But what really knocked me out was her cheap sunglasses

[This may be my first ever blatant endorsement here. The usual disclaimers apply. No, I am not getting paid by the company or getting any sort of free products or services from them. I am just a happy customer.]

Even with a vision plan at work, glasses for this seeing-impaired family can get expensive. Once you're done paying for all the up-sells (anti-scratch coating, anti-UV coating, the amount your frames ran over the allowed amount, etc.) it ends up being a chunk of change. So that's why I'm glad Les turned me on to Zenni Optical. They are a company that makes their own glasses, does no marketing, relying on word-of-mouth (like this - I've also recommended them directly to probably a dozen people), and sells only through the Internet.

The result? Lots and lots of cheap glasses. How cheap? They have glasses (frames and lens together) starting at$8. Lots of glasses in price ranges of $9.95, $12.95, $15.95, $19, etc. Need UV protection? It's free. Anti-scratch coating? It's free. Anti-reflective coating? $4.95. Tinting for sunglasses? $4.95. Bi-focals? Starting at $25. Progressive (no-line) bi-focals? $37. I've gotten a pair of prescription sunglasses from them for $22, and progressive bi-focals for under $50. They have titanium frames, rimless, frames, even prescription goggles for working, skiing or bike riding.

Recently one of my nose piece pads fell off and they sent me not just two replacement pads, but scads of hardware and a little tool for working on my glasses. For free. Just for asking.

So if you need new glasses, or perhaps you just want a second pair for fashion's sake, or a pair of prescription sunglasses but could never justify the cost to yourself, you now have your answer - Zenni Optical. Never walk out of your optometrist's office without your prescription in hand so you can buy from Zenni. Check 'em out.