Luxottica: the illusion of choice and what you're really getting when you spend hundreds of dollars on glasses.
This documentary was broadcast 13 years ago. Since then, Luxottica, the monopolistic Italian frames manufacturer, merged with Essilor, the largest ophthalmic lens manufacturer in the world. Today, EssilorLuxottica vertically controls 80% of the eyewear industry.
Here are more recent documentaries about EssilorLuxottica:
I buy 3 pair of sunglasses for $20. e.g. glasses are not expensive. Expensive glasses are expensive.
I'm guessing you don't need prescription lenses. Correct?
And yeah, I'll agree with you that overpriced designer brands are overpriced. That's the case with designer anything. But if you just need basic, good quality glasses simply to see correctly, you still end up paying a lot of money because the market is captive.