Mitch Anthony wrote: > [...] I suspect that the the optometry labs are trying to protect a > traditional profit center that has been eroded by the recent flood of > designer readers. > > I do know that there are optometrists who still do their own work, and > that they are willing to put custom lenses in stock frames - often with the > caveat that the customer sign a disclaimer form. > This isn't exactly what you're asking, but I've had very good luck with http://www.39dollarglasses.com/ . I prefer to go with a local business whenever possible, and I have no problem with local businesses making a profit.....but it also seems like the markup on glasses is unusually high. With all three of my family members wearing glasses, getting an 80 or 90% discount is a tremendous help. If you decide to go the route of buying glasses online, you'll just need to ask your local eye doctor to write out your prescription, including the pupillary distance. You can view the frames online on models with different-shaped faces, and even print out a life-size model to cut out of paper and try on your own face. My family has bought a good half-dozen pairs of glasses from this company, and we have seen absolutely NO difference in the quality of the frames or lenses versus the ones that we bought from an eye doctor. If anything, I think my most recent pair are holding up *better* than ones that I bought for much more money. And for what it's worth, I don't have any connection with 39 Dollar Glasses other than as a satisfied customer. -Anne -- Anne Campbell, acampbell at gmail.com http://www.annecampbelldesign.com/ http://www.riverbenddoula.com/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.hidden-tech.net/pipermail/hidden-discuss/attachments/20111114/404d7d1a/attachment.html