Hi fellow travelers-- heading over to Europe soon with average of 3-4 days in each.
For years I've longed for a pair of glasses cut in Germany or Italy as their rx lenses are cut to higher precision than US standards (I used to work in an optical shop.) Does anyone know if it is possible to get a pair made within 24-48 hours? The largest cities we will be in or near are Frankfurt, Vienna, Budapest, Sorrento, Florence and Genova. As always, thanks for the great advice over the years. Safe travels everyone!
Posted by
San Francisco
14765 posts
Hi,
As a former optical employee, you might be interested in this while you're in Frankfurt. Take a day trip to Wetzlar, not only to see the musuem/house of Goethe and Charlotte but the Zeiss Museum. You might find that very interesting, I did in 1977.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32318 posts
I've never tried that, but it's likely you should be able to have a prescription filled within that time. Hopefully one of the European contributors to the forum can help with that.
I'd want to have a full eye exam just prior to the trip, so that my prescription was right up to date.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
19523 posts
Before I got implants I used to purchase ZEISS high refractive lens through a Canadian company. There are a number selling them out of Canada because US regulations make it impossible to buy them here. Really liked them. I could match my prescription with a lens that was roughly half the thickness of anything available in the US.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11636 posts
My experience in Italy is that for my prescriptions (bifocals) glasses cost 25-30% more than in the U.S. and it took 2 weeks to get the lenses made. Obviously you can pop into a shop and ask about faster service if you use monovision lenses.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10513 posts
Before I got implants I used to purchase ZEISS high refractive lens
through a Canadian company. There are a number selling them out of
Canada because US regulations make it impossible to buy them here.
Really liked them. I could match my prescription with a lens that was
roughly half the thickness of anything available in the US.
James--could you explain what implants have to do with lenses?
Also, do you know why they are restricted in the US? This is really an interesting thread for people who spend a lot of time abroad and could have medical/dental/optical work performed overseas instead of hurrying up to do it before leaving the States or Canada.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3249 posts
Marty Feldman eyes?
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
19523 posts
Before I had cataract surgery which also involved having lens put inside my eyes, I had miserable eyesight and couldn't see 4 feet beyond my face clearly. My prescription eyewear was abnormally thick requiring I wear little tiny round glasses to try and keep the thickness to a minimum. Then I found out the Europeans had high refraction glass which for some dumb reason isn't legal here. I started getting Zeiss high refractive lens in Canada and the thickness of the lens was half as much which meant I could wear different frame styles. Since the cataract surgery all I need is cheap drugstore reading glasses as to gain decent long distance vision I had to sacrifice close up (now I cant see anything within 4 feet of my face).
And in Budapest I get my dental work done and I have annual physicals; as it is cheaper, at least equal quality, and the doctors treat you like a human beings.