Hello!

We are getting ready to be in Japan next month! We’re excited.

I wear glasses and I'll need new frames pretty soon; I was thinking to get my glasess here in the USA before leaving, but I can wait if I can them on base in Japan. I know there are some bases that have an Optical inside, but I don't know if this is the case for the Yokosuka base.

I have the following questions for you:

1.        Is there an Optical inside the Yokosuka base?

This questions is for the ladies  –

2.        Does the Exchange on base carries ALMAY makeup???


Thanks a bunch!!!
Viole

Yes, and yes Although from what I have seen at the optical, there isn't a huge selection. I would probably get them in the states if it was me. Just to be on the safe side.

i just got glasses out here too and i actually chose to get them off base. SUPER cute frames at really great prices! i went to this place inside more's city, a mall that is within walking distance from the main base. they take walk-ins and my complete set of glasses was ready in under an hour. i got: the eye exam, frames w/ anti-glare lenses (extremely thinned down because i have a high prescription) all for about 13700Y which is what, equivalent of about $150 US. and like i said, i just shopped around for an hr. and was able to pick them up. hope this helps!

Thanks for the info about getting glasses off base! That is a great price!

I agree going out in town is way better than going on base. Just get your prescription on base from the hospital and then it out in town. Good luck!

i know there are other options out in town, but the place i went to is called ZOFF. can't remember what floor it was on though. again, the price of an exam is "included" in the price, so might as well let them do it there. the 13700Y i paid was just the cost of the frames and lenses. i believe frames cost 3500Y, 5500Y, and 7500Y for the most part. my frames were 5500Y and i paid the' highest cost for lenses because of getting them thinned. if you don't need yours thinned out, your total will be much cheaper.

I would get the examination done on base because of the language thing. But my daughter and I have gotten our last 2 pairs of glasses out in town. Zoff's was the last place. There are optical places around every corner it seems. You just have to look around and make a decision!

While living here, I've ordered two pairs of glasses from http://www.39dollarglasses.com and been very happy with them. I got my prescription on base, and then placed the order.

I have been getting my glasses from zennioptical.com for awhile, they are cheap and there are so many cute glasses to choose from. They say that they ship over here, I am going to get some soon, so i'll let you know if I find out otherwise. Just have your prescription and your PD measurement for glasses before you get ready to order.

TBH, if you're picky about glasses like I am, get them at home while you can. At least there you can shop around easily and try them on.

And stock up on your makeup!!!

And after your makeup stock runs out, it looks like Target will ship some Almay products. If you can combine your order with other things, you could get free shipping. It's definitely worth checking out beforehand what you can order from Target, Amazon, etc and what you can't. If you click on "Shipping & Additional Info" for products on Target's site, it tells you specifically what can't be shipped to FPO. Sometimes they're a little strict about bigger/heavier boxes.

http://www.target.com/s?keywords=almay&searchNodeID=1038576|1287991011&ref=sr_bx_1_1&x=0&y=0

Thanks a bunch for your comments, they are very helpful!!!

I think I will wait to get my glasses in Japan just to give them a try . I will buy a bunch of ALMAY makeup at Walmart before I leave.

I am so glad I asked you guys!

Onbase NEX Yokosuka glasses shop has very very limited brands, and selections.
I stopped by there before my last trip to hawaii and asked them how long it takes to make them. The lady said, (3) weeks because now they have to send the orders to Hawaii, and wait for them to be shipped back. I didnt want to wait 3 weeks so I decided to go just get them on my next trip to USA..

So last week I was in Hawaii, and stopped by Walmart glasses shop. They couldnt do a 1 hour exam, since I didnt have my prescription but they made an appointment for me upstairs at S.A.M.S club. So I went up there, saw the doctor, paid a $10 co-pay (w/insurance), would of been I think $79.99, and I got my prescription.

S.A.M.S club (since I didnt have a membership) said I couldnt buy them from there, and even if I did, it would take 2-3 weeks. I only had a few days, but they recommended I head over to LensCrafters.

So I went to LensCrafters, and found a few pairs. They were about $220 on the tag, but I didnt mind, and brought them to the counter. She told me about some special if I picked out another pair I would get 50% off the frames and the lens. I said, okay, so I went and got some sunglasses to be prescription.

3 pairs of glasses, and she rings up the bill.. Guess how much?
Came up to $980.00
I didnt realize why? I said, really, are you sure its $980? Then she showed me the screen where you have to get the lenses separately, and since I added scratch proof and glare proof it was a tad bit more expensive.

Anyhow, I ended up getting all 3 pair.

1 - Ray Ban
1 - Ray Ban (Sunglasses)
1 - Burberry

I am sure it was more expensive also because of the name brands of the frames, but honestly it was the only styles I liked after looking at the entire store.

I typically dont look at prices, or brand labels, I will just look towards the style and if I see myself wearing them. It just happened, that these were the 3 I picked out.

I once bought a pair of glasses in Japan off-base, but I think I broke them after a few months. I looked off-base once again before I went to hawaii but didnt find anything that suited my tastes.

I am happy with the selection I got from Lens Crafters, and hopefully they last me a few more years.

Has anyone ever purchased the extra warranty for $29.99 for each pair? I think it lasts 18 months warranty. I decided to decline the warranty, just because I am living in Japan, and its not that easy for me to get to one of those locations.

I would just get them in the states.. I have ordered glasses from Zennioptical.com before and never had a problem.. glasses were here within 2 wks..