tinted ones I've had done as is my husband but he has on occasion opted for polaroid ones make here in Australia because he wants them for specific purposes.

Can we get some cost info here.
1) Cost of eye exam, lenses and frames
2) Was there a large assortment of designer frames to choose and what were the range of prices for these frames?
3) When you say it cost less than in the US can you gives us the cost comparisons- and would that cost comparison compare to what one's pays with Vision coverage here in the US?

Bill, the eye exam, lenses and frames were rolled into one price for us. (I'm sure you could break it down, but it wasn't relevant to Cheryl). Cheryl brought her prescription along, but they re-checked it at the opticians anyway. For a high-end Armani frame with Hoya progressive lenses with anti-glare coating, she paid 13,940 baht (US$ 400 at last year's exchange rate), and she was quoted $780 (plus tax of 8.8%) for a high-end frame, progressive lens and anti-glare coating here in Seattle. That price did not include an eye exam.

There are lots of wonderful frames to choose from. In my experience, each shop has a different assortment. We looked in all of the shops in Siam Paragon.

If you have vision coverage on your insurance check and see what it covers for you (every policy is different). If you have a Health Care Savings account, check with your company and see if they will accept receipts from foreign countries and will reimburse you out of your account. Cheryl's account does reimburse her, and she submitted both her glasses and her dental exam and cleaning from Bangkok.

Bill, our experiences were about the same as Kathies and Cheryls. The price at home for just the lenses for the lightweight transition kind that turn dark outside was about $250, then whatever frames they had. Both times in BKK when we bought them the exam was free, we brought her RX from the US but they wanted to double check it to make sure. We dont have vision coverage so I dont know how that would work. The frames she got I cant give a comparrison to because we would never see them here in Missouri, they are some weird Thai brand. We are a young tattooed couple and she always wants funky glasses. we are also both freelance interpreters and work at 4 or 5 different places everyday, not a week goes by that my wife isnt asked about the glasses and then gets to share our wonderful experiences of Thailand!

A note on eyeglasses in BKK. While we found wonderful frames everywhere from Bangkok to Chiang Rai (tons of places in Khoalak), I did not find the pricing to be better than what I was able to get at home -- in the US. Our traveling companions however, felt the pricing was wonderful compared to theirs in Canada. I had thought to have a pair of perscription sunglasses made, but was told everywhere that they are unable to do Polarized lens. Not sure why, but we got the same answer in multiple shops in Paragon shopping center in BKK.

TC that is a good reminder to always know what you would pay at home rather than assuming the prices will be better in Bangkok.

Hi-
As the OP I thought I'd comment on our experience.
We did not end up getting glasses made as we felt they were too expensive.
However, if you are looking for designer frames then yes, prices are less than the US.
If you don't care about &quot;designer&quot; then places like Costco at home are certainly cheaper.

Kristina, Thanks for clarifying what the difference in between Cheryl's shopping experience and TC's.

I ended up getting great glasses made at a place called Good Times near Siam Paragon. I got very nice French Connection frames with thin lenses for $120, made in 1.5 days. Very happy with the purchase. Don't forget that bargaining is a must. The price mostly depends on the frame. The lenses themselves are usually under $20 unless you need something very unique.

O.K. I'm not offended that you don't know me and might assume that I would buy eyewear from Costco. Trust me....I would NOT. My electric blue, &quot;Klik&quot; <i>designer</i> frames from Denmark were still less expensive in Minneapolis than they were in BKK. I paid only $250 for the frames + the lightest, non-glare, anti-scratch, aero-space, super-duper, better-than-ever, over-the-top, new-and-improved, something-or-other lens.

The electric colored, laser cut designs in the bows, metal frames were all the rage in Thailand and I was pretty surprised that I had bought them here in the <i>(who knew we were stylish?)</i> Midwest just a month ago.

Go figure.

lenses: I'm not sure what type of lenses <b>smartcookie</b> might have got for under $20. I went to several shops last year, and all quoted me around $150 for progressive lenses with a relatively simple prescription. Frames, of course, were additional.

Rizzuto, totally agree. I did have one pair of glasses made in BKK on this trip. My simple reading glasses broke and I needed to get new lens. They used my current frames and made new lens; nothing fancy, no coating, no anti-glare, no bifocal, not light weight or ultra anything -- just a single lens for reading. The cost was $55 at a simple little shop adjacent to Sheraton Royal Orchid.

Yes, lens prices do vary a lot. You can choose Thai-made lenses that are less expensive or the best Hoya lenses. And of course, progrssives are much more than single-vision lenses.

So do you think it would be good if I bought my frames here in NYC and had them made over there? I am not really interested in stuff like Armani frames but in something a little more cutting edge...

There are lots of cutting-edge frames in Bangkok. There are both European designers and Asian designers. Take a look at what you can buy where you are and the prices. Then you'll know whether it is worthwhile both in terms of selection and in terms of cost to have your glasses made in Bangkok.

Yes, progressive, bifocal etc lenses are a lot more expensive, both in Thailand and in the US. The lenses I was looking at were for a relatively high (-6.0) prescription with slight astigmatism on one of them and thin (to look good in designer frames), which are 500-1000 baht when you're buying along with the frames. And like I said, bargaining is allowed and is important to do. The price they first give you is always much higher than what they're willing to do it for. The French Connection frames I got were 5900 baht, on sale for 4500 and I got the entire thing with lenses for 4000 baht (I didn't bargain too hard either because I needed them very fast). They look great.

Kathie I will take a look here..good idea. I will also look at some vintage frame places..

Right now I wear drugstore glasses for reading and have prescription for distance (driving, infrequent concerts). But I would like to get a progressive pair. Until I began reading these posts, I had no idea that the old bifocals had been supplanted!

Hey TC, we are right below you, here in Missouri, did you get the ice like we did? It makes me really want that bkk heat! I really liked you description of the glasses you got :) its a little more redneck around where we live, so the glasses my wife got in bkk get some weird looks(I think my wife actually likes that part).

Hi, I'm just back and again this year have had glasses made. I have progressives and my husband has single lens. Neither of us are too fussed if it has a designer label and in fact often find we go with more ordinary frames as they suit my face better (plus its always difficult for me to get a good fit). I'm Australian and designer or plane frames and certainly the lenses are about half what we'd pay in Australia. I always go for the best lenses I can get to suit. Please however be careful if you have progressives. Many people find that they just don't get a good fitting. I've had a bit of trouble this year - had to get them adjusted a lot. So allow time! Another frequent complaint is that the tests will overcorrect. Its worth getting a script from home to compare. However that said I find that the computer testing in Thailand always gives me better vision than the testing from my optometrist here - just needs to get the angles of the lense right!

I had a bad experience at a small shop at MBK. I had my eyes checked in the US just before I left, and brought the prescription with me. I fell in love with frames at this little place and had progressive lens made. The glasses and lenses were unbelievably cheap -- about a third of what I would pay in the US. When I picked up the glasses the lenses just didn't feel right, but that is sometimes the case with a new prescription. They checked everything again, told me the lenses were fine &amp; that I would get used to the new prescription. The next day we were off to Northern Thailand &amp; other destinations. The glasses gave me a headache and I switched back to my old pair. When I got home &amp; brought the new glasses into my usual optician they checked the lenses and told me the prescription had not been filled correctly and the lenses had not been measured properly on my eyes. Live &amp; learn --Frames in BKK are great, but don't get glasses made, particularly progressive lenses which have to be carefully measured, except at a recommended place in BKK. I would try Kathie's recommendation or Tong's husband.

This is a query: who is Tong and how does one contact her please?

Nanvy, do a search on Tong. You will turn up hundreds of posts. She is a guide in Bangkok.

I purchased 3 frames. I bought a S.Dupont, a Cartier, and a Fred. In the US they were $800-$1250(because frame had 18K and one 21K frames) in May '06.The 3 would have cost me $3200 with tax but at a Charon (spelling?) store, they have 6+ stores with several in Siam Paragon)and I paid $900 with international waratees including serial numbers. Confirmed authenticity when I returned home and had lenses made here. My optomotrist was not thrilled but he still charged $520 per set of lenses for Verlux Vizio,poly-carbonate,transition and Aleze-anti glare. So I feel I did very well.

Kathie, thanks for the info, but have searched on the Asia/Thailand forum,and have not found contact details. Perhaps I am not searching correctly, which is likely as I am a complete novice and this is only the second time I have looked at the site and the first time I have tried to use it. It's absolutely fascinating, the amount of info available from people who have actually done the travel, an awful lot of really intrepid travellers!

Nancy, Tong's website is www.tourwithtong.com

You'll likely want to read some of the trip reports about touring with Tong ot understand better what her strengths are and whether she would meet your needs.