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I've been looking at (pun intended) glasses prescription lenses that darken when outside (jargon: "protochromic") over past weeks, initially by heading into two local glasses shops. They both quoted me $240 for the lenses with tint…per eye! (Whoever came up with buying glasses lenses on a per eye basis deserves to wear a blindfold over one of theirs forever after, if you ask me.) And excluding the frame! Which incl a brand name (again overpriced) frame led the total for glasses to just over $1000. Not ideal.Since I've previously bought several glasses through Vision Direct without issues, I had a look there, found it much cheaper, worked out which frames to get, then ordered there. Total cost came to $400 delivered incl a brand name frame. A neat 60% off.
Note I've linked the VisionDirect website for the Transitions lenses, but the discount is only visible by selecting frames, then selecting frame & lenses deal, then Distance, adding Prescription, then selecting thickness, and only then selecting either of the Transitions options.
For both(!) eyes:
Transitions Gen 8 lenses were discounted different amounts depending on lens thickness chosen:
- $109 (instead of indicated $164 RRP) for 1.5 index 'Silver'
- $129 (instead of indicated $194 RRP) for 1.61 index 'Gold' or 1.67 index 'Diamond'
Transitions XTRActive were discounted different amounts depending on lens thickness chosen:
- $159 (instead of indicated $239 RRP) for 1.5 index 'Silver'
- $179 (instead of indicated $269 RRP) for 1.61 index 'Gold'
- $199 (instead of indicated $299 RRP) for 1.67 index 'Diamond'
Some of the best videos I found on the Gen 8 and XTRActive below:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQNmPG5o0Vs
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPtAswgJbEk
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY8FVmmIejQ
Note if bought alongside frames that are not on sale, it looks to be stackable with a coupon for eg 10% lenses cost here: https://www.visiondirect.com.au/p/coupons/
Bit of a quite specific deal, but since I had done the research, I thought it was worth sharing in case useful for anyone else.
It is called 'reactions' at Specsavers and usual price is $100 per pair. There is currently 50% off lens options so will only cost you $50.
If you have PHI extras with optical, frames should be included but YMMV.
Source: I signed up for the Bupa deal and got optical included in the extra (2 months waiting perioid waived) and bought 2 pairs of prescription glasses from Specsavers (1 sunny, 1 everyday wear with reaction) and it only costed $50.