Got to talk with a colleague on glasses, which are privately bought in this country. Just some short remarks while we were walking the staircase.
She: I have a headache.
Me: Maybe you need new glasses?
She: I just have new glasses. They cost me a fortune and better be good.
Me: Yes, glasses are way too expensive. Mine cost an outrageous $400! (purchased before becoming Mustachian)
She: Mine cost $1100!
So I thought my glasses were expensive. Obviously it could have been a lot worse...
Wow! How is this possible? What is the feature that makes it expensive?
Walk into a glasses store with some extra requirements and no research ahead of time and say "I'd like to buy some glasses, please." They'll do the rest.
You also have to ignore the cost of frames and just look for the prettiest/sexiest/coolest ones. We overpay for frames in order to enjoy the convenience of getting glasses at our drs' office, but we look at the price tags and choose from the 3 pairs that are not exhorbitant.
Much also depends on the type of glasses you want/need. If you have a very common prescription you can get them pretty cheap, but if you have -10 , cylinder or + in one eye and - in the other eye, the lenses itself can be quite expensive. Then there are additional treatments that can make them even more expensive: coatings, extra-thin, etc.
When I had less money I used to buy cheaper ones, but the cheap frames always seem to break within a year, you have to pay for service and the lenses are always expensive with my prescription. Even if the frame is €20 the lenses are still going to be €75 at least or something for the most basic lens
My last pair was about €450 and of that, €300 was for the frame. I'm allergic to several materials so the choice is limited. In the end I chose the expensive frame I liked most and not the cheaper alternative that looked less good on me. The glass was €150, for that price they are also anti-reflective, impact resistent, UV-blocking and extra thin (otherwise I'd have jam jar glasses). I've had this pair for 4 years now and they were worth the money. I've never spent so much before, but I really didn't love the other frame.
I know my parent spends €1000 per pair, they have one of those fancy expensive rimless frames, a very unusual prescription and no-line multifocal lenses.