Cheap & Quick Bifocal Lenses for Temporary Use

anxiousdevices on 02/12/2022 - 16:36
Last edited 02/12/2022 - 17:27

One of my (senior) family members here on a tourist visit has gotten their spectacle lenses damaged. They are here for few more weeks and they would be better off getting new lens.

I took them around and checked few of the usual name stores in the mall and they are quoting $450 - $580 for the bifocal lens and a new frame. Apparently they are not willing to fit new lens to the existing frame purchased elsewhere but have to buy a new frame from them. Since its bifocal its another $100 extra added to the cost. They don't have their eye test results handy, so need a new test and thats another $60-80.

They prefer to not spend so much right now (since they prefer to consult with their usual doctor, etc and buy a new one later when back home) and are looking for any cheaper options to get a bi-focal lens quickly fitted to the existing frame - any suggestions from the community ? Is there no other choice other than to spend so much ?

I don't wear / have a need for glasses - so if I am missing some obvious ideas / details - pls point me to them. Thanks !

Edit - No medicare, and their travel insurance explicitly says spectacles are not covered.

Health & Beauty Glasses

Comments

  • MS Paint on 02/12/2022 - 16:40
    +1

    I can't think of any other options.

    Most optometrists will take over a week to prepare new glasses anyway.

    Just bad luck and a reason to always carry a spare pair if your vision is bad.

    • anxiousdevices on 02/12/2022 - 17:15

      yepp, they now keep talking about that spare ones that they did not bring here unfortunately ..

  • Seraphin7 on 02/12/2022 - 16:45

    If you can get the prescription a lens dispensary may be able to help.

    • anxiousdevices on 02/12/2022 - 17:13

      A quick google search for lens dispensary doesnt reveal any good info / business names.
      I am assuming these are the actual businesses that make the lenses ? Any suggestions or recommendations of business names (for Sydney area) ?

  • sam-1966 on 02/12/2022 - 16:57

    Would their travel insurance cover it?

    • anxiousdevices on 02/12/2022 - 17:21

      yep - checked that first thing and it is explicitly mentioned as one of the items not covered.
      Just learnt today that (many??) insurance policies do not cover any vision and hearing related items like spectacles, hearing aids, etc.

      That seems a bit weird given some people really really need these for their daily life to go on. While I can see the obvious loopholes for insurance companies to cover items bordering on both necessary vs fashion brands, may be they can atleast cover the specs upto a smaller amount and have some conditions around fashion brands, etc. oh well may be there are expensive policies out there that cover the specs too, not a great situation.

  • dcep on 02/12/2022 - 16:58
    +1

    you can get away with trialing off-the-shelf reading glasses for short distance viewing

    but long distance requires prescription unfortunately

  • svmick on 02/12/2022 - 17:43

    Did you try here? https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/740188

    • MS Paint on 02/12/2022 - 18:14
      +1

      Will need a prescription to confirm details and delivery will take weeks at best.

  • c64 on 02/12/2022 - 18:45

    you could try on some reading glasses at chemists or office works. dunno how they will work long range

  • racer1234 on 02/12/2022 - 18:52

    Depending on the prescription they may be able to use cheap reading glasses from chemist etc, but for a lot of people the lenses must be custom made to suit them. So pretty much out of luck. They may be able to get single vision lenses that suit either reading or distance made up quicker and cheaper but probably still several hundred dollars.
    Have you gotten a profesional opinion of the lens damage? Some things can be fixed.

    • anxiousdevices on 02/12/2022 - 19:15

      Yes - was checking to see if that lens can be somehow fixed - we have been told that the coating on the lens is permanently damaged and it now has a permanent fog-like appearance due to many minute cracks on the lens coating - this cannot be fixed with buffing. That lens is pretty much done (at-least thats what we have been told).

      profesional opinion of the lens damage?

      We have only been talking to the people in the usual mall brands optometrists - is there anyone else we could check with ?

      • MS Paint on 02/12/2022 - 19:22

        Damaged lens coatings pretty much mean the lens is toast.

        You could try an independent optometrist but they are pretty rare these days.

        Specsavers etc are just part of a few global franchise / retail partner mega companies who just want to sell new home brand stuff. Not repair or replace.

      • racer1234 on 02/12/2022 - 19:25

        If you talked to the optometrist themselves then that is pretty good.
        Cheapest fastest option will be eyetest and single vision lens in cheapest frame shop has. Probably $300.
        If you had the prescription then it would give more information to rule in or out some options. Can they ring there doctor at home and get it?

        I had a big section here on diy buffing experience but have removed it due to liability reasons. Do your own googling.

      • dcep on 02/12/2022 - 19:48

        Ahh, so it's not a broken lens, but just a damaged coating ?

        Get some Armour Etch on it and it'll be clear as new. No buffing required.

        Watch youtube for instructions and follow it strictly ; don't leave it for too long else it'll eat into the lens.

        • racer1234 on 02/12/2022 - 19:57
          +1

          And I was worried about posting to use toothpaste. The ingredients in Armour etch are a bit more intense..

          • dcep on 02/12/2022 - 20:06
            +2

            @racer1234: No harm giving it a go if the glasses is of no use anymore.

            But if it's still giving him like 50% vision that's better than nothing, then don't risk it just yet. Coz there is nothing to fall back on if things don't turn out as expected. Lol.

            *Not professional advice. Do your own research. Not liable for any damages.

  • ShannonN on 03/12/2022 - 21:11

    try light rub with isocol if that don't work ask local optometrist where are local charity group that grades and distributes old glasses to overseas poor ppl free, the go there and they have thousands of glasses. Lions club in Redcliffe qld was one such place I volunteered to help clean and grade glasses using a special machine that measure focal length etc

    Alternative is to look at existing glasses to find the numbers that tell you prescription usually stamped near where arms attach to frame or get local optometrist to read the lenses for reading on his machine that grades them then go to cheap shop pharmacist and get ones same strength

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