Counterstory: I went to my local optician for a check-up. He's fourth or fifth generation: Shop's been there, same address, since the eighteen hundreds (and so far, they haven't seen the need to join a chain, or to start one, for that matter). I got the works. Very thorough test of my ocular abilities. Yes, I needed new reading glasses. But no, he didn't really think he would sell me any. "Listen, you'll be fine with some cheap over-the-counter stuff. I haven't really got any in your particular strength - try the bookstore across the street". Me: "Well, in that case, I should pay you for the test". "Nah, don't think about it. Come back when you need real glasses". And you know, I do believe I shall.

Wish there was a list of local gems like that one, it’s worth fitting them into your travel schedule. Not many left in big cities and they often price themselves for high-end customers, in order to differentiate from retail chain stores.

If you want to go old-school, see http://shuron.com, the last major US frame manufacturer, since 1865. They still make frames in many different sizes for each style, instead of modern one-size-per-style manufacturing. They offer lenses (including glass!).

My Zennis have lasted nearly a year, despite a protracted attempt by a toddler to yank them off my face, throw them across the room, or otherwise destroy them.

Even if they did fall apart after six months, it's more affordable to replace them than to buy new Ralph Lauren or whatever frames for $300 apiece.

(How about not letting your toddler run amok all over your face, Dad-of-the-Year? naysayers might criticize. And they might be right, but you can't win every battle.)

My Warby Parker glasses feel insubstantial, but they've been unfailingly durable and I'm confident they'll last at least as long as my prescription (or my desire to have a different look). I don't expect them to be a lifetime purchase.

For durability, flexible metal / memory metal / Flexon can take a lot of abuse.

>He swears the frames from Zenni and other online retailers are substandard and will fall apart

Even if it's true, so what? Glasses online literally cost 80-90% less than in a brick-and-mortar store. Even if you break several pairs a year, you're still saving money.

If you simply must buy branded glasses, you can buy those online at a hefty discount over the brick-and-mortar price.

>A coworker once worked as a technician at a chain optometrist's office. He swears the frames from Zenni and other online retailers are substandard and will fall apart, but my experience has been otherwise.

BS, the expensive and the inexpensive ones are all made with the same techniques in the same factories across brands.

Some expensive frames include a license fee for the designer’s brand name. Some indie-designer expensive frames use more expensive metal, acetate, hinges, rivets, etc. But they usually limit distribution to brick & mortar opticians, so there’s a sizable retail markup.

That was my counter argument to him, and so far he hasn't had anything to say about the durability of my "cheap" frames versus the prior set.

I generally use my vision insurance to get my vision test and daily wear glasses. Then I go online and purchase prescription sunglasses. In my anecdotal experience the fit and finish of "brand name" glasses is better. However, I've never had any of my "cheap" glasses fail in any way.

I have a pair of $6 Zenni glasses that have lasted five years. No sign of wear and I wear them regularly for driving.