Two words: Dollar Store. You can have a dozen pairs of reading glasses, one for each mood, location, whatever. And they only cost a buck, so it's no biggie if they go missing.

Alan, I am sure you will find your audience here, being generally all around 40, is in the same boat. Reading glasses are neccessary equipment for Gen x as we coast down the years, and the next question is 'where did all these aches come from?'

Shelley is correct. Grocery stores and drug stores also have glasses, maybe one step up, for 10 bucks. Several years ago, I got the dr. appt., the checkup, and got nifty frames ($$$$!!!) too. Then I got dollar store glasses that looked a bit like the first pair, and were about the same prescription. The dollar store glasses fell apart soon thereafter, but the optometrist frames have been stepped on, dropped, kicked on a daily basis and are FINE. Just give them the occaisional 5 dollar tuneup. So, maybe you get what you pay for, but the optometrist is gonna have the hipper, more durable pair.

I had those super modern rimless featherweight ones for a while, but they got too dinged up.

Since then, I've been wearing different colours in the same eyeglass style. They're plastic, slightly nerdy and tortoiseshell coloured. They come in clear, blue, brown with black fronts, pure black, tortoise... quite nice. I believe they carry this style at Laurier Optical on King.

(Here's a picture.)

http://www.optimuscrime.com/images/my_glasses.jpg

Model #1: Liberal Gerard Kennedy

You could either go for the natural look--seen in the web slideshow in photo 1 and 2; or you could go for an even edgier look. (ex.'Malcolm X' ,'Buddy Holly' and 'Theodore Roosevelt') The side of the frames are thicker as seen in photos 3 and 4 on Kennedy's site.

Model #2: Conservative Peter Mackay

Here is a good example of a pair of glasses where the frames are almost transparent. I'm not a big fan as they exude a sense of <a href=http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0209475/Ss/0209475/1?path=gallery&path_key=0209475">arrogance</a>. Let's move on.

Model #3:Actor Samuel L Jackson

These puppies are a definite purchase if you are looking to cash in on the free pocket pen holder.

And last but not least:

Model #4: The one the only David Letterman

His glasses are part of his act, so you gotta like 'em. Anyway, hope this helps.

I like the 1950s standard-issue science nerd glasses, myself.

dignity demands the giant oversized thick larry king old guy glasses. cool has been done to death. and i also vote for the dollar store. i have a good eye doctor who wouldnt sell me the expensive pair. "you don't don't need them," he said. "you won't do your eyes any damage with the cheapos for a few years." a word to the unavoidable though. i personally own over 30 pair of reading glasses situated throughout the house for when i need them; i still can't find any of them when i do need them though. fucking glasses. fucking kids and thier ability to read a menu without them. i hate anybody under 30.

Do your glasses have the word "Bic" on them?

Portland, what was it the Stones said back in the 60s? Don't trust anybody over thirty? New idea: don't trust anybody under 30.

except to read the specials off the board.

My glasses are Theo by Patrick Hoet. If I was in the market for a new pair these would do the trick.

My only add on is always have 2 pairs when you travel. When you get as blind as I am now, If you break or lose a pair on the road you are in deeep doo doo

My next pair are the frameless ones

Why spend money on frames - its your face!!!

Now that you have everyone else's opinion, why not ask your wife? She's the one who has to look at you. :-)