A visit to the Ophthalmologist indicated new prescription.
Objective was to place new lens in existing frames. I have had the same frames for over 30 years (great value). I went to LensCrafters and Pearl Vision ... the really big chains. They were very nice, professional, but said they were not able to use my existing frames and that I would have to buy a new frame and the prescription lenses. Their selection was immense and the prices were reasonable.
However, I simply wanted new lenses for my existing frames. I was at a point of what marketers call 'customer sacrifice' which is defined in this case as the gap between what each customer truly wants and needs and what LensCrafters and Pearl Vision could supply. Many companies today, because of economies of scale, commoditize products. Their economic model is, 'get as close to one size fits all as possible'. In essence ...'we will sell what we make'.
My wife told me that our neighbor used to go to a local company, Wilson and Wilson. I went. I met the optician Shawn Susnworth. I presented my request. His response ...'yes, we can do that for you.' Here is what he had to do:
1. Order prescription lens blanks.
2. Upon receipt, hand shape the lens using my previous lenses as a template.
3. Bevel the lenses for esthetic appeal.
4. Drill the lenses to fit the frames.
5. Dis-assemble, clean, polish and replace parts from the existing 3pc drill mount frame and reassemble them...onto the new lens. Note: my 3 pc drill mount frame consisted of 37 pieces including screws, nuts, washers, pads, earpieces and bridge. The frame was more like a watch than a pair of glasses.
Wilson and Wilson is a small family owned business. They carry many different designer commodity frames just like LensCrafters and Pearl Vision. But they have one difference. They have Shawn. Shawn is a dispensing optician, but he was also trained as a 'bench craftsman'. He has the knowledge to fit and repair glasses, but he also has the old school craftsman skills to 'custom make' them.
The price for the remake? It was within a few dollars of the lenses alone from the chains.
That's why I think Wilson & Wilson is a wonderful place to buy glasses. read more