> The prescriptions are fairly standard, but still, making a pair of glasses cost more or less 200$ and require a 1:1 appointment.
Depends on the country. I went to Japan for vacation a few months ago ; my girlfriend wanted a new pair of glasses. She just went to a mall in an optical center, they took her eye measurements on the spot, we went back two hours after and the glasses were ready.
I did the same when I had to travel to Moscow the day after I had lost my glasses in the ocean from a boat.
Going into a shop in Stockholm I was told it'd take 2 weeks, which obviously wasn't acceptable.
When I arrived in Moscow, just like you I went into a shop, took the measurement, went for lunch and it was ready when I came back. What was fascinating was that they had the actual machines to grind the lens at the back of the shop. It was pretty cool.
Those glasses lasted me for years, and they worked really well.
Quick glasses are very common in developed countries. In the U.S. at least you can find a Visionworks or a Lenscrafters (or similar) pretty much anywhere and their hook is "glasses in about an hour". They usually have an optometrist in the store so you can get prescriptions there.
Some newer companies (Stanton Optical) are even starting to offer the complete service inside of 15 minutes so you can get the glasses while you wait and frames run as low as $20.
most apothecaries here in Italy have a section for cheap glasses. worst scenario you have to buy two and mix the lenses.
if you have special issues and need to order lenses it may get expensive but glasses are deductibles, so you get a little back.
anyway I did a cursory search on amazon usa and one can find prescription glasses with lenses of variable strength for around 20$, of course they're not the best or the prettiest, but there are ways for people to get glasses on the cheap.
Depends on the country. I went to Japan for vacation a few months ago ; my girlfriend wanted a new pair of glasses. She just went to a mall in an optical center, they took her eye measurements on the spot, we went back two hours after and the glasses were ready.