I'm going to order a couple spare pairs of eyeglasses next month (budget gone this month).

I would like at least one pair of these to be 'highly durable' - i.e. they should be able to take a bit of abuse (remember the old Timex watch commercials?) rather than the standard 'fashion type' I normally buy.

What are some options and some sources? The local shops don't seem to have a clue. I know I want glass rather than plastic lenses - probably safety glass - but where can I get rugged reliable frames in case they have to last me a while? I'm not so concerned about how they look - they will be relegated to emergency use should they not be needed.

Arnie

-- Arnie Rimmer (arnie_rimmer@usa.net), October 07, 1998

Answers

Since I do a lot of outdoor activities like horseback riding, hunting, shooting, hiking, etc. I asked my eye doctor what I could get for a good, sturdy pair of eyeglasses. The ones I finally chose are expensive, but worth every penny.

The frames are made of titanium (maybe an alloy?) and are incredible. Lightweight, flexible, and unbreakable. I was told that one customer actually drove his car over his frames and they were fixable.

For lenses I got the polycarb "glass". After two years of daily use they don't have a scratch on them. The glasses themselves have survived two falls from my horse, being sat on (oops...), and countless shell casings from my semi-auto hitting me in the face.

-- Melinda Gierisch (gieriscm@hotmail.com), October 08, 1998.

Arnie: I saw a commercial the other night for some glass that you can twist, bend, sit on, etc.--the guy wrapped the ear piece around his finger to prove it...I'll make a note next time I see it and post it here for you.

-- Okum (ws000@aol.com), October 08, 1998.

I don't know about the glass, but you can get frames at Walmart that can be bent, twisted, and wrapped around your finger. They have a specific brand name which I can't remember.

-- Louise (~~~~@~~~~.~~~), October 08, 1998.

I'm considering looking into corrective laser eye surgery

-- Dave Bean (beand@earthlink.net), October 09, 1998.

Whatever you do, purchase lenses that block 99% +- U.V. Here's why, all lenses, the worst to the best, shade eyes and allow pupil to open up. Low filtering lenses allow U.V. into the wide open eye and it "cooks" it. High quality lenses filter it out.

-- christopher verdant (verdant@hooked.net), October 11, 1998.