It’s a fact of life. As we get older it’s not a question of “if”, it’s a question of when; when we will need reading glasses or “readers”. For me that time came suddenly. A result of my recent Lasik “Monovision” surgery now requires me to use reading glasses for very small print. After a few searches for small, foldable reading glasses, I stumbled across ThinOPTICS. These readers are unique in that they don’t have arms that go over your ears, they just adhere to the bridge of your nose.
At first, I was skeptical that they would stay in place but after I received them, I found that they do indeed stay put. You stretch the flexible frames outwards from the bridge, place them where you want on your nose and they do stay in place. The glasses come in 3 magnification strengths; 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5. They also come in six different colors but let’s face it, you aren’t going to be making a fashion statement with these babies hanging on the bridge of your nose.
The glasses come with a self-adhesive case where you pinch them slightly and slide them in. I have two pairs where I stuck one to the back of my IPad and the other I left loose where I can easily tuck them in my pants pocket for easy access. You can also opt for an IPhone or Samsung Galaxy case with the ThinOPTICS case permanently attached.
The best part about these glasses is the size and ultra-light weight. Instead of the Granny/Grandpa string glasses hanging around your neck, these are tucked away out of sight, and easily accessible when you need them.
The 2nd best part is if you buy them directly from the ThinOPTICS website or at a registered retail outlet, the normal 90-day warranty is extended to a LIFETIME warranty. In short, I love mine but be forewarned that you may be mistaken for Benjamin Franklin with these stuck to the bridge of your nose.
06/28/16
I’ve been using these for just about a month now and I’ve even bought some for some friends. The consensus is that they all love having their readers always accessible. I actually went for the IPhone 6 case with the built in holder. Surprisingly, it was no thicker than my old case even with the holder attached. If you wear readers, you will feel secure knowing you will always have them on hand, as long as you don’t lose your phone! Thumbs up.
Source: The sample for this review was purchased by me from the ThinOPTICS website. Visit their site for more info and Amazon to price check / order.
Product Information
| Price: | $24.95 for glasses and universal case. $34.95 for IPhone or Samsung Galaxy case |
| Manufacturer: | ThinOPTICS |
| Retailer: | Amazon |
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I picked up these a few months ago as “emergency” reading glasses in case mine broke or were otherwise unavailable.
They are more expensive than my ACTUAL reading glasses — which was almost a deal killer for me. But I wasn’t paying for day-to-day reading glasses — I was paying for a backup pair which took up virtually no space and would always have with me.
In the last few months, they have saved my butt twice. Worth every cent.
(btw, I got mine at Fry’s Electronics as an “impulse buy”.
I keep buying them as it is very practical but they last about two weeks. Always lose the middle too thin nose guards.
Very interesting. I think you sold me on giving these a try. Good review!
Great job! I’m ready to go shopping!
love you…
The thing is you need a large diopter glasses. +22 diopter to be exact. Diopters do add linear, so you can stack multiple, but reading glasses typically have +2,+3 diopter (the largest I came about was +8!) so you would need a bunch of them rendering this solution impractical.
I bought a pair almost a year ago, and got good use out of them. Somehow I broke the clear plastic “nose pad”. I emailed the company, and they sent a replacement pair out the next day. Good customer service, and a useful product, although not comfortable enough to be my only pair of reading glasses. I still do like a full size pair if I’m reading the Sunday paper or a paperback novel.
A modern re-creation of an old style of glasses know as a pince-nez.
OUCH!!!
Do you know if wireless charging will work on a phone that has a thin optics case on the back? I have a Note 5 with a thin optics case, and am wanting a wireless charger. Any thoughts/experience on this?
One of the attractions to me is the lifetime warranty, but I’m a bit dubious about it. Do you know how much their shipping is on replacement glasses? Some places will claim that they have a “lifetime warranty” but it’s really a way to lure you into a lifetime pf purchasing their product at a slight discount as they put the screws to you on shipping and handling.
I actually had to use the warranty on one of the 3 pairs I bought (Nose bridge broke off). They promptly shipped the replacement without charging me shipping charges and did not want the broken pair back.
I had the same experience with the nose bridge breaking off. They sent replacements at no charge to me. I love my ThinOptics. Great customer service
I got these glasses today. I really like them so far. I find that they’re not *completely* immune to falling off my face, but very close to it. 🙂
I wish reading glasses had a higher range than 3.0. As you age, you also may need bifocals or progressive lenses. Does any company make readers for us or are we just an excluded group?
I’ve had ThinOPTICS readers for a while. I got the 2 pairs for $20 with the carrying case that attaches to your phone case.
I really like them, but they have one flaw that makes them less than perfect: the nosepads. They’re designed to be very thin and flexible. They got the thin part right, but they’re not quite as flexible as they should be. I had to order a replacement pair, because as I was putting on my previous 2 pairs, the nosepads broke on both of them. If the metal bends the wrong way, and you try to bend it back into position, it’ll just break off.
On the positive side, I got a replacement pair without any problem, and the other two pair, while the nosepads broke, do technically still work as glasses. They’re just very uncomfortable to wear with only the plastic stubs left.
your delivery sucks, i order via online Decemebr 29 and until now still in DHL and stays there more than a month now.
We do not sell products. We just write about them. If you have a problem with an order, you need to contact the vendor directly.
Hi Noli, If you email me directly I’m happy to help you with your order, agree it should not take that long and we have learned that DHL has gaps with tracking info. Please reach out so that I can assist you. Thank you! Marci ma***@th********.com
Hi Marci, i send you a reply direct to your email, i hope you can help me out with this DHL, so much delayed and no update about this item delivery. let you know that i have been charge of 10$ for the delivery, total 34.95$ paid last December 29 2016 through my Credit card.
Nice , thin, but they cut your nose if you wear then for longer than a few seconds
Bad design maybe a different nose piece?
need to stay away from theses until they fix this problem!
Hi Robert, Thanks for letting us know. We’re constantly straddling the line between comfort vs. stability and I am sorry to hear that the glasses are not comfortable for you. ThinOPTICS come with a Lifetime Replacement Guarantee that covers replacements for any problem you may experience with your glasses. If you would like to try another pair or need your purchase taken care of, please contact me directly at Ma***@th********.com Thanks Robert.
Bought mine direct from the company and I order the wrong cell phone case, actually wanted the pod and not a phone case, tried to return it and I was told there are no returns and that I could just give it to someone else. Their customer service agent I was dealing with never answers my questions only states in his emails what he wants to/is told to say. Great product but crappy customer service.
Hi Dave, I’m sorry you had this experience and I’m happy to help you. Would you please email me directly? Thank you-Marci ma***@th********.com
Purchased directly off thinOptics web site, arrived within a week from USA to UK. Very very good, easy to use and the fact they sit in your pocket unobtrusivly I almost forget they are there most of the time. I got the keychain with two pairs, great value and great readers. Perfect, gets my vote….
For me they are garbage! Not only can I NOT keep them on my nose, but as soon as I try they pop off immediately. When I hold them in place the strength, based on their chart, doesn’t even come close to matching what I need. It’s like looking through coke bottle bottoms. I’m very disappointed in both the promise and the quality. The price is too high as well for what you get.
Hi, Patricia, ThinOPTICS should not fall off, they are designed to clamp down and stay put. Here’s a video that may help you. http://thinoptics.com/how-to If this doesn’t help, please reach out to ka***@th********.com, and we will be happy to help you. Thank you! http://www.thinoptics.com
bought a few pair, even recommended them for a while. The nose pieces only last about a month for me, then break. it was ok since i was getting free replacements but now apparently I’m requesting too often and have been refused!! Maybe the problem is design? I’m through with Thinoptics, will try the new knockoffs which we new were eventually coming!!
Hi Rick – Our team is happy to help you with your replacement issue. Please email Ka***@th********.com. Thanks – Marci ThinOPTICS Social
Which one is good the keychain or on your cellphone?
I have used Thinoptics for a few years and the customer service has gone steadily downhill as the company has grown. The last two replacements I’ve ordered have not arrived timely. They now charge five dollars “postage and handling” for a replacement…clearly making a profit for each replacement. And you are limited to ordering only one at a time. Its a great product but I’m ready to go back to regular readers…at least I can get replacements at a million brick and mortar retail stores.