QUOTE(beeMay @ Feb 1 2018, 11:22 PM)
Hello
just wondering if anyone has exp in this, whats the difference between expensive glasses like OWL or EGG (those boutique like you can find in malls like mid valley , suria klcc etc)
vs
those small shops in sungei wang
I enquired for my power which is less than 400, with changing color lenses, those in OWL can costs 400+ while in sungei wang same thing and costs only RM160
didnt plan to buy glasses, but seeing the price in sg wang i feel like buying. anyone has more knowledge in glasses? how come the diff can be 2x ? is cheaper ones fake? thankss
Hi BeeMay,
I would believe the main reason for such a huge difference in their price being the brand itself. While there's really just a handful of giant lens manufacturers like Essiolor, Zeiss, Nikon and so on that make up a significant chunk of the global market, there exists loads of smaller lens manufacturers especially in the eastern part of the world. Big, well established lens manufacturers like Zeiss can charge you a premium on their products much like (BUT NOT EXACTLY the same) how designer eyewear would always come with exorbitant price tags despite the small difference in quality between a branded frame with a non-branded one.
It is really worth-noting that the optics of ophthalmic lenses is, in reality, much more complex than it appears to be. There are loads of things to be taken into consideration when it comes manufacturing ophthalmic lenses to minimize the imperfections of a lens like aberration etc. Hence, I'd ague that the higher and more complex your prescription (a.k.a 'glasses power') is, the more money you need to fork out if you really want your lenses to be of better 'optical quality' (this is just partially true but correct enough in your case but let's just not delve too much into the optics just now). However, because your prescription is fairly low and not complex (I assume you do not have astigmatism or just a small amount of it), it won't make a world of difference even if the lenses are of better 'optical quality'.
NONTHELESS, everything I've said above really only applies if the difference in price between those lenses is due to the difference in 'index' (index is just a technical term we use to describe the thickness of a lens). Check if both lenses are of the same 'index' first. And then, check if both lenses have got similar coating (like anti-reflection coating/ photochromatic coating (reacts to UV light so the lens turns dark when exposed to sunlight)) and MATERIAL. Apart from anti-reflection and photochromatic coatings, I'd argue that other add-ons would be of benefit to you. But again, since I haven't tested your eyes and spoken to you abut your lifestyle, my suggestion may not be the best for you but it certainly can give you a bit of idea to help you make your decision.
Best thing to do, speak to a qualified dispensing optician because it's an optician's job to find out the best lens for you according to your prescription, lifestyle needs and so on. *An optometrist is a primary eye care provider who's trained to carry out comprehensive eye exams whereas an optician is trained to dispense visual aids like glasses.
I am an optometry student who blogs about optometry-related stuff
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