Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bacasper]

I want to buy progressive lenses. Do I need to spend 300,000 to 500,000 (or more) for a decent pair? I just spent 80,000 for a regular glasses but I'm not satisfed.

Is there anywhere in Seoul to get discounted, quality glasses? The opticians I've seen here all advise against the cheaper, Korean lenses and want to sell me the more expensive Japanese, French, or German ones. Is this just like a brand name thing, or is there really a qualitative difference?

Any advice will be appreciated (especially if it saves me $ ).

[elliemk]

I wear progressives as well. I love them. My are also transitional. I'll be hoping someone has the information to help us find a place to get them here in Korea.

[Mr. Pink]

There is a chain glasses place called Glass Box. They sell a lot of upscale stuff, they might have what you are looking for.

They are right...Korean stuff is cheaper and lower in quality than foreign stuff. IMO frames are cheaper in Korea, lenses are cheaper in USA/Canada.

When you say spend 300,000 to 500,000 do you mean for lenses or lenses and frames?

Imported Transition lenses cost 100,000 at glassbox when I asked. Seemed they were $80 in Canada when I asked there.

I can't see you having to spend more than 150,000 on the lenses themselves. Most I ever spent was 100k on GLASS, not plastic, yes GLASS Karl Zeiss lenses. That was here in Korea.

[elliemk]

Does Korean National Health Insurance cover glasses and/or the eye exam at least? Thanks.

[rsmm0224]

I don't know about transitions or progressives or what have you but I did get a very nice pair of glasses for about $70. The eye exam was free.

[bacasper]

As I recall approximately, the Korean glass lenses ONLY are about 150,000, French 300,000, Japanese 400,000, and German 500,000 Plus frames. That was at GlassBox, btw.

Does no one know if the difference between all the lenses is merely "name brand?"

In New York, we had an awesome discount place: progressive with flex frames, $80-100 bucks! I miss that.