Feb 5, 2014  •  In Personal, Reviews

I Can See Clearly Now

The past two months were some of the roughest of my life.

My family and close friends were plagued with various health problems and hospitalizations, two of which resulted in death…and one a stillbirth.  😥

J and I are getting buried in medical bills (did you know what if a hospital stay runs from the end of one calendar year to the beginning of the next, your insurance company can deny claims until your annual deductible is met for both years?). 

Even smaller things like my iPod getting stolen, and my cell phone needing to be replaced, added to my seemingly-endless list of problems.

Then there were my eyes.

Long story short, the virus I had caught two months ago migrated to my left eye. Recovery was a PITA (another reason for time away from the computer screen) and treatment — which included an eye patch! — took its sweet time.

finally got the all-clear from my eye doc this past weekend. 😀  But when I went to go get a new pair of glasses for my new prescription, I was shocked to learn that even with insurance, I would need to pay $650. 😯  SAY WHUT? I had chosen frames from the discount, no-name-brand rack too!

So I decided to do what all the cool kids are doing these days and gave Warby Parker a try. I also discovered another online prescription glasses service that offers free home try-ons: Classic Specs. The frames from Warby Parker haven’t gotten here yet, but the Classic Specs ones did…take a look!

classic_specs_tryon
I apologize for the quality of these photos — I’m not too good at taking selfies.

My favorite is the top middle pair (they’re also the lightest and most comfortable), while J likes the bottom right frames the best (he says he likes big glasses on girls because they make them look extra nerdy-slash-cute). I know all six pairs look very similar, but when I did the virtual try-ons, these are what looked best on me.

I’m surprised I hadn’t heard about Classic Specs before, because you can try 6 frames as opposed to Warby Parker’s 5, and you get 7 days to try them while WP gives you 5. Their turnaround time seems quicker too, because these frames were shipped the day after I placed the order — I don’t think WP has even shipped my order yet. (Their website says try-on frames usually ship 5 business days after placing the order.)

Additionally, because Classic Specs needed to make a color substitution for one of the frames I selected, they sent me a personal email apologizing for the inconvenience and gave me a coupon code for 10% off my order if I decide to purchase from them!

I hope the Warby Parker frames get here soon so that I can compare all of them side-by-side. Do you have a preference among the Classic Specs frames in the pictures above?

I’m just glad that my eyes no longer hurt…and that I can see clearly again (with contacts)!

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12 Responses to “I Can See Clearly Now”

  1. Onigiriman/Leo says:

    Sorry to hear about your the things happening in your life. Hope things are (will be) looking up for you and your family/friends. As for those glasses: I thought they were all the same! Maybe I need new glasses too.

  2. dd says:

    Mercy, what a time you guys have had. Medical bills add so much stress to any sickness.

    For glasses, I like any in the top row, particularly the top-right. The shape’s good for your face! But they’re pretty similar, so really whichever makes you happy is the one to go with, especially with all the other stress around!

  3. Mayette says:

    I like #2 on you, too. You should also check out Rivet & Sway, Bonlook, and Lookmatic. The last two don’t have home try-on programs, but they are still great quality lenses.

  4. dazer says:

    I wish you all the best and may better times come to you and your family!

    The glasses: if you would ask me, i’d say the mille ones in the bottom row. Or take your fav, the top middle ones, they are quite similar.

  5. NZ Muse says:

    I seriously can’t tell most of those glasses apart! To me it looks like there are only 2 pairs, haha.

    Last month I ordered my free pair from ClearlyContacts (though because I’m so blind, came to over $100 with hi index lenses) but the glasses just aren’t working for me – both the frame and the prescription (not sure if my optometrist did a shoddy job and prescription is off, or if CC messed up the lenses). Onto Plan B.

  6. Mei-Ling (UMCP KDPhi Old Lady) says:

    I was thinking about you yesterday and hadn’t seen a post from you in awhile. Glad to see this one even though it does not contain the happiest news I’ve seen, but I am glad that your eyes are better and that you are getting through life’s challenges with grace. Sending prayers that things will only get better from here on out. HUGS.

  7. saverspender says:

    I am sorry to hear about your stress and troubles in the past 2 months. My thoughts are with you.

    As for the health insurance thing, it always shocks me in a new way how horrible it is in the U.S. compared to Canada.

  8. Lisa says:

    Hey Jenny,
    I stumbled across your site searching for a linkwithin alternative, and then found this post which is great because I should get new glasses too, so thank you very much for all your work here and feel a really nice warm hug to let go into from all you have had been happening in the past few months.

    Everything’s going to be fine.

    xo

    Lisa

  9. Helene says:

    glad to hear that you’re back on your feet now. wishing all the best to your family in the year of horse.

    as for the glasses, bottom right please XD

  10. Hi Jenny,

    We’re so thrilled you gave our glasses a whirl – we personally love the Dover and the Hastings. Let us know if you have any questions around the process, we’re here to help. Hope you are feeling better.

    Andrew

  11. Angela says:

    Seriously can’t imagine what you must’ve been going through… I hope things get better from here on out!! i immediately liked the bottom right glasses too! I’m glad to see J agrees – he is obviously a man with good taste. 😉

  12. NY Bob says:

    Hi. Just an occasional lurker on your blog (it is entertaining though!). Regarding the glasses, it’s probably too late but I had the same issue where my wife and I both needed new glasses….and the pair cost over $1000. It turns out a frame company called Luxottica has a monopoly on this, and has very little competition. However, if you go to Costco, their frames (with lenses with all the coatings) are well under $200 each. And if you are worried about getting your eyes checked there, my experience was every bit as good (if not better) than my old optometrist. And….I hope your 2014 is much better than 2013.

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