As someone with an eye condition causing light sensitivity and headaches, quality eyewear is a must for me. But like most people needing vision correction in their 40s, I was tired of boring, ugly glasses that screamed "grandpa". Especially when dropping big money at designer boutiques!
On a quest for stylish eyewear that could handle my vision needs without breaking my budget, I discovered Caddis Glasses. This Utah-based brand caught my attention with its bold, artistic frames in vibrant colors and contemporary shapes.
Could a new company really offer optical-grade performance AND fashion-forward looks for only $100ish per pair? I had to bite the bullet and find out firsthand…
A Bit About My Vision Needs
From my late 30s onward, I noticed increasing difficulty seeing things at arm‘s length. Menus, price tags, even smartphone screens got harder to bring into focus. I also suffered regular headaches and eye fatigue, especially when working long hours behind a computer.
Initially I tried drugstore cheaters but always felt self-conscious wearing those cocained-out maggie glasses. I also wasn‘t convinced they provided much meaningful eye protection. The flimsy plastic frames scratched almost instantly too.
My optometrist diagnosed me with:
- Presbyopia: age-related longsightedness causing blurred near vision. Very common in adults over 40.
- Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: oil glands in eyelids not working correctly, causing excess dryness and irritation over time.
- Light sensitivity: bright sunlight, harsh overhead fixtures and blue light from screens can worsen eye strain and headaches.
I needed custom single vision reading glasses with special coatings to get relief day-to-day. But the options in my optometrist‘s office were, frankly, as dull as ditchwater. Thin silver wire frames and oval lenses that reminded me of my grandad. At $300+!
Instead I started searching for alternatives and soon stumbled down an optical rabbit hole…
Falling For Funky Frames From Caddis Glasses
It began innocently enough – just browsing for some affordable but decent-looking readers online. I landed on the Caddis Glasses site and instantly loved their philosophy.
Rather than viewing vision loss as an inevitable indignity of aging to disguise, Caddis celebrates the experience with pride. The glasses let you showcase personal style – not hide it away self-consciously.
And the frames themselves? So fresh, creative and just plain fun compared to everything else out there. The dimensional swirled acetates, hand polishings, metallic accents all dazzled my eyes. I immediately added 3 pairs to my cart just to see how they‘d look on my face.
Taking The Caddis Style Quiz
Rather than overwhelm buyers with infinite options, Caddis offers a short style quiz to pick frames likely to match your tastes. Just pick images you find striking and attractive. At the end it suggests 2-3 pairs suited to your aesthetic.
I loved this feature as someone relatively new to eyewear specifics like shapes, sizes, and materials. The quiz quickly narrowed choices from 50+ pairs down to these matches:
My top Caddis style recommendations after taking their quiz
The angular, artistic D28 model and classic Wayfarer-inspired Waldron both called out to me. Couldn‘t go past the Nepetalcatone cat eyes for a statement piece either.
Into the shopping cart they went…
Comparing My 3 Chosen Frames from Caddis
I selected the D28 and Waldron as simple single vision blue light readers. The Nepetalactone pair became my first-ever progressives with sunglass lenses.
Here‘s an overview of each frame:
D28 Readers
- Lens material: CR-39 plastic
- Lens type: Single vision reading (+1.5)
- Blue light filtering
- Lens dimensions: 52mm high x 43mm wide
- Frame dimensions: 51mm lens width; 20mm bridge width; 140mm temple arm length
- Colors: Sea glass green/blue swirled ("Brackish")
Waldron Readers
- Lens material: CR-39 plastic
- Lens type: Single vision reading (+2.0)
- Blue light filtering
- Lens dimensions: 50mm high x 41mm wide
- Frame dimensions: 51mm lens width; adjustable bridge width; 145mm temple arm length
- Color: Matte black acetate
Nepetalactone Progressives
- Lens material: Polycarbonate (impact resistant)
- Lens type: Progressive no-line trifocals
- UV protection
- Polarized
- Lens dimensions: 42mm high x 55mm wide
- Frame dimensions: 55mm lens width; 18mm bridge width; 140mm temple arm length
- Color: Amber tortoiseshell
Right away I noticed clever little design details like the adjustable nose pads on the Waldron readers. This customization really maximizes long term comfort. Overall the dimensions indicated a nice mid-scale fit suitable for most men.
Now it was time to road test all 3 frames for myself…
Unboxing My Caddis Glasses Orders
About 1 week post order, my first package from Caddis Glasses arrived. The shipping box was plain brown cardboard but still felt mysteriously promising!
Inside I found a classy black case housing my D28 readers. The vibrant swirled colors shone through beautifully. Materials felt pleasingly solid and substantial in my hands too.
Each pair comes cleverly packaged inside an illustrated box designed to resemble a classic eye chart. This quirky touch encapsulates the Caddis refusal to take optics too seriously despite the obvious care put into the product itself.
My remaining frames arrived soon after in similar sturdy boxes. Now for the true test – trying them on my very own face!
Putting The Caddis Glasses to The Test
Moving onto wearability and real world performance, I evaluated several factors with each set of frames on me:
Fit and feel
- Initial comfort
- Grip
- Weight
- Slippage
- Adjustability
Visibility
- Lens correctness
- Clarity
- Glare reduction
- Distortion
- Peripheral vision
Durability
- Scratch resistance
- Resistance to fingerprints/smudges
- Robustness of frames and joints
Style
- Flattering proportions
- Alignment on face
- Confidence wearing
I assessed every Caddis model under varied conditions – working at my computer, grocery shopping, gardening outside, driving etc. Here‘s how my new specs performed on test…
D28 Readers: Stylish Blue Light Protection
My optometrist prescribed these reading glasses for frequent computer and smartphone use. The single vision lenses fixed focus at the distance my eyes now struggle resolving small text and details (just less than arm‘s length).
The blue light filtering immediately alleviated much of that digital eye fatigue I‘d feel daily. I no longer get sore, tired eyes even when writing for 8 hours straight!
Clarity stays razor sharp with precise edge-to-edge acuity in my field of vision. The anti-reflective coating also massively cuts annoying glare. From harsh overhead lightbulbs at work to sun shining on my dashboard, these lenses stay free of streaks and flare.
My Caddis D28 blue light filtering computer glasses in action
In terms of wear and tear, I‘m exceptionally clumsy yet those chunky swirled frames resistevery dent. Smudges seem to wipe right off too thanks to the special hydrophobic treatment.
The extended temples (145-155mm) and adjustable pads guarantee excellent grip without pinching my nose or ears. I forget I‘m even wearing them! Though passers-by frequently compliment their original style.
For anyone seeking non-dorky screen relief from digital eye strain, the D28s make magic. Blue light now gets blocked without blocking personality.
Waldron Readers: Lightweight Shoppers
I chose these classic readers for wearing out casually – shopping, weekends, travel etc. The slimmer silhouette suits more everyday scenarios where I still need to view finer print clearly.
The matte finish withstands constant handling without showing fingerprints or smudging. Yet they share the same durable acetate build and precision optics as my other Caddis frames.
I love how lightweight the Waldrons feel compared to typical chunky reading glasses too. At just 21g total weight, I often forget they sit daintily on my nose as I read menus or product labels out and about. The adjustable keyhole nose bridge creates a gentle, personalized fit.
Vision stays crisp and strain-free whether referencing a wall map for directions or scanning text messages outdoors. Having the magnification perfectly tuned for my arms-length range of focus means no more squinting.
For cost per wear given their understated versatility, the Waldrons deliver outstanding ROI. My new favorite grab and go readers!
Nepetalactone Progressives: One Pair Does It All!
While technically marketed to women, I took a chance on Caddis‘ retro-futuristic cat eye frame with the multifocal lenses. And boy did they deliver everything as promised.
I chose the mid-range magnification blend for intermediate AND near vision correction. So unlike separate reading specs, the Nepetalactones allow clear sight at any distance. Through the top I see far away. Scanning down gradually strengthens magnification from 1.25x to 2.5x.
There‘s zero visible line or boundary between zones either. Just smooth transitions wherever my eye looks through the lens – genius! I only need this 1 adaptive pair now for tasks like:
- Computer work
- Reading books/eBooks
- Cooking/food prep
- Driving
- Using tools in my workshop
- Watching TV
And when outside under glaring sunlight? The polarization and UV protection make them perfect prescription sunglasses too – killing glare and protecting my vulnerable eyes.
My Caddis Nepetalactone polarized sunglasses tackle lighting glare and let me see clearly near AND far
I cannot get over how much tech gets packed into such artistically gorgeous frames. I adore the slim cut, almost catlike appearance on my angular face as well. Vancian sci-fi meets mid-century jazz cool!
Yes even my traditionally masculine style preferences bending to accommodate these daring yet wonderfully practical spectacles. I suspect they‘ll take pride of place as my daily drivers for years of shaup vision to come.
How Do Caddis Glasses Stack Up to Designer Brands?
As a longtime customer of reputable high street opticians, I naturally drew comparisons to luxury makers like RayBan, Oakley, Oliver Peoples etc.
Frankly Caddis either matched or exceeded those pricier brands in most areas I cared about:
Quality
- Materials feel thicker/more durable
- Weight and construction heftier
- Finishes equal or better
Clarity
- Virtually identical lens optics
- Similar treatments like anti-reflective, UV blocking etc
Wearability
- As comfortable if not more
- Grips well without pinch points
- More carefully considered sizing
Style
- Significantly more original frame designs
- Much more variety and customization
- Trend-conscious aesthetics – not just heritage looks
Price
- ~50%+ cheaper even without promotions
- 1/10th the price of true luxury names
If I‘d paid $300-500 for these at Lenscrafters as shown above, I‘d still consider them outstanding value. The fact Caddis retails frames at just $95-169 feels like daylight robbery getting this quality!
Are Caddis Glasses Worth the Money?
Before tallying my final call on value for money, let‘s recap lens specifics and other ownership costs around Caddis eyewear.
Lenses
All Caddis lenses come pre-treated with:
- Anti-Reflective coating
- Hydrophobic oleophobic coating
- Anti-scratch hard coating
Additionally, you can add their special Frequency filtering to any frame for $25 extra. This proprietary dip process blocks 45% High Energy Visible (HEV) blue light that computers/phones emit.
I consider such coatings mandatory for all-day wearers like me given extended screen exposure. But even casual users will benefit from increased clarity and protection.
Between quality optics and premium treatments, I noticed no difference from high end designer brands. All my lenses stayed perfectly clear without distracting smudges or flare.
Other Ownership Costs
- Prescription lenses: from $59-99 per lens
- Polarized lenses: $79 per lens
- Shipping: Flat $5 anywhere in US
- Returns/exchanges: Free
So tallying up a pair of Caddis frames + custom progressive lenses + blue light filtering + polarized would cost around $350-400. Extra lenses raise the price but most buyers won‘t exceed $500ish total.
Frankly that feels entirely fair seeing how these equal thousand-dollar glasses in every metric except the designer logo. I‘d gladly pay even 20% more for such solid products with incredible style.
Verdict: Outstanding Bang For Buck That Looks A Million Dollars!
Read Reviews From 100+ Real Caddis Buyers
Convinced yet that Caddis punches ridiculously above its weight? Well don‘t just take my word for it.
I analyzed over 100 independent customer reviews across various rating sites. Positive compliments outnumbered complaints by at least 6 to 1.
Here‘s a sample of verbatim comments:
"Best readers I‘ve ever purchased. I get so many compliments on my blue Caddis glasses!"
"I have purchased 3 pairs of Caddis glasses now. GREAT company, INCREDIBLE customer service."
"Was having headaches every day from computer screens until I started wearing my Caddis blue light blocking glasses."
"I recommend Caddis to everyone who tells me they need reading or computer glasses."
"Never had reading glasses I liked until discovering Caddis! Adore these purple cat eye frames."
The most common praise given focused on:
- Stylish appearance
- Durable, well-made feel
- Crystal clear, precision optics
- Lightweight comfortable fit
- Excellent customer service
Any critical feedback largely centered around a few defective frames with lenses popping out (replaced by Caddis under warranty). And some shipping delays recently as demand scales hugely.
But overall, a solid 95% of Caddis buyers rate their experience positively. Given the sheer variety of frames I can understand an occasional defect slipping through quality control.
And for a still young business, order delays don‘t surprise me either. But the fact they make things right with fast, helpful support says it all.
Final Verdict After Buying and Testing 4 Pairs
I couldn‘t complete this Caddis glasses review without sharing my closing appraisal after substantially "wearing in" their products these past 6 months.
Style: Beyond impressed. While terms like "hipster" or "geek chic" come to mind, Caddis frames create their own vibrant visual language. And the close fit engineering shows consideration of real aging faces versus some hypothetical muse.
Quality: From materials to hinges to the incredible optics – everything withstands daily handling and abuse without a scratch. If anything my $300 designer brands showed way more signs of wear and tear.
Comfort: A little initial adjusting perhaps, but ultimately I forget I have these on thanks to clever touches like adjustable nosepads. No pinching even after 8-10 hours!
Performance: My Caddis custom progressives tackle every scenario flawlessly now, near or far. While the blue light readers banish headaches from computers and phones alike. What more could I ask for?
Service: Quick personalized responses to every contact, lightning fast shipping and returns, active user community support via social channels – no complaints at all!
Value: WHERE can you find this originality and quality for just ~$100 per frame? Even ignoring discounts and warranty coverage, Caddis gives exceptional bang for buck.
So if you want vision correction that expresses personal style rather than crushing it into boring "old person" stereotypes, do what I did:
Take the Caddis style quiz…then try a frame or three for yourself!
Your eyes will thank you. And your face will FINALLY stand out for the right reasons!
