i used to go to an independant optomerist and glasses for my DS cost me out of pocket over $400!!
he lost them 2 months later

so now i take my kids to SS- It costs me $68 for them both to get 2 pairs of glasses each with the anti glare coating on them all!

I needed to get new glasses for myself but i wear contacts 99% of the time. So I got 2 pairs again for myself - only one with reflective tinting and I was out of pocket $14
all our glasses were from the $199 and $249 range too

I then get my contacts online directly from the Manufacturer which saves me $$$$ ($52 for 3 months rather than $175)
anyone who wears contacts should check this company out- you just have to enter your own specs in that I also got checked when I went to SS and ordered my glasses!!

So besides lack of any personal service as the staff recite their script to me each time they serve me- I saved Heaps of $$$$$ going there
just make sure you ask for the cheapest price out of pocket you can get and they will tell you what will bring in the best rebates from your PHI