Gijang optical shop photochromic lenses for light sensitivity: Barabon

My mother-in-law has been having a hard time lately with eye strain and tearing, so I went looking for protective glasses and ended up at Barabon Glasses, an optician in Ilgwang, Gijang.

Where is Barabon Glasses Ilgwang New City Branch, and where do you park?

Barabon Glasses is located in Ilgwang New City, so it's not hard to find. There's no parking enforcement in front of the store from 11:30 to 14:00 and after 18:00, so you can park right outside, and they also support parking fees if you use the KS Parking Building.

Inside Barabon Glasses: what frames are on the shelves

The interior is spacious and clean. It's bright and pleasant overall, with a variety of frame designs nicely displayed.

There's a wide range of frame designs and colors, so it's great for trying things on and comparing side by side.

There's also a separate contact lens corner off to one side, with everything from daily wear lenses to a variety of colored lenses — a good spot to visit if you're after lenses too.

Can you order glasses with no prescription, just to protect your eyes?

There's also a separate space set up for vision tests and eye exams, but my mother-in-law's eyesight is generally good, so we decided to make protective glasses without any lens prescription.

There were so many pretty frames that picking one took a while — trying on this and that to find the perfect match for her!

While she was busy picking out frames, I was off browsing the sunglasses next door haha. So many pretty designs there too, I ended up wanting a pair for myself. This materialistic streak of mine.

Photochromic lens colors at Barabon Glasses: brown or gray, and the price

After much deliberation, the frame was chosen! For the lenses, we went with photochromic ones that change color depending on sunlight. There were two color options — brown and gray-black — and the optician shone a light directly on the lens to show us how it changes. It was so fascinating watching the clear lens darken instantly. Comparing them side by side, we felt the black tone suited her better, so that's what we finally chose.

• Frame ₩193,000
• Photochromic lenses ₩99,000

The waiting area while the glasses are made

While the glasses were being finished, we sat in the waiting area set up on one side of the store and chatted for a bit.

Right next to the waiting area there's a water dispenser, ice maker, and coffee machine, so we could wait comfortably with a cold drink or coffee of our choice.

How the photochromic lenses actually perform outdoors

Once she put on the finished glasses and stepped outside, the lenses reacted to the sunlight and darkened almost instantly. Indoors they were clear like regular glasses, but outside they basically turned into sunglasses haha. The tint looked more natural than I expected and suited her really well.

The funny thing was, even though the lenses looked pitch black from the outside, my mother-in-law herself didn't even notice the color had changed while wearing them. Sunglasses can sometimes feel dark and stuffy on the eyes, but she said there was none of that feeling — even more satisfying!

Final verdict on Barabon Glasses in Ilgwang, Gijang

I went looking for protective glasses for my mother-in-law, who often complains of eye strain and tearing, and ended up at Barabon Glasses. The frame is lightweight and comfortable, so she loved it the moment she put it on, and since it's photochromic, she can use it like regular glasses indoors and like sunglasses outdoors — even more satisfying. There's a wide variety of styles and you can comfortably try them on yourself. If you're looking for an optician in Ilgwang, Gijang, I'd recommend Barabon Glasses.

• Hours: Daily 10:00–20:00
• Parking: Available (parking fee supported at KS Parking Building)
• Address: 1F, 107-3 Haebit 6-ro, Ilgwang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, South Korea, Barabon Glasses
• Other: Local currency, Zero Pay, high oil price relief vouchers, easy pay accepted