Sooner or later, most of us need reading glasses. For years, I simply grabbed the cheapest pair I could find. If they broke, I’d just buy another. It seemed practical—why spend more than you have to?
But then I needed something more specialized: glasses I could actually use outdoors. I wanted serious sun protection, clear reading power, and a durable frame. In short, I needed the Pilot Frame Black Lenses—polarized bifocal sunglasses that let you see both near and far. This kind of combined lens is complicated, and going for the cheapest option almost always backfires.
I learned this lesson the hard way. When you’re searching for “where can I buy reading glasses” that genuinely combine sun protection with reliable bifocals, the lowest price is rarely the right answer. I went through three different price tiers before finding the perfect pair.
My first pair cost $20 and lasted all of three weeks. They were lightweight, but not in a good way—they felt like flimsy plastic that might snap if I handled them too roughly.
At this rock-bottom price, bifocal sunglasses typically fail in two key areas:
I tried two different $20 pairs. Both failed quickly—the second pair even had a lens pop out after a gentle drop onto a rug.
Verdict: Super cheap glasses are a waste of money. You’re essentially throwing $20 away every month.
Next, I moved up to the $40 range. They were… okay. This is where a lot of people stop, thinking $40 is already a lot to spend on readers, so they just live with the shortcomings.
The frames on these mid-range glasses were definitely better—sturdier and less likely to break in your hands. But the lenses still fell short. While the plastic was stronger, the hardware (like screws and hinges) remained weak.
What stood out most at this stage was the mediocre polarization. I bought them mainly for driving on sunny days. They cut some glare, but not nearly as effectively as true polarized lenses should.
The Flaw: I still caught myself squinting behind them. The reading portion was clear enough, but the transition line remained visible and distracting, especially when trying to focus on distant objects like street signs.
Verdict: This price point gets you better frames but average lenses. It’s a temporary fix, not a real solution.