In Europe, Polette [0] has tried to sell cheap glasses, albeit with no way to try them on. However, they have started selling more expensive ones, and their style is very hit or miss.

People could favour other brands for lenses, like Nikon or Zeiss, but they aren’t necessarily better. Competition must stay alive!

Lenses factories are mostly in Asia, so if you go there, bring your prescription and get a pair!

[0]: https://www.polette.com/eu/

Or just order direct from China. Supermarkets here sell Chinese reading glasses for the equivalent of USD 3 (not a typo, three US dollars), they're cheap enough that people buy several of them, one for the car, one for the handbag/backpack, a few to leave around the house, so you never spend time hunting for them or curse about leaving them behind. The lenses appear identical to whatever brand EssilorLuxxotica is selling them as and quite probably are, only the frames are a bit flimsier, but what do you expect for $3. If you want better frames, spend $10 and get them from China.

It hurts to see my neighbours, a retired couple, pay thousands of dollars from their pension for glasses that should cost $20. I've tried to tell them about EssilorLuxxotica but they insist on paying more because they're getting better glasses that way.