true, there are plenty of places to get cheap glasses in the US, so it isn't true universally that it is expensive. it can be expensive if you buy glasses in an optometrist's shop or some designer frames, of course. Optometrist's mark them up quite a bit. Then you can get them dirt cheap at some chain stores, so it's just a choice. I have gotten them in the US at Four Eyes, a chain store that often has specials where you get two pair for $100 (and that includes the lenses and the frames). They have a decent selection of frames, also, and I think their lab is very good quality. That is single vision, of course, and not the designer frame selection.

On the other hand, I go to my optometrist to get my eyes checked and a new prescription, and sometimes by my frames online, where even designer frames are about 100% cheaper than what an optometrist charges, same frame. Then I have them filled by an optician as I have a tricky prescription. I have also bought some online and they were very good quality and cheap but I only do that with single vision, wouldn't do it for progressives as they are too tricky.

There is no easy answer to this question as it depends on taste. I wouldn't go to an optometrist in a mall or with a chain but my eyes are very tricky. My private optometrist charges around $100 for the visit, maybe $125. I buy frames for $100 or less online, but I pay about $450 for Zeiss progressive lenses, which I think are the best quality. But you can get good deals at Sears, actually, and their optometry dept is owned by the international company Luxottica. Their quality isn't bad, I've bought some there, but wouldn't let them do my eye exam. But I'm very particular about that. I think I paid about $200-250 there for some lesser designer frames plus progressive lenses with my own prescription.

It doesn't really sound believable that France wouldn't have a medical specialty devoted to eyes.

Doctors specialized in the eyes are called ophthalmos in France or Belgium. They have studied 10 years as said above. 6 years to be a doc 4 to specialize.

To make things more complicated Ophtalmo are called ophthalmologues in Belgium and mostly ophthalmologistes in France.

We don't always speak the same language. ;-)

Ophtalmo do indeed spot if you have glaucauma and such. Don't know if optometrist do.

Research continues. Lots of information to compare. And hetismij2, good to hear I'm not alone in having a useless brother. Not that I thought I was, just good to hear it sometimes.

Thanks, y'all.

Cheryl always buys her glasses in Bangkok - great prices, great selection.

I bought a pair of glasses in the Marais last month. I brought my prescription with me and they had them ready for me in 2 days.

I did not save any money as I have a complicated prescription and want coated progressive lenses. With my VAT refund they cost slightly less than I've paid at home. The optician who fitted them was excellent and I haven't had any issues with them.

Judy, can you give me the name & address of the optician you mention, please? I may do just that, bring a new prescription with me and if it doesn't work out, well, if not Paris, there's always Costco.

MmePerdu, my receipt says Mil Optical but I'm not certain the shop said that. Walking down rue des Rosier from the St Paul metro, look for the eyeglasses hanging overhead over the door.....sorry can't be more specific!

Paris beats Costco.

I'll have a look, thanks. I'm sure there's a Costco within an hour or so drive from me but I don't know where. I do know where rue des Rosiers is though.

I looked at my Amex account. It was Mil'Optic at 17 rue des Rosier. Sorry but was in the middle of something else earlier so did not take the time to look it up.

Thanks! Noted. I appreciate it.

Prices vary so much depending whether you need simple lenses or more complex. From my experience in the U.S. and France, if you want lightweight, high impact varifocals and have other issues such as an astigmatism, the lenses alone cost around $600 and the same amount in euros, not including the prescription which was about $125 in the U.S. and 80€ in France.

Frames can add what ever you want on top of that. Very few places do this type of lens same day, most need 4-5 working days as they are fabricated in off/site labs, possibly less time in major metro centers where the labs may be local.

Plus, any reputable office whether optometrist, optician, opthamologist will insist on a fitting and adjustment. A UK friend ran into this when she wanted lenses made quickly in the UK from a French prescription. The prescription was no problem but she wasn't going to be in the UK long enough for the glasses to be made and fitted.

My French ophtalmologue was a cranky so and so but quite good.

One thing that I don;t see discussed is the specific prescription. For many people with simple aging of the eye the drugstore glasses at $15-$20 (all they do is magnify a little) will let them read comfortably.

But if you have a complicated prescription your lenses are going to cost more anywhere.

As for frames - that's really up to each person. You can easily get very basic ones rather than designer.

I had to wait almost 3 months for my last appointment at the ophthalmologist, but that was because I wanted to go to a specific one in my neighborhood. Anybody in a hurry can go to a big <i>centre médical</i> and usually get an appointment within 10 days. One that I used in the past was the Centre Miromesnil which fills a 7-floor building. An examination and prescription will cost 35 euros there, and they are very thorough.

Sometimes I get my glasses in US - I just travel with my prescription (in case I lose or break my glasses which I did in Madrid ) and get the script made up in New York at my friends optician. Last pair were Vera Wang frames which I couldn't get in Oz.