This question has been asked previously in an archived thread but received no answers. Does anyone know the answer(s)?

 

Where in CM can you get an independent prescription for glasses where you aren't tied into buying the glasses from the shop that tests you? 
Any idea of costs for the prescription would also be appreciated.

I don't see why you would want to do this?

Get your eyes checked at the shop where you buy the glasses. If you have any problems with the glasses and they made them according to a prescription from somewhere else they will just blame it on the prescription and there is not much you can do about it. If they do both they have only themselves to blame.

If you really want to go this way, i guess every hospital has an ophthalmologist who can check your eyes.

19 minutes ago, jackdd said:

I don't see why you would want to do this?

Because my varifocal glasses cost 9,000bht ($300) in Chiang Mai with a cheap frame, or $50 delivered from Zenni Optical with a better frame (around 10 days).

If you are unhappy in any way with the Zenni glasses, you can return them for a 100% store credit or a 50% refund.

I've been happy with all 5 of my orders.

 

Prescription from Muanchol Vision Center, 18 Ratvithi Road using the latest computer operated equipment (no reading letters off charts), around 100-200bht.

The Vision Center mentioned above is the way to go.  I asked a well known eye specialist recently where I should go for a glasses prescription and he sent me there.

Just don't tell him you will order online  - he is very sensitive about it. Make up a story and pay him.

Glasses prices are beyond ridiculous in Thailand but I  get mine made in the US. Recently I had some single vision lens made here and was again quoted ridiculous prices. 

I have been thinking of online but I don't know how to get the PD right.  Every store I go to gives a different number. 

And I would never take the advice above to get tested at any store.  I have had mine tested just to check  and get incorrect numbers from them.  

Most store people here don't even know what lens materials are  - all they know is the word plastic.  Trusting them to get an accurate eye prescription would be really risky. 

11 minutes ago, Wandr said:

but I don't know how to get the PD right

Look into a mirror holding a ruler level under your eyes. The Pupillary Distance should be easy to see.

I never got an answer for the same question back when so ..... went to BK hospital to get a prescription. It was over 300 Baht for 2. (  G says over 400.)  My girlfriend got her prescription at the same time.

 

Then ordered through Zenni.

 

As said any hospital eye department can provide (and you can have a professional check for medical issues at same time).  The cost is only about the same as any hospital out patient visit.

 

As said most shops making/selling glasses in Thailand do not have professional medical staff and charge much more than what most people would consider reasonable.   

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Prescription from Muanchol Vision Center, 18 Ratvithi Road using the latest computer operated equipment (no reading letters off charts), around 100-200bht.

Personally I like reading the letters. My optician in Bangkok make first the computer test and then we doublecheck the details by reading letters from charts. The computer won't be as good as your brain in telling you which lenses are perfect for you.

56 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Personally I like reading the letters. My optician in Bangkok make first the computer test and then we doublecheck the details by reading letters from charts. The computer won't be as good as your brain in telling you which lenses are perfect for you.

 

What optician do you use in Bangkok?

 

Have you ever tried this: https://www.facebook.com/BangkokVisionCenter?

 

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Because my varifocal glasses cost 9,000bht ($300) in Chiang Mai with a cheap frame, or $50 delivered from Zenni Optical with a better frame (around 10 days).

If you are unhappy in any way with the Zenni glasses, you can return them for a 100% store credit or a 50% refund.

I've been happy with all 5 of my orders.

 

Prescription from Muanchol Vision Center, 18 Ratvithi Road using the latest computer operated equipment (no reading letters off charts), around 100-200bht.

 

Is this Zenni , a foreign company or is it based in Thailand?

 

16 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

Is this Zenni , a foreign company or is it based in Thailand?

 

ABOUT ZENNI OPTICAL

 

Zenni Optical was founded in 2003 by two scientists to answer this question:

Doesn’t everyone deserve to look good while wearing an affordable pair of glasses? Thus Zenni was born in the San Francisco Bay Area - a natural fit in the home of forward-thinking, tech-savvy companies.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Because my varifocal glasses cost 9,000bht ($300) in Chiang Mai with a cheap frame, or $50 delivered from Zenni Optical with a better frame (around 10 days).

If you are unhappy in any way with the Zenni glasses, you can return them for a 100% store credit or a 50% refund.

I've been happy with all 5 of my orders.

 

Prescription from Muanchol Vision Center, 18 Ratvithi Road using the latest computer operated equipment (no reading letters off charts), around 100-200bht.

@BritManToo,  how can I reach you outside of the forum, or privately?

not sure you'll even get this as it says you are banned? lol. Maybe someone else might have contact info that sees this?

6 minutes ago, connda said:

ABOUT ZENNI OPTICAL

 

Zenni Optical was founded in 2003 by two scientists to answer this question:

Doesn’t everyone deserve to look good while wearing an affordable pair of glasses? Thus Zenni was born in the San Francisco Bay Area - a natural fit in the home of forward-thinking, tech-savvy companies.

 

So we have to import the glasses from USA which cost less than the ones in Thailand? We are being ripped off.

 

2 minutes ago, EricTh said:

We are being ripped off.

You are, every day.

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Because my varifocal glasses cost 9,000bht ($300) in Chiang Mai with a cheap frame, or $50 delivered from Zenni Optical with a better frame (around 10 days).

If you are unhappy in any way with the Zenni glasses, you can return them for a 100% store credit or a 50% refund.

I've been happy with all 5 of my orders.

 

Prescription from Muanchol Vision Center, 18 Ratvithi Road using the latest computer operated equipment (no reading letters off charts), around 100-200bht.

BritMan Too

What are their shipping prices like.  Approximate costs. 
And do they cover return shipment if you've got problems with the glasses?  It could easily end up cost a minimum whatever EMS charges for a tracked package. 

I'm really tired of rip-off optical shops.  I pair of high index, bifocals costed me 15000 THB.  The current pair I have are single vision because I'm simply tired of paying that much for rather inferior lens that need to be replaced due to scratching every couple of years.  I just push them down my nose are just take them off to read. Single vision works fine. Those cost 7000 THB. And they will attempt to sell you 30K lens.  That's usually the first thing out of their mouth.  I'm tired to dickering with them.  I need a new pair of single vision sun-glasses with good quality lens, and study set of frames at a decent - no dickering price. So this looks like the route I'll go.
However, I don't want to lose the "savings" of ordering with Zenni if it gets eaten up by shipping charges. 

Your thoughts?

1 hour ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

What optician do you use in Bangkok?

Opticland, Sukhumvit, near Soi 29 corner.

Not cheap, but very professional and friendly service - and no sales pressure.

Zenni glasses are made in China and shipped from there to Thailand at very reasonable rates.

Quote

 

International

Standard Shipping Estimated Delivery: 21-28 days $9.95

 

Delivery to Thailand is much less - believe one or two weeks at most.

Eyeglass posts, always the same .. sigh  .

 

I was initially a bit skeptical of Zenni, but I was fed up with the Thai sellers I’ve bought from in the last ten years. I could say a lot about that, I won’t bore you. 

Even with shipping, you will pay at least 30 per cent less than what you would spend in a glass box shop here. Likely your savings will be more. Secondly I consider it a necessity to have prescription sunglasses for outdoor activities, nice ones, no stinting. The savings on those were at least 40 per cent, for a comparable pair in Chiang Mai. 

I have ordered twice. Two regular pairs, one pair of sunglass. It took ten days to two weeks to arrive. Because the prescription was obtained from an optician, quality equipment at a hospital clinic, best match to my eyes I have had in quite some time. The G is equally happy with hers.

 

Two Very Satisfied Customers 

 

 

You'll find posts I wrote desciibing my positive experience at Khun Chaiyo's shop in Airport Plaza ground floor here: Chaiyo Optics

 

~o:37;

I've used the ophthalmology department at Rajavej for years to get my eye checkups for diabetes and prescriptions for my glasses. They speak excellent English and are good at answering questions. Never had a long wait as well.

D&A Eye clinic near Nieman. About 500 baht for prescription.

1st left at the side of 7-11 next to rajavej then 200m down on the right is small optician shop. No english spoken but will painstakingly check eyes and let you write down your prescription if you wish. Free.   Recommended by a medic friend from Rajavej

 

It would have been easier for me if I had taken a thai speaker along with me for the checks, and lens/frames  choice etc though.

 

His frames incl titanium are very cheap and he has thai lenses to match Hoya but at about 1/3rd the cost from memory.

 

But I went the zenni route. And paid less for a new pair with all singing all dancing varifocal transition lenses than Tokyo Optic were going to charge for the one lens to replace the one I broke.(8500)

 

 

I wholeheartedly endorse getting a good, unbiased optical exam at one of the hospitals or other venues listed here.  By all means, stay away from getting tested at the shops.

 

Get your prescription in writing, AND MAKE SURE TO BE MEASURED FOR PUPILLARY DISTANCE (PD)!

 

If you have a new(er) RX for glasses without pupillary distance measurements, there are apps online that can provide that.  (I can’t attest to their accuracy, however).

 

Then TRY ZENNI!  I have over a dozen pairs from them, and every one is spot-on for correction.

 

PRO TIP: Measure you favorite pair of glasses from top edge-to-edge for your optimal glasses width, and stick to that measurement as closely as possible.  Next, THOROUGHLY research user reviews with regard to frame durability. Frame quality can vary with ZENNI, but I’ve always struck gold by reading every review on the frames I’m focused (pardon the pun) on.  After that, you can download a photo of yourself and “try them on” virtually; however, I’ve had better results with trying them on the stock models offered for perusal.

 

I’ve always opted for the mid-priced lenses (I wear progressives) and have consistently been satisfied.  And I always spring for the non-glare coating.  Additionally, their sunglasses have always been a great purchase.  Lots of good options.

 

The glasses always arrive quickly (2 weeks, sometimes sooner) from China, and I have NEVER been charged Customs or additional fees.

 

First-time buyers are afforded a nice discount, and several sales run throughout the year.  In addition, you can occasionally find an active voucher code online to knock a few bahts off.

 

Also: If you order multiple pairs of specs, you pay one shipping cost only, which is pretty sweet.

 

If you shop wisely with ZENNI, I  can pretty much guarantee you’ll have glasses with precise correction, decent+ frames, and you just might be tempted to order an extra pair (or some cool sunglasses) next!  Oh, and don’t be dissuaded from considering some of the rock-bottom cheapie frames : They are sometimes the most durable of all.

 

The days of inflated “eyeglasses cartel” prices are over.  And this goes for hearing aids too (!)  There’s absolutely no reason to play into the hands of the brick-and-mortar money grabbers any more.  Plus, you’ll probably receive a superior correction with ZENNI.

 

BTW, ZENNI isn’t the only game in town, but I’ve tried two other online outfits, and I find ZENNI the best of my sample bunch.

 

 

Never heard of Zenni until this thread. Thanks

zenni has a great website and as with 90% of spectacles sold in usa, theirs are made in a factory in China. (Guangzho I think)

Just now shipping via HK. They get there fast but then slow to cnx. about 3 weeks I think but seems longer as their webtracker is singularly uninformative.

A word of warning.

Maybe I am the last to learn that prescriptions have + and -. Selectring the right symbol is critical. as in -2.75 rather than +2.75.

Good luck

 

14 hours ago, Brightly said:

I wholeheartedly endorse getting a good, unbiased optical exam at one of the hospitals or other venues listed here.  By all means, stay away from getting tested at the shops.

 

Get your prescription in writing, AND MAKE SURE TO BE MEASURED FOR PUPILLARY DISTANCE (PD)!

 

If you have a new(er) RX for glasses without pupillary distance measurements, there are apps online that can provide that.  (I can’t attest to their accuracy, however).

 

Then TRY ZENNI!  I have over a dozen pairs from them, and every one is spot-on for correction.

 

PRO TIP: Measure you favorite pair of glasses from top edge-to-edge for your optimal glasses width, and stick to that measurement as closely as possible.  Next, THOROUGHLY research user reviews with regard to frame durability. Frame quality can vary with ZENNI, but I’ve always struck gold by reading every review on the frames I’m focused (pardon the pun) on.  After that, you can download a photo of yourself and “try them on” virtually; however, I’ve had better results with trying them on the stock models offered for perusal.

 

I’ve always opted for the mid-priced lenses (I wear progressives) and have consistently been satisfied.  And I always spring for the non-glare coating.  Additionally, their sunglasses have always been a great purchase.  Lots of good options.

 

The glasses always arrive quickly (2 weeks, sometimes sooner) from China, and I have NEVER been charged Customs or additional fees.

 

First-time buyers are afforded a nice discount, and several sales run throughout the year.  In addition, you can occasionally find an active voucher code online to knock a few bahts off.

 

Also: If you order multiple pairs of specs, you pay one shipping cost only, which is pretty sweet.

 

If you shop wisely with ZENNI, I  can pretty much guarantee you’ll have glasses with precise correction, decent+ frames, and you just might be tempted to order an extra pair (or some cool sunglasses) next!  Oh, and don’t be dissuaded from considering some of the rock-bottom cheapie frames : They are sometimes the most durable of all.

 

The days of inflated “eyeglasses cartel” prices are over.  And this goes for hearing aids too (!)  There’s absolutely no reason to play into the hands of the brick-and-mortar money grabbers any more.  Plus, you’ll probably receive a superior correction with ZENNI.

 

BTW, ZENNI isn’t the only game in town, but I’ve tried two other online outfits, and I find ZENNI the best of my sample bunch.

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing your experience. I am new to glasses and could need some guidance. 

I have always had 20/20 vision, but gradually over the past 5 years I have becoming farsighted as a natural result of aging.

Until now, I have just been using 100 baht glasses from street vendors and are currently using +2.50 for reading, but lately I also need to use +1.00 to see clearly at 2-4 m distance. Watching TV etc.

 

Would progressives or bifocals be my best next step?

 

3 minutes ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

Would progressives or bifocals be my best next step?

Progressives for sure. No line to see around. Vision blends from far to near

 

Any recommendations for opticians in Pattaya to get the eyes checked?  Prefer contact lens specialist, but that shouldn't matter much.

1 hour ago, Dart12 said:

Any recommendations for opticians in Pattaya to get the eyes checked?  Prefer contact lens specialist, but that shouldn't matter much.

Try the Pattaya Forum, this is Chiang Mai 800 kilometers North.

For starters, the shops in CM carry few frames that have a nose bridge big enough for a farang.... Been a zenni customer since 2006.  Delivery to LOS was efficient.. about 12 days to CM.  Get on their mailing list and there are a few promos.  My next order will include a pair of their new prescription safety glasses..