Foster Grant MicroVision Gideon Compact Reading Glasses, +2.00

Since my eyes have finally become bad enough to need reading glasses, I've accumulated a collection of compact reading glasses to keep in my front pants pocket wherever I go. Most of them are cheaply made and have tiny lenses so they will fit into their tiny cases and are embarrassing to wear in public for any length of time. I also don't like carrying around anything extra in my pockets and most compact non-folding reading glasses are still a bit too bulky for me. The best feature of these glasses is how compact they are when folded. The case is roughly the size of a cigarette lighter and is quite nice, made of a rubberized plastic with a magnetic catch to keep the lid in place. I slip them in my pocket and forget I'm carrying them.They're well designed and fairly quite well made. I was concerned that the telescoping arms would be flimsy and wouldn't last. This is not the case. The three sections of each arm fit together well and seem fairly durable. They are also gently curved inward, which compensates for the lack of full size arms, and helps keep the glasses in position. The one problem with mine is that one of the arms has a section that is loose and doesn't stay in place when extended. As a result, I have to hold that section extended while putting on the glasses. Folding and unfolding the glasses is quick and easy.Except for the nose pads, which are attached to the bottom of the frame, these glasses look just like regular glasses, not 'ultra compact' glasses. The gun metal finish is attractive. They're very light and not uncomfortable to wear.These are ideal if you need reading glasses occasionally when out and about. I've had them now for close to a year and they've held up fine.

These glasses are ultra-compact and come in a very sturdy case. I can keep it in my pocket and have no fear of crushing the glasses. The glasses themselves fold up very neatly and have a strong, well-made construction. My only gripe is the limited range of strengths. I need a +1.25; the lowest power offered was +1.50, and it was way more expensive then the higher strengths. So I settled on a +2.00 for the price, but it's really too strong for me.

PROS:The Foster Grant folding reading glasses are quality made and hold up to use. I have been using mine for several months with no problems.Design is efficient, and they fold/unfold very easily and quickly. There is enough tension/resistance to keep the stems either folded or extended without them moving. The case is very sturdy and will protect the glasses from all but the most violent abuse. It has a strong magnet that keeps the case closed -- so you might not want to put it in a pocket with your thumb drive. The case will fit in most jean's "watch" pocket. They are so light in your pocket you will often forget you have them.I have used several different brands of non-prescription reading glasses over the past several years and have found the optical quality of these to be the best by far.CONS:Due to the fact these are straight-stemmed (no ear "hooks") they squeeze in a little bit at the temples. Wearing them for a long period of time (several hours) makes the side of my head start to hurt. This is a trade-off between getting them tight enough to stay put, and loose enough to be comfortable. This will of course vary with each individual's head size and shape. You can very gently bend the stems a little bit, but you must be careful not to damage them.You cannot simply whip these out and plop them on your face. It takes a couple moments to unfold them, then fold them back up for stowage.Several reviewers have complained that these slide off if you look down. They are right. BUT, these are advertised as "reading glasses", not lean-over-your-engine-while-you-work-on-it glasses. I have the same problem of them sliding off when I am doing close in work where I need to look straight down. However, this is a compromise to the convenience of having folding glasses. If you're reading or working on the computer, you rarely look straight down. For other work -- in the shop or the garage -- I use a different style that hooks around my ears -- and aren't as convenient to carry around.

Beware. This is not the glasses in the picture. As another customer stated, these do not say Foster Grant. And while they are decent lenses, the glasses will not stay on your face. Look somewhere else. Not sure how these get so many good reviews.

These are the same Foster Grant foldables you get at the drugstore for $25. I know, because I had a pair and lost them. These are great for casual use, e.g. reading menus when dining out, looking at small print on boxes/items while shopping, etc. While they are not uncomfortable, they're not suitable for prolonged use. The case is very sturdy (protecting the glasses very well), and the glasses slide in and out easily, and also unfold easily. And, they slip in your pocket (or purse for you ladies) and with the small size and shape they're not prone to slipping out of your pocket (which is how lost another pair of reading glasses in a long slim case. Definitely recommend.

I bought these because of the small size of the case, because I need reading glasses but can't find a way to carry them with me. When I got these, I really liked them a lot - mostly because I could fit the case in my 5th/watch pocket on my jeans. I carried them everywhere, and used them a lot.Less than a week later, the magnetic "latch" stopped holding the case shut. The glasses fit in the case very tight, and the lid will not close anymore. Since the lid won't close, the glasses try to come out the top, and I can no longer carry them.Without the case, these are worthless. I wasted my money.....