Buying new glasses can be expensive, especially if you add extra coatings and features to your prescription like anti-glare coating or multi-focal options. In addition to buying all of the bells and whistles relating to your lenses, you also have to purchase a frame that fits your fashion sense, the shape of your face, and your coloring. Frames can range from $99 for a basic pair of store brand frames to hundreds of dollars for a designer frame. And what makes things even more expensive is that fashions will probably change faster than your prescription, making changing frames as common as rotating your tires.
To reduce your expenses while still keeping in step with current fashion trends you can simply have the store put your old lenses in a new frame. This will at least save you on purchasing a completely new pair of glasses. You can also look for a buy one, get one free sale to buy a couple of pairs of glasses with different frames. Perhaps buy one fashionable pair and one basic pair. That way you can have a pair of glasses that are trendy, while the trend lasts, and when they become unfashionable, you can wear your basic pair until you have the money to buy an updated frame.
In order to make sure the glasses that you selected are actually the ones that you want, look for stores that offer a no hassle return policy that will allow you to try out a frame for thirty days before you have to make a final decision on whether or not to keep the frame or trade it in for a different style. Also look for stores that offer a free replacement program in case your glasses break or need adjustments during the first year. If this is not offered free, the store may offer an insurance or replacement program for a small fee. If the fee is reasonably priced I would highly recommend purchasing it, especially if the glasses are for a child or adolescent.