Glasses Frames, Necessary Evil

I'm stuck with glasses frames on my face. Actually I don't mind them. Can't wear contacts that irritate allergies, and I'm just adverse to poking my finger in (toward) my eyes. I think it's good if you can wear 'em, but I can't. So every few years -- and I'm overdo but have an appointment -- I have to re-up my prescription and usually get new frames. Don't put new wine in old wine skins. You have to analyze all that -- I have an oval face and need rectangular frames large enough to accommodate progressive lenses. Last time, about four years ago, I happened on a Danish designed pair, way over priced, tortoise shell but with nifty color patches inside the frames and at the hinges; my wife gifted me with most of the cost. Now with a new prescription coming up, I guess I'll get new but probably more reasonably priced frames. I did metal rims for too long, aviators even, and now with progressive lenses, I think plastic provides a better base for the glass. With grayer hair -- I like to think the brown still shows -- and a nearly white mustache, I'm thinking maybe gray or clear frame with a dash of gray, or maybe back to tortoise shell. Hmmm. I'm not exactly stricken with fashion sense. I know my wife will make this decision mostly, and I'm grateful for that since she has to look at me most. Any notions or ideas on this? It's my challenge, I just mean any general principles? Too often I feel like I get twenty minutes to decide and live with the result for a year or two or more. I rarely have more than one set of frames, two with sunglasses, so I like to get it right. The sunglasses I'll just refit the frame since they get regular but less use.

chasing', yeah I like a more minimal frame too. I did that when my prescription was simpler. With progressives, they build in trifocals in each lens, without dividing lines, which is optically really cool. But even today -- and they're getting better -- the lens can get pretty thick at the edges. Also, my frameless tended to pop out more. The cost of progressives is pretty rich, so I don't want that. The full frames are usually pretty sturdy and keep the lenses in place. But I agree, if you can do them, half frame or frameless -- the less frame the better -- is the way to go. I've been through many iterations. But in keeping with your comment, I'm at least considering clear frames, if they don't look too washed out. The Navy used to issue nearly clear gray-tinged frames, and the only objection to them was, they were completely associated with being Navy issue. I might try a civvie version of those, to lean toward "less is more." Yeah, saintpeter, my wife has far better sense of these things than I do, too; sometimes when we banter back and forth we come up with better ideas that either of us would have done starting out.

didache, yeah the pricing is a racket. You know production on these frames is ten or twenty bucks max, and usually much less. It's all production line in low-cost labor countries, and they're light weight for shipping, thousands to a shipping case. It's a real racket for sure. I think there are several big producers who keep the prices high, and then various other brand products slap their labels on frames to dip into the revenue stream. We stopped by one optical shop and the frames started at about $300. Boy, back to Costco and Walmart, and none too reasonable there either. Still, they are on your face most of the time, so I usually break for more than I'd want to spend. Yours are good looking frames, plenty large in field of view, but not so large as to look owlish, which is another thing I don't want.

'666, yes, I started looking at titanium. I might try some on, if they're available. I'm thinking of a more moderate price, but sometimes shopping high end gives a better sense when you look back down market, like trying on the most expensive suit before selecting one in your price range. Another aspect is comfort. Boy, if frames chaff, they're not good and burrow little spots in your nose or behind your ears.

The trouble with "real men don't wear glasses is," they try not to wear glasses, and decide they can't wear contacts for one reason or another, and then they don't see everything they need to see, so they end up draping the "reading" glasses around their necks which can look silly and cultivates a nervous gesture pulling them on and off. So real or not, you gotta see.