Anyone order eyeglasses on Internet?

[cgallery]

The last pair of eyeglasses I purchased were from Lenscrafters. That was a few years ago. One of the lenses is very foggy. I've done a little googling and it seems the anti-reflection coating can go bad and cause this problem. So, time for a new pair.

Spot check of local market seems to indicate everyone is within a few bucks of each other. Exam (approx. $40), frames (approx. $100), and lenses (approx. $150). Wal-mart, Lenscrafters, Stein, all very close. Sams club, too.

I know eyeglasses are a high-margin item and quite frankly I'm surprised with the level of competition that someone isn't selling for a lot less.

Did a little checking and the Internet is full of places that will take your prescription and make glasses for cheap. $39 including frames, thin lenses, coatings, etc. Like this place:

http://www.39dollarglasses.com/3003_Brown.html

Anyone ever do this before? Am I crazy to think about this?

[LinuxRandal]

My mother works for an eye doctor, who has in house glasses. They normally run 50% off, but they sometimes say don't worry about it.

That said, locally we have a eyeglasses store, who gets in discontinued, or surplus frames, and sold them for $25. You only had the selection in the store (no safety glasses, other sizes etc), but well worth my time, as I am hard on glasses (they have never been able to figure out how mine get so scratched) Untill my prescription changed a couple of years back (need to go back), I had a pair for the shop, one for the garage, the sunglasses, and a backup.

[Tom Slick]

I ordered prescription safety glasses over the internet. It was all on the up and up. then again I wasn't ordering discount, they were more expensive then my regular glasses from the eye doc!

you'll notice the price goes up quick as you start ordering lenses that aren't basic generic lenses.