Scary!

Not just the eyes.  Not just the size of the pupils - 'though that did make taking photos a bit challenging, couldn't see a damn thing.

Why do opticians talk to you about the eye-watering price of glasses straight after they have blinded you?  Vulnerable?  Easy prey?

I've been biting bullets facing up to the fact that I really DO need new glasses.  Last had an eye test ten years ago, that prescription is long outdated.

The thing is this - in Yorkshire, with my style consultant, I fell in love with the most expensive frames in the shop.  Have considered hundreds of others but remain smitten.  So began a conversation.

The manager of the shop where I had the eye test done didn't stock these frames but could source them - for £350!  The place in Yorkshire had them at £200.  Both before lenses.  

When I could see again and went back to continue negotiations the manager made the [BIG] mistake of clicking on a US site where the very same frames were priced at £17!!!   He suggested he could do me a deal "They might be on sale."   I raced home to find they were now out of stock on that site.  Rats.

Manager came down to £250.  I've just bought the frames online for £150, and a second pair of the same style in a slightly less appealing colour for £40.

I'm just beginning to research the best solution for lenses.  Canvassing opinions from more experienced purchasers of lenses, and will do the rounds of other opticians.  I'm a bit taken with the fact that the opticians who did the eye test send the glasses to Japan to have Nikon lenses fitted.  At a cost of £350-£400 for varifocals.  Question is - is it worth it?  Am I being seduced by the Nikon name?  

I'm committed to the frames now so just need to decide which lenses to go for.  Any advice based on your own experience would be most welcome.  My eyes are dramatically different - one good at distance and one good at close up, they've worked really well together up till now.  But it does mean that I can't pick up a pair of reading glasses at the checkout in Asda.  Well, I could but they wouldn't help me see.  

It came as a breakthrough when I realised that my eyesight was probably not going to improve in this lifetime, so glasses become a sort of investment.  I have been known to sit on, or lose sunglasses the day I buy them … £500 - doesn't bear thinking about.  Decisions, decisions.  Help.

Inspired by Iris Apfel film :-D  highly enjoyable.