Sunglasses - bring spares or buy there

kristinm · Dec 2nd, 2007, 07:32

Can you buy good protective sunglasses in India? I have noticed in several movies older men wearing extremely hip retro style Elvis glasses (but not in a retro way!) ... are these good for your eyes though? What kind of price would you pay for sunglasses there - the ones we wear here which are very protective are about $40 (from the cancer council shop).

PeakXV · Dec 2nd, 2007, 09:08

Unless things have dramatically changed in the last 3 years .... bring some extras with you. The majority of the Indian supply is outdated style-wise and might not be as UV-protective as advertised and/or as one could hope.

Nick-H · Dec 2nd, 2007, 09:40

If you want to buy the Big-Name or some Designer-Name glasses you will find them here easily ---and, I guess, if it is from a reputable shop, they should be genuine. I don't know how prices compare. Prices for spectacles, even with foreign lenses and imported frames, are lower.

However, I think it is harder to find the sort of mid-price sunglasses that I usually buy. It is also an item that, for every purchase, over the preceding months I will have visited and checked out many shops to get that pair that feels right, has the right kind of lens, and looks (at least) ok, and is, ideally, reduced in a sale! Buy before you come!

As I always wore sunglasses for driving in UK, it was not an item that I needed to buy specifically for India.

vireya · Dec 2nd, 2007, 13:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeakXV

The majority of the Indian supply is outdated style-wise ...

That was what I thought on my first visit to India last year. However, those large, ugly 70's styles are IN now, apparently. The shops here in Australia are full of styles seen only on Bollywood stars a couple of years ago. So it seems India was actually leading the world, style-wise!

dhans · Dec 2nd, 2007, 15:39

Bring them from home and make sure they are sort of wrap-around, so they cover the sides of your eyes.

Hans

karuna · Dec 2nd, 2007, 16:57

Quote:

If you want to buy the Big-Name or some Designer-Name glasses you will find them here easily ---and, I guess, if it is from a reputable shop, they should be genuine. I don't know how prices compare.

Earlier this year in Delhi, a range of Ray-Bans from a legit shop (afaik....) were between Rs3000 to Rs8000. The ones I looked at, anyway. Non-prescription.

Aishah · Dec 2nd, 2007, 17:45

I have prescription glasses that change colour in the sun - I'm sure a proper name for them! Got them in Karol Bagh and the total cost was around 700 rupees. They are fine. However, one of the things you will notice here is because there is a good ozone layer plus air pollution (a lot of dust) the sun is nowhere near as fierce as in Australia or NZ. In fact, I hardly ever wear sunglasses, not even these prescription ones. But this is probably bad advice and I ought to be more diligent! I think the brand name ones are genuine as mentioned before by karuna.

Nick-H · Dec 2nd, 2007, 18:43

--- photochromic!

I don't usually wear sunglasses (except for driving) when out and about in Chennai --- in fact I don't much protect myself from the sun at all, though I guess I should.

However, I find that the Trivandrum sunshine, by virtue of being just a bit closer to the equator, requires them.

Aishah · Dec 2nd, 2007, 21:53

Ah, that's the word! Thank you, Nick.

PeakXV · Dec 2nd, 2007, 21:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhans

Bring them from home and make sure they are sort of wrap-around, so they cover the sides of your eyes.

Hans

That's a great point - the dust/particulate/grime protection factor when out walking the Indian streets may be just as important for eye health as the UV protection rating is - to most travellers.

crvlvr · Dec 4th, 2007, 02:06

You can take a look here to see whatis available in India:

http://www.titanworld.com/stores/mis...e=&c mbBrand=

Brisso · Dec 4th, 2007, 03:27

There are millions of optometrists and a wide variety of frames and lenses in the cities ... however do you want to be messing about with this stuff on your holiday?

Cancer Council approved sunnies can be bought from $15-20, so why bother in India?

the opoponax · Dec 4th, 2007, 03:59

The main reason to buy a pair in India, in my opinion, would be if you were already going to replace them anyway and thought they might be better, cheaper, etc. in India. Which was the case with me until I saw that website - I think I'll just add them to the shopping list, thanks.

midlifetravel · Dec 4th, 2007, 13:10

If you wear prescription I always carry a copy of my script just on the odd chance I can get a cheap pair of glasses or contacts. If you are flying via SEA you can definitely get both in most cities in that part of the world

crvlvr · Dec 4th, 2007, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by the opoponax

The main reason to buy a pair in India, in my opinion, would be if you were already going to replace them anyway and thought they might be better, cheaper, etc. in India. Which was the case with me until I saw that website - I think I'll just add them to the shopping list, thanks.

The US is probably the cheapest place in the world these days to buy consumer gooods.

Dec 2nd, 2007, 07:32	#1
kristinm Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beautiful Bondi (not Bundi!) Posts: 1,483	Sunglasses - bring spares or buy there Can you buy good protective sunglasses in India? I have noticed in several movies older men wearing extremely hip retro style Elvis glasses (but not in a retro way!) ... are these good for your eyes though? What kind of price would you pay for sunglasses there - the ones we wear here which are very protective are about $40 (from the cancer council shop).

Dec 2nd, 2007, 09:08	#2
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,200	Unless things have dramatically changed in the last 3 years .... bring some extras with you. The majority of the Indian supply is outdated style-wise and might not be as UV-protective as advertised and/or as one could hope. __________________ We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Dec 2nd, 2007, 09:40	#3
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,908	If you want to buy the Big-Name or some Designer-Name glasses you will find them here easily ---and, I guess, if it is from a reputable shop, they should be genuine. I don't know how prices compare. Prices for spectacles, even with foreign lenses and imported frames, are lower. However, I think it is harder to find the sort of mid-price sunglasses that I usually buy. It is also an item that, for every purchase, over the preceding months I will have visited and checked out many shops to get that pair that feels right, has the right kind of lens, and looks (at least) ok, and is, ideally, reduced in a sale! Buy before you come! As I always wore sunglasses for driving in UK, it was not an item that I needed to buy specifically for India. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Dec 2nd, 2007, 15:39	#5
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,540	Bring them from home and make sure they are sort of wrap-around, so they cover the sides of your eyes. Hans __________________ Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids Stories about our travels in India: Journal

Dec 2nd, 2007, 17:45	#7
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,039	I have prescription glasses that change colour in the sun - I'm sure a proper name for them! Got them in Karol Bagh and the total cost was around 700 rupees. They are fine. However, one of the things you will notice here is because there is a good ozone layer plus air pollution (a lot of dust) the sun is nowhere near as fierce as in Australia or NZ. In fact, I hardly ever wear sunglasses, not even these prescription ones. But this is probably bad advice and I ought to be more diligent! I think the brand name ones are genuine as mentioned before by karuna. __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Dec 2nd, 2007, 18:43	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,908	--- photochromic! I don't usually wear sunglasses (except for driving) when out and about in Chennai --- in fact I don't much protect myself from the sun at all, though I guess I should. However, I find that the Trivandrum sunshine, by virtue of being just a bit closer to the equator, requires them.

Dec 2nd, 2007, 21:53	#9
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 5,039	Ah, that's the word! Thank you, Nick.

Dec 4th, 2007, 02:06	#11
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,474	You can take a look here to see whatis available in India: http://www.titanworld.com/stores/mis...e=&c mbBrand=

Dec 4th, 2007, 03:27	#12
Brisso Specialist muddler Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 533	There are millions of optometrists and a wide variety of frames and lenses in the cities ... however do you want to be messing about with this stuff on your holiday? Cancer Council approved sunnies can be bought from $15-20, so why bother in India?

Dec 4th, 2007, 03:59	#13
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,054	The main reason to buy a pair in India, in my opinion, would be if you were already going to replace them anyway and thought they might be better, cheaper, etc. in India. Which was the case with me until I saw that website - I think I'll just add them to the shopping list, thanks.

Dec 4th, 2007, 13:10	#14
midlifetravel Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 15	If you wear prescription I always carry a copy of my script just on the odd chance I can get a cheap pair of glasses or contacts. If you are flying via SEA you can definitely get both in most cities in that part of the world __________________ Lis Packing Tips

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