Is this really true about glasses?

[mrsmcwrinkly]

I've had to wear glasses since I was a child and I've always felt ugly and lacking in confidence when I was wearing them. I've never felt that I suit them. Then, after decades of glasses wearing I found some frames that I finally felt really suited me and I feel so much better wearing them! I bought a pair and a spare pair, both with my prescription lenses, when I found them but I am now thinking of buying another pair or maybe several other pairs. I worry that I won't find anything similar again when they go out of stock. So I asked my optician if I could just buy a third pair of frames without the lenses (or with the plastic lenses they have for the sales displays) but he said that it didn't really work like that and they wouldn't keep their shape and that I really needed to buy them with the lenses now. But I feel that as they are for the future my prescription may well likely have changed by the time I come to wearing them so it seems like a waste of money. Has anyone ever heard of this? My optician is lovely and I don't think he is trying to swindle me or anything. It just seems odd and I don't really understand it.

I do this all the time. They come with dummy lenses. I hate choosing new glasses so when I find a frame I like I buy spares!

I don't see why you can't buy them like you say - can you get the style name, google them and buy them online? I'm sure you might find other styles though.

I totally get the glasses thing too, once you find the right style I think they can really enhance your face.

As above, Google the brand and code and buy online. They're usually far cheaper too.

I think the optician makes their money from the lenses?

The mark up on glasses is obscene.

I wouldn’t bother, it’s strAnge, two things can happen, your age can change the way your glasses look on you and the style may not be popular, people rarely wear cat eyes glasses or the huge circle glasses from the 1980’s

Your optician is talking rubbish. I regularly buy frames without lenses. Once I know what suits me I buy it when I see it (am v fussy) then get them glazed later.

This is all very encouraging - thank you for all the replies! I'll maybe just see if I can find them online or maybe ask again. Maybe I misunderstood what he was saying.

When choosing glasses frames, apart from style, it helps if you know what size your frames are. It was pointed out to me once by a very helpful person in the shop, it’s a number on the inside of the arm.Now I always try to look for glasses that are 51 and they always do fit better than 49 or 53.

Depends. I needed new lenses for a frame I really liked. The frame (plastic, several years old) broke while they tried to put in the new lenses.

If you are so keen and the frame doesn't cost a fortune I would buy a spare.

But I'm also fussy with glasses. Only one particular shape suits me but I always found one in the end.

@CrystalMaisie

When choosing glasses frames, apart from style, it helps if you know what size your frames are. It was pointed out to me once by a very helpful person in the shop, it’s a number on the inside of the arm.Now I always try to look for glasses that are 51 and they always do fit better than 49 or 53.

I never knew this! Thanks