[telesilla]

I agree that mid-lower-range shops are a racket: however, don't discount the luxury and privilege of high-end options of dedicated professionals. My glasses cost in total almost $1000. I wear them almost every waking moment, they are exceptional designer hand-made frames from France with Zeiss lenses and Japanese transition technology, and the optometrist is top-of-the-line who also does an eye cancer check each year. They are a beautiful piece of art that I chose, because I find contact lenses troublesome and I enjoy taking my glasses off to both relax and for the pleasure of having a blurred world around me (other short-sighted users will understand this pleasure). When I was a student, I wore $25 government-sponsored glasses. I'm so pleased there are options for both. I'm so glad there are $1 glasses for those who need them and can avoid overpaying for low quality.

[Hydraulix989]

At that price, I would consider laser surgery.

[telesilla]

I'd be subject to presbyopia, and prefer to wear bifocals.

[GavinMcG]

By the way, "short-sighted" in American English universally means "lacking in imagination or foresight". Not that you're obliged to accommodate American English, of course, but "nearsighted" is the equivalent.

[zimzam]

Every eye doctor I've been to in the last decade has done an eye cancer check, I think that's standard.

[telesilla]

Right, that's the point: the chain stores don't have doctors, they have people who are trained to use machines and don't check for anything except getting your prescription.