I got my eyes checked in Shanghai for ¥80 and bought glasses for ¥200. In New York, that's a $400 trip.
My friend Jake from New York wears glasses. He lost them on a hiking trip in Guilin.He was stressed. In New York, an eye exam is $150. Glasses are $250+. Total: $400+ and a week of waiting.
In Shanghai, he walked into an optical shop near his hotel.
The process:
1. Eye exam: 15 minutes. Machine + manual check. ¥80 ($11).
2. Frame selection: 200+ options. Jake picked a decent titanium frame. ¥120.
3. Lenses: Anti-glare, anti-blue light, thin index. ¥180.
4. Wait time: 40 minutes. They cut the lenses on-site.
5. Total: ¥380 ($52). Done in under an hour.
Jake's reaction: "I spent less on a full eye exam + glasses than I would on a single lens in New York. And I had them in an hour. What is this sorcery?"
The reality of optical care in China:
Eye exams:
• Optical shops: ¥50-100 (includes prescription)
• Hospital ophthalmology: ¥100-200 (more thorough, includes eye health check)
• International clinics: ¥500-800 (English-speaking, Western standards)
Glasses:
• Budget: ¥100-200 (basic frames + lenses)
• Mid-range: ¥300-600 (better frames, thin lenses, coatings)
• Premium: ¥800-2,000 (designer frames, high-index lenses)
Contact lenses:
• Daily disposables: ¥80-150 for 30 pairs
• Monthly: ¥100-200 per pair
• Much cheaper than the West
Where to go:
Optical shops (眼镜店):
• Every neighborhood has several
• Fast (1-2 hours for standard prescriptions)
• Cheap
• Staff usually don't speak English — bring your prescription or use translate
Hospital eye departments:
• More thorough exams
• Better for complex prescriptions or eye health issues
• Slower (appointments, queues)
International clinics:
• English-speaking
• Western equipment
• 5-10x the price
Tips for foreigners:
• Bring your old prescription (numbers are universal)
• Know your pupillary distance (PD) if you can — saves time
• If you have astigmatism, know your axis numbers
• Ask for anti-blue light coating if you work on computers
• Titanium frames are worth the extra ¥50-100 — they last forever
The catch:
Progressive lenses (multifocal) take 3-5 days and cost ¥1,000+. Still cheaper than the West, but not the same-day service.
Jake's now planning to get prescription sunglasses before he leaves. "At these prices, I'm getting three pairs. One for home, one for travel, one to lose."
Anyone else gotten glasses or contacts in China? How was the quality?
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