Namdaemun glasses shop for photochromic lenses: Angyeonggwa Saradeul

I hear lots of people have been going to Namdaemun Market lately. When I went, there really were people of all ages! We sometimes stop by when we are in the Jongno area, and this time we went to have glasses made. My husband’s eyesight has gotten much worse lately and his eyes have been feeling tired, so we headed to a glasses shop in Namdaemun Market. The weather was lovely, so we made a little outing of it too.

He normally only wore reading glasses now and then, so he did not know much about glasses and felt awkward in them. They kindly explained which glasses he needed after considering all sorts of situations, so we came away with a pair that suited him well.

Angyeonggwa Saradeul near Hoehyeon Station Exit 7

• 101, 61 Namdaemunsijang-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 200 m from Hoehyeon Station Exit 7
• Hours: 09:30–20:00 (closed for Chuseok on the 25th)
• No parking (nearby Shinsegae Department Store)

Coming from Hoehyeon Station Exit 7, on the Shinsegae Department Store side, it was right at the entrance to the market. There were lots of people out because the weather was so nice, but we headed to the glasses shop first.

The shop looked small from outside, but once we stepped in, there was a huge variety of glasses and sunglasses. You might think having so many would make choosing difficult, but they had a knack for picking out frames that would suit him.

Both my middle-schooler and I wear glasses, so whenever we visit an optician, we are busy looking at frames. There were discounted options too, so I took my time browsing.

Custom lens advice for computer work and outdoor activities

A few days earlier, my husband had said his eyes felt uncomfortable. He has presbyopia, so he occasionally used reading glasses, but he could not use those for computer work. His eyesight had generally been good, so he had never worn glasses for nearsightedness, but recently he said even distant things were no longer coming into focus.

At Angyeonggwa Saradeul in Namdaemun Market, he also had a thorough eye exam. We had gone to get glasses made, after all, so it was important to get a pair that could reduce his discomfort.

While he listened to all the explanations, I went back to looking at frames.

Angyeonggwa Saradeul also had many fashion glasses that could be chosen at a lower price. I tend to wear one pair for a long time, but my middle-schooler sometimes wants a particular frame because of the look. Expensive ones can feel like a burden at those times, so we need something affordable but pretty—and the prices seemed reasonable.

After picking up the photochromic glasses

My husband does not normally wear glasses, so everything felt awkward on him and he tried on a great many pairs. Most of the ones the owner recommended suited him well. Even a slight difference in color changed his whole impression so much. In the end, though, he chose the one he wanted.

His eyesight is not terribly poor, but he spends most of the day in front of a computer. When he goes out, he always makes sure to bring sunglasses, and he needs reading glasses when looking at a smartphone or book at night. Since the lenses were custom-made, we had to collect them about a week later. They gave us such kind advice that he chose comfortably and has been wearing them well.

We heard that the glasses had arrived in less than a week and came back to collect them. Since he got photochromic lenses too, he says it is convenient not to have to bring separate sunglasses on weekend outings. Sunglasses need prescription lenses as well, but it seems nice that he can wear these glasses and use them naturally as sunglasses too. Seeing him wear them makes me think I might need to change mine as well.

We returned a few days later, but normally you can collect glasses around an hour after ordering them. It would make a nice route to browse the nearby market and then pick up your newly made glasses. I hear people go to Namdaemun Market to buy bath supplies these days too, and I did see them everywhere. We got glasses made at Namdaemun Market, did some shopping, and even enjoyed Myeong-dong right next door.