Actually found some "not new" glasses...or, at least, close to it.

I found these on craigslist for $15 and they fit well enough so I bought them. They aren't used, but I'm guessing they've been through at least two sellers, so close enough. The offspring says the glasses make me look like a goofball. I told him they were designer (Aquaswiss) glasses and the goofball look is in. I was a bit disappointed as I had to pay $51 for prescription lenses at Value Vision. When I went there a few years back you could get cheap plastic lenses for $25. Perhaps they don't carry those anymore. Perhaps I should have thought to ask.

Eyeglasses at BJ's Wholesale Club didn't seem to be a bargain

The husband needed glasses, so he went to Lenscrafters. I suggested he go someplace more affordable...perhaps BJs for frames (because he has a big head and is hard to fit) and Value Vision for lenses. He didn't want to do all that driving around (4 extra miles), so he ended up at BJ's. The frames were half price (orig. $159), which wasn't bad, but he put every bell and whistle possible on his progressive lenses bringing the bill to $300. He probably could have gotten the same price at Lenscrafters (and not had to wait 3 weeks for delivery, so he is mad at me).

New, but not-the-usual-way, prescription eyeglasses.

A post from a friend reminded me about my way-cool (I think), but way-cheap glasses. I got these a few years ago and they have forever changed the way I shop for glasses.

I found the frames on closeout at a store when I was on vacation, so I bought three pair (at $25 each, different styles). I didn't want to lay out a lot of cash getting three new pairs of lenses all at once, so I nosed around. I found an eyeglass place that would put in plastic lenses for $25 per pair. (Look for places called things like Value Vision, etc., and located in working class neighborhoods.) I thought I'd scratch up plastic lenses fairly quickly as I am not careful about putting my glasses down properly, but this was not the case. The lenses have served me well for years. And the store told me that they could put prescription lenses into almost any glasses including "readers" or sunglass frames from the drug store. I may have paid a small upcharge for getting these tinted to sunglasses. I cant recall. But, now I never pay more than $50 (complete) for trendy prescription eyeglasses. (But, I still love this old pair the best.)