Thru my blurry eyes: My four-eyed story and Where to buy cheap eye glasses

Wrote by Diaries of A Financial Traveler 21:51:00 6 Comments

I used to have a vision of 20/20. It was actually just 4 months ago when I had to renew my driver's license and part of the process was the medical examination which includes eye check up. I was asked to read the eye chart and I can't barely read the last three rows from it. That's when I realize that I am beginning to have a poor eyesight.

When I was younger-or more like when I was in high school, I thought wearing eye glasses is cool plus it makes you look nerdy/intelligent. WELL AT LEAST I KNOW I CAN'T BE THE ONLY ONE WHO THINKS THAT WAY.

Unfortunately, the "coolness" that I thought only lasted for a few days. It is finally coming to me the serious burden that comes with it.

Everything is blurred. I am constantly called "suplada/mataray" because I don't greet or acknowledge people simply because I don't know it's them unless they come super close. I can't read jeepney/fx signages. Ordering in fast food chains becomes difficult.

That's when I decided I should consult an ophthalmologist.

So, I've done inquiries with optical shops located in malls such as 'EO Executive Optical' and the like. And hey, they offer free check up. So I ought to know that my eye's grade is 100 on the left and 75 on the right. It's not really serious compared to people I know who has 200 and up! I didn't bought an eyeglass on the said shop because their eyeglasses ranges from Php 4,000 to Php 15,000 depending on the frame and the grade of the eyes. Pricey right?

PATERNO ST.

I researched and found out the haven of optical shops right at the heart of Manila! QUIAPO. Flocks of optical shops are in Paterno St. and also the home for cheap optical solutions!

How to get there?

1. Ride LRT Line 1 and alight at CARRIEDO station. From there just walk towards Paterno Street.

I had no idea on which optical shop I should go so I just walked along Paterno Street and observed each and every shop. I noticed that most of them offers a Complete Eye Glass Package with Check Up for Php 450 only. It's the generic type of frame and I personally don't like the design. (If you're not picky like me, I guess that would be okay). So I searched for the same frame like Maxine Medina's eyeglasses which I found on her Instagram account. See picture below:

So I entered two shops and looked for Maxine Medina's frame and they both offered me Php 1,500 for the frame alone! I declined.

'Til I came across Jai Santoshi Mata- a distributor and wholesaler of all kinds of optical frames, lens, sunglasses equipment and accessories.

I found the perfect frame for me for Php 600 only! After purchasing the frame they referred me to a nearby clinic which is Eye Republic Optical Clinic.