I’ve worn glasses since I was eleven years old.
Pete, on the other hand, has always had excellent eyesight, so he’s found his aging vision particularly frustrating. I’m finding it difficult to be sympathetic, but given my truly appalling sense of direction, we needed to figure out a way for him to read GoogleMaps on his phone without constantly having to rummage around for his reading glasses.
After some research, we discovered these brilliant little lenses by ThinOptics in California.
They’re super lightweight and thin without arms, and fold to fit into a compartment on the back of his iPhone.
I’m not sure how they stay on his nose (apparently that’s the patented technology bit), but Pete says they’re comfortable to wear and feel reasonably secure. They won’t stay on if he shakes his head around too much, and if he smiles too broadly, his cheeks can knock them askew, but they’re certainly fit for purpose. He can now read small text on his phone and order from restaurant menus in dim lighting.
We paid A$32 for the custom iPhone case and A$19.88 for the reading glasses. Shipping was free from the US because we spent over A$50.
After purchase, ThinOptics sent us this discount link which we’re allowed to share with friends – if anyone is interested, it should give you 15% off and free shipping. I don’t think we get anything out of it, other than the same 15% discount, but as the glasses come with a lifetime replacement warranty, I’m not sure why we’d ever need to purchase another pair…
And as an added bonus, I think they make Pete look adorable! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
You certainly know your way around Google – well done for finding these glasses – they look great.
Goodness, I think he might start a fashion for the reintroduction of pince-nez! My grandfather (a schoolmaster) had a pair on a black grosgrain ribbon attached to the buttonhole of his suit jacket, and he kept them tucked in the breast pocket. Although I wear big progressive lenses all the time, sometimes I just need a bit of extra reading help when my eyes are tired, and these look just the ticket, especially as they come in pretty colours :-) I might just need TWO pairs…. Thank you so much for the discount link!
Oh Kate: I SO, SO wish I had REALLY looked and properly chosen ere my order went in!!! Mine is only in the 1.5 to 2.5 range and at the moment on the computer I am;’ bare-faced’ – I am so amused by your ‘pince-nez’ use . . . . and, at the price: methinks most can afford to be fashionable and, once product in hand, may just go fashion-shipping;!!!
I’ve gone for two pairs in the +2 range, one bright multicoloured and the other bright blue with red flowers. Thanks to Celia’s passed-on discount I now have two exceedingly snazzy pairs of designer readers and matching cases for about $65! It almost makes up for my fruitless trudge around town the other day looking for frames that would fit my large head and wide-set eyes…
Sugar: since the company has already shipped and communicated – I’ll see how my first ‘white/white’ pair shapes up and go your way!!! Don’t gel one iota ‘guilty’ with this little spent !!!
Hi Celia,
My husband and I discovered these beauties when on holidays in Tasmania. I was having trouble reading a menu and the waiter popped them on my nose.
I carry a pair in my bag all the time. They’re so handy and take up almost no room, unlike a conventional glass case.
Great for if you wear contact lenses and need a corrective lens for reading.
Love your posts,
Best wishes,
Dale
Pete looks sensational in his new specs
I need a pair of these .. I am famous for my Superman vision but alas the decades have worn it down and with Diabetes it only gets worse
Now my hair is thinning and I’m afraid baldness is about to pay me a long visit … it’s apparantly good old Diabetes and a pill called Coveram for High BP
. I reckon with lots of exercise and no booze and a good diet which I already enjoy I can throw them all out but I guess I need to consult my Doc first … I’ll certainly get some of these iPhone storage compatible specs … thank you , Celia
Absolutely great find Celia, I have reading glasses, distance glasses and prescription sunglasses and constantly changing from one to another depending on what I’m doing or where I am going. I invariably forget where each pair is, but worse still is forgetting my reading glasses after we have travelled an hour away from home. This may be the answer to all of this! Thank you.
Do Pete’s have a prescription written for them?
Robyn, he knows his prescription from the optometrist, so he knew what to order. If you don’t know your script there is an option to order all strengths for an extra $7. 😉
*smile* Well, my order is in ~ Thought I needed some ‘help’ at 40, and did, . . . but my prescription has gone down and down for very many years again and again down that time . . . :Mrs Carr, you have eaten yourself out of specs!!: . . . Need a little help at time some have three generators down the track . . . and these are dishy fun . . . thanks . . .
Two ‘business’ mails since ordering: am impressed and love you for posting!
Thanks for the discount code – it worked a treat. I’m fed up with lugging my usual reading glasses around in my bag – especially as I don’t need them that often (yet!) – so these should be perfect.
That’s great that the code worked, thanks for letting me know! :)
I’ve been putting off getting some for way too long. This sounds like a good idea since I don’t usually need them. Much appreciated!
Wow!
Just ordered a pair. Thanks for sharing!
What a great find – i love that they get knocked askew if Pete smiles too broadly – i hope they are frequently knocked askew:)
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My Peter has about six pairs of these, Celia, and he LOVES them! We have them in the car, in various drawers and suitcases. They’re brilliant for travelling (except for when over-enthusiastic security guards at Middle Eastern airports examine them and then roughly shove them back into the case, thus breaking them!). They have a replacement offer if you lose them, too!
Great post and so inspirational. One question what do you put your vegetables etc into when shopping at the supermarket? I was pondering this question and I wondered if making different sized bags from butter muslin would suffce? Love to know your suggestions.
I am in a quandary. I have been receiving your emails for a long time but they stopped before Christmas. Each time I try to renew my subscrption, I fail and am notified that my account does not exist. In desperation I subscribed using my husband’s email address but he is becoming somewhat tired of having to forward them to me! I would really appreciate your help in this matter. Many thanks
I’m sorry Merle, but I have no control over the subscription software as my blog is hosted at WordPress and the format is fixed. I’m not sure why you would have a problem – that’s the first time I’ve heard of it happening. Re vegetable bags, I’ve been making them out of lace! If you scroll down to my reverse garbage post, there are photos and a pattern. x
Merle, I think your email address might be incorrect? I tried to send you an email and it said it wasn’t a valid address. Your surname is actually spelt differently in your email address – is that right? I think that might be the problem…