silverorange stuff

I have been using Silhouette frames for 2 years now. But I had to replace my lenses last year and now I have to replace again because of breaking my lenses. Reading your comment indicated that the newer frames solved this problem. Now I have to pay for the replacement, I realized that I need to think about buying the newer frames. I wonder there is any places have any discount for customers have the old frames.

I have had 3 pairs of silhouette glasses and all 3 have had the same problem -- the lenses crack at the areas where the screws attached the nose piece and where the screws attach the frames to the lenses. The first pair lasted 2 years before the lenses cracked, the second lasted 12 months (which was within warranty so my Dr replaced them for a $25 fee) and the thrid cracked after 3 months. My dr won't replace these, so I've got to get a new pair. Given how expensive they are coupled with the fact that the lenses tend to crack & then break, I'm not going to buy another pair and I wouldn't recommend these to anyone.

Thank you for your comment, Lynn. I had the same experience with the second lenses. They craced within 12 months. The sales man told me that the new lenses will not crack, but they guarantee only 2 years. The cost is not cheap. I will look for another pair. Thank you again.

My Silhouette frame broke at the point where the side piece is under the most stress, just next to where it connects to the lens. This was after about 2-1/2 years, so no warranty. I tend to wear my glasses at least 3 years, so this is disappointing, especially since it is the most expensive frame I have ever bought, and none of my traditional hinged frames ever broke. I have been easier on these than any glasses I have ever owned. My sister had the exact same failure with the same frames, after about the same amount of time. I doubt I will buy them again, based on this poor performance. No problem with lens cracking, but it probably would have happened!

Those of you who have complained about Silhouette lens breakage and cracking, has this occurred on polycarbonate lenses?

I bought a pair of Silhouettes as they appeared lightweight, less noticeable (frame-less) and I was told by the optician that they were practically indestructible. In just over three years I have had three arms break on me. The first time it was replaced under warranty, the second time was just out of warranty and was somewhat grudgingly replaced after I bitched a bit about it. The last time was two weeks ago when an arm broke without warning when I was in Khartoum, Sudan, 4000 miles from home. Stranded without glasses I would have been unable to use my laptop and unable to work had I not taken my non-prescription ready readers with me. I spent quite some time cursing Silhouette. I was prepared to admit the first time that I may have not known how to treat this type of frame properly, thinking 'indestructible' but after *three* breakages (and I don't believe I have developed Uri Geller skills) and treating them with kid gloves after the first breakage I don't believe I am at fault. This last time I put them in the case after work and when I got to the apartment and took them out one arm was left behind - no warning! I haven't had any cracking on the poly lenses, though.

I will never, never ever buy Silhouette again nor recommend them to anybody.

I bought a pair of Silhouttes in Feb 2006. Their light weight and frameless/flexible arms appealed to me. I invested a fair amount of money in them thinking I would be getting a quality product (to me, a quality product means a warranty of more than a year which shouldn't be needed anyway on a higher quality, higher priced item.) I take good care of my eyeglasses however, after less than 2 years of use (Oct 2007), the left arm broke off near the point where it connects to the lens. Since the 1 year warranty period has expired, Sterling Optical will not fix them unless I pay $80 to get a replacement arm.

Given these postings and others I see on the web, I will never buy Silhouettes again.

Think Bill Hager's question is very good: what type of material where your lenses made of? I have been using my Silhouette with plastic lenses for more than 3 years without problems. I am now looking to invest into a new pair -> as my eyes have gotten worse again.

I've been wearing Silhouettes since about 2001. I'm on my fourth or fifth pair now. I can tell you that without fail, they will break at the "hinge" within one year. You can count on it. Usually the first breakage occurs under warranty, so I get them replaced without cost. But after that, an arm replacement runs about $80.

Years ago I used to make the mistake of trying to adjust the fit myself. Don't ever do that. They will usually break because of that. Even my optician has weakened them by adjusting the fit, and they would end up breaking the next day.

I never remove them with one hand, I don't adjust the fit, and I'm always very careful with them. They'll still break :) Keep extra pairs in your car, home, office, luggage (when traveling), etc. Aside from this, they are great glasses.

I bought my rimless framed silhouettes Feb 7, 2007 and today at work when I was folding them to put into my case the lens snapped diagonally near the end of the nose frame and the outer screw hole. I was surprised and frustrated but thought that as they are only 9 months old I would be able to get the lens replaced and repaired by the Optometrist.

I just got off the phone with my Optometrists Office after being told that there is no warranty on the lens and it will cost $292.00 to replace it. These lenses are plastic.

I was interested to see that this is definitely a problem with the design and warranty. I don't recommend the rimless frame silhouettes!

I just picked up my rimless Silhouettes today and am not finding these comments reassuring! I wondered about where the nosepiece and the templets are connected to the lenses . . .

About 8 months ago, I purchased a pair of 1938 Silhouette semi-rimless glasses. They were pretty cool glasses until about a month ago, when the frames snapped on the plastic nosepiece.

I really don't want to purchase another frame (which is just about impossible to locate, not to mention expensive), so how would I go about contacting Silhouette directly?

Awaiting in blindness ...

Thanks for clueing me into this before I broke the bank on a pair. I am just now looking for new specs and love the look of these. However, I guess my quest continues... Any suggestions?

I have had the rimless, hingeless silhouette frames for 3.5 years with polycarbonate bi-focal lenses. They have been great. I am about to buy another pair as my prescription has changed.
Rakesh

I love the look of the framless and hingless glasses, and I've had my silhouettes for about 3 1/2 years now. Aside from the 'sticker shock,' I had no complaints until my prescription changed about a year and a half ago. I kept my frames and had the lenses replaced, and about a month later the right lens developed a crack at the arm attach point. The lens was replaced under warranty and I was happy. Some time later the lens cracked in the same location, but now they are not covered. I've been walking around with a crack in my lens for about six months now because it's too expensive to fix, and my prescription will most likely change by the time of my next eye exam in 6 more months. Today, disaster struck. I took my glasses off on the way to work in order to rub my eye, and the left arm just fell off in my hand. At first I thought the screws had come out of the lens, but I knew I couldn't be that lucky. The arm appears to broken off flush with the lens.
Now I have to make it through the work day with only one arm on my glasses. I went on the Internet in hopes of finding some information about whether my frames would be warrantied or not, but judging by some of the comments here---it doesn't appear that they are. I really liked my glasses---I really did, but I'm throwing in the towel. I need some glasses that are a little more robust, and not so expensive to replace. I saw a pair of framless glasses with hinged arms at a Costco store for about half of what I paid for my Silhouettes.

I have owned my silhoutte glasses for over 4 years now, with no problems! I own a titanium frame from the minimal art collection. Also, i have polycarbonate lenses. I have never had any breaking, chipping or cracking on my lenses. I used to work for the eyeglass company that made my glasses, and we would NOT sell these totally rimless frames without using polycarbonate lenses. Mainly for safety purposes, but also for the fact that regular plastic usually does chip in these styles. The process for manufacturing is what is called "Drill mounted", hence the lenses have to have tiny holes drilled in them in order to affix the frame to them. Polycarbonate is the safer and more lightweight lens choice. It tends to cost a little more, but is SO worth it! I can barely feel these frames on my face...which is what i adore about them! Plus the fact that they are not that noticable. I cannot wear contacts, and cannot afford laser surgery, so these glasses to me are a Godsend! I also have the Anti-reflective coating on the lenses, which makes the lenses virtually invisible, and have had no problem with that either. Currently, i am getting ready to replace these with an updated prescription. Hoping to use the same titanium frame, and replace lenses only, because after four years of wear, tear and abuse (I have 4 children, the youngest being 6 mo. old now), they are still in gresat shape! I highly recommend Silhouette to anybody! P.S. Just saw the comment about the hinged arms (AKA: spring loaded), and want you to know that with the Silhouttes, that option is not necessary...the titanium bends and has alot of give without fear of breaking. Also, in case you are all wondering, i am not in the eyecare business anymore...been a stay-at-home Mommy for the last four years...just really love my Silhouttes! :)

Just got off the phone with Silhouette's US "customer service" at 800-223-0180 to inquire about warranty on my 5 month old clip-on sunglasses which I purchased at the same time as my first pair of Silhouettes. They refuse to answer any questions and only throw you into a voicemail system for a response. Surely they offer a basic warranty period which can be communicated to a retail customer. (Tried my optical store first, but without much satisfaction.) Has anyone found them to be more service oriented?

After 3 years of wearing my rimless Silhouette glasses I needed a new prescription and replaced the polycarbonate lenses with same. During the three years I owned these glasses I ran face-first into a Nordic Trac and gave myself a black eye sending the glasses flying across the room. The glasses were unscathed except for a tiny chip at the bottom of one lens. I have dropped them numerous times and "bumped" them often. I thought they were indestructible until I read the postings here. The new trifolcal polycarbonate lens cost $340 and I hope they perform as well as the old lenses. My frames aren't bendable and I do not fold them and put them in the case. They are either on my face or on a flat surface. I will try to treat them more gently now that I know they aren't totally break-proof. They are the most comfortable glasses I have ever worn.

I just bought a pair of the frameless silhouettes today. I sure hope I don't have the problems I see posted here. I'm not sure I would have bought them if I had read these posts, or maybe I would have taken a chance since I liked them so much. I never knew they existed until my annual eye exam today. EXPENSIVE for sure and especially after putting the progressive, transistion, no glare in my lenses. I had to dig into my savings to pay for them so I am sure hoping I love them and have no problems, like Sheila who loves hers and has had no problem. I never scrimp on my eye glasses but this was WAY more than I had planned. Oh well....wish me luck. After all, it's only money. :oP

I just had an eye examination today and was looking at the Silhouette rim-less frame as a possible option. But after reading the comments above, I decided to remove it off the list of options.

I did try it on at the Dr.'s office, and it is very, very light. But I learn something today from others' comments:

1. It has the tendency to break (hello? reliability, where are you?)
2. It is expensive to repair (did you see that? affordability just flew out of the window.)
3. It requires more care in handing than regular frame (hold your breath and use both hands to lift it please!)

On a much lighter note, if I were to believe that Silhouette could magically make me look strikingly handsome, I wouldn't mind paying for it. After all if look could kill...

:)

That is great that you have warranty etc.In Kazakstan if you have problems with your frame then nobody will solve it for free.I bought frameless one,it seemed unstable on my nose but the saleswoman told me that they would fix it but they didn't.After my complaint that the frame didn't sit on my nose proportionally, slanting, they told me that I should not have chosen this frame and they were not going to take it back or change it.I was so frustrated.I never wore the frame because my eyes sore.

I have been wearing rimless Silhouette glasses since 2000. I love them, I hated glasses before finding them. I can't wear contacts. I have only switched frames once for a color change. Reusing the second frames for over 4 years and only changing lens with new prescriptions every 2-3 years. The lenses are polycarbonate. During all these years I shut the glasses in the rear doors of my Chevy Tahoe, dropped them numerous times, kicked them a couple of times and bumped them often. The glasses weren't hurt except for a tiny scratch on one lens. I too, thought they were indestructible until I read the postings here. I do not fold my frames or put them in the case. They are either on my face or on a flat surface. I just started having problems with the glasses a week ago. While cleaning them, one of the inner drill mounts came apart a week after I got new lens. Now the glasses will not stay alined on my face. If I send them off for repair they will be gone for 3 weeks... blind I will be. They are expensive, but for the light weight and comfort my silhouettes have been worth the expense. My problem is the time I must give them up for repair or replace. I am sorry to hear others have not enjoyed their glasses as much as I have mine. I will continue with Silhouettes as long as I can.

I both my frame back in 2000. First, the left arm was broken then the right arm followed by the metal piece in the middle that connects the glasses during the course of 3-years. Paid $75.00 to replace each piece in the hopes that it won't happen again. Unfortunately, the left arm was broken approximately 4 years ago, which is when I gave up and stopped using silhouette products. I sent two or three e-mails to the company but never received a response. Beware.

Hello I just recently purchased a pair of silhouettes. Thankfully, my insurance covered majority of the cost. I read the comments and I wished I had researched before purchasing. I have not had any problems.
I was wondering if anyone has purchased high index lens. I got the poly this time, because the high index is soooo!!! expensive.

If affordable eyeglasses are of interest to you, have a look at this site:

http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com/2006/11/from-3mew-eyeglasses-stores-are-for.html

Just got my silouettes today. I would be nervous about some of the negative experiences people have had if not for some logical thinking. How many pairs are sold, of those what are the odds that some will break? On top of that of all the people who buy a pair who is more likely to post a review; the person with a negative experience, or the person with a positive experience?

I hope that after 12 months my experience is still positive.

good luck to everyone who got screwed, I hope I don't join you.

-matt

I have contacted Silouette Customer service via email:
customer.service@us.silhouette.com
Also by Phone 800-223-0180

We are experiencing the same problem with breakage at the temple. Have had frames for 3 years and been extremely careful when handling them. They broke at the bend where they attach to the lens.

The dealer will not do anything other than sell a new frame for more than $300 and the manufacturer is saying that it is out of warranty.

Isn't titanium supposed to be the strongest metal? My grandmother's silver framed rimless glasses lasted for 20 years of use and are still in fantastic shape. I don't think that 3-4 years of life is asking too much!

We will never buy Silouette again.

I've had my Silouettes going on 3 yrs. and they have been the most comfortable, durable eyeglasses I've ever owned. Maybe I've been very lucky, but these have been sat on, slept in , and thrown across a ceramic tile floor by a 6 month old and still unscathed. Getting ready to purchase my second Silouettes this week. They're the only eyeglasses I've never hated wearing. Was it worth the price? Absolutely.

How do you clean your lenses?

To clean my Silhouettes, I use a soft cloth with a lens cleaning solution if it gets really greasy.
My frameless BROKE at the part where it right arm connects to the lens after 1.5 years of normal wear and tear. Has anyone tried Krazy gluing the arm back together?
ps. I'm never getting these again, I'd rather go with lightweight titanium frames which are probably more durable.

Matt, you beat me to the punch.......it's human nature for those with a complaint to want to tell everyone about it, while those who are quite happy with their Silhouettes form the silent majority. To those 'sitting on the fence' about getting Sihouettes after reading the comments here, I'm sure the same would apply to most products you research.

I'm posting to say I have owned my Silhouettes with polycarb lenses for FIVE years and have had ZERO problems with them. They are fantastic to wear, so light you hardly know you have them on, and with the rimless design and very narrow arms I have received many comments from others that from a distance it appears I'm not even wearing glasses!

I can't begin to imagine what handling would cause the breakages reported on here. I'm just about to replace my Silhouettes only because the lens coating has started to disintegrate. Hopefully I can get the coating removed and keep them for my back-up pair. I have no reservations about getting Silhouettes again, and won't even waste time looking at other manufacturers' frames.

(Silhouettes are also worn by NASA astronauts. Don't think that would be the case if there were lots of problems with them!)

My pair just snapped. The left temple unit just snapped in two pieces. I had taken really good care of them and they snapped when I just picked them up (no twisting or bending or anything.) They are 15 months old and not under warranty. It would cost over 100$ to repair. They were way too expensive for this and are totally inoperable broken (unlike other glasses I could wear or temproarily repair with nerd tape.) I will never buy another pair from these people. Please save your money for another maker.

I've been wearing Silhouettes with polycarb lenses for about six years. I have two pairs and my spouse has two pairs we both LOVE them! Neither one of us has had any breakage of any kind. I was concerned t them looking too delicate when I first saw them. But my optician that I've had for years assured me they would hold up and not break. He was absolutely right!They are the best glasses I've ever had. Over the course of time with the two frames I've had 3 different lens shapes. I've be hit in the face a few time with falling objects that knocked my glasses completely off my face and into the floor and never had a lens crack or break. The glasses are so comfortable and I see so well with them I sometimes forget I have them on an walk into the shower with them. They are so light and comfortable it's like not wearing glasses at all. I can't recommend them high enough.

Hi if anyone knows of Optical World near Fort Lauderdale please give me the phone no. or address. My Flair glasses broke when I was on Holidays in Florida. Flair is owned by Silhouette so I went to a Silhouette dealer and bought a new frame that fit. Recently the right temple arm piece broke off just like all the other stories here. I lost the receipt and I can't find the shop number. My frame is one and a half years old, so I could get a replacement arm if I could find the store.

I have tried on line, and other means to find the store but can't find it. I have to find that store no other dealer will honor the warranty.

Help, Ken Huxter, Steady Brook, NL. Can.

I just got my Silhouettes (model 7527) from Vision Express (UK) and reading about the fragility of these glasses is a little bit concerning. Luckily my glasses come with a 2 year warranty which covers all forms of breakages and accidental damage which only cost an extra £25 (approx $50). They are extremely comfortable and surprisingly extremely light when compared to my old semi rimless pair which I thought was light. Only time will tell how these fare, then again, I don't have to worry about the repair bill.

Fascinating reading; but let's talk science:

Polycarbonate will crack upon drill-mounting about 50% of the time, especially with opticians and techs who do not use the proper tools to mount the lens into the frame, or have not been educated by the company representative to do it correctly.
We only use trivex or high index lenses with Silhouette frames.This solves 90% of the breakage and cracking. We only sell them to patients who understand that they should NEVER try to adjust them at home, do not fall asleep in their glasses on a regular basis or take them on and off numerous times during the day.We use a laboratory that is educated by Silhouette to drill the holes with the proper equipment. YES, there is a difference in laboratories!!

Overall, they do tend to break.But that is the price for the lightest frames around. My choice of drill mounts include Morel's LST line(much more stylish), NO SCREWS Either!!Yay!

Hope that helps,

Hmichelly

I purchased a pair of Silhoettes a couple of years ago costing me several hundred dollars. Within a year the finish came off the temples like something you would expect from a cheap pair of readers. I have received no response from Silhoette after emailing them several times. I love the frame but would never spent that kind of money again for something that is made soooo cheap. Would not recommend them to anyone.

I love my Silhouette eyeglasses. I have had them since 2000 which is going on 8 years now! I have never had any trouble with them. When I bought them I did not know what the brand was or anything about them. I just liked how they were rimless at the bottom. Last year, I went to the eye doctor and they could not belive that I still had these same glasses. I think I paid over $300 for them and they have really been worth it. I would recommend them to anyone. They are so lightweight.

My first pair were very comfortable, but the arm broke off after 6 months. Cost a lot to repair, and broke again. Bought another pair, same problem. I bought a third pair ( they ARE comfotable and look great) and the frame broke again, same problem. This is obviously a major design fault, and I will NEVER buy any
of these sun glasses again.

What a relief to know that it's not just me adn the dealer told me these frames were nearly indestuctible. I've had problems with the lenses and recently had one replaced. The dealer acted as if they had never heard of a lens cracking before and made a big deal of giving me a free replacement as the lens was only a few weeks more than a year old. Today, as I was driving, my glasses seemed to be uneven and, when I tried to adjust them, I found that the right arm had broken off. I would not recommend this product.

I have been wearing Silhouette #7484 for three years and love them. They only broke when I accidently stepped on them in the driveway. I had taken them off while cleaning my car and put them on the roof. They are so light weight that the wind blew them off without me realizing it. Crunch. Believe it or not, they were repaired under the warranty for free. I was so impressed with these glasses for all the positive reasons listed above and have not had one problem with them that I purchased a second pair. MY ONE MAJOR COMPLAINT is that the corresponding clip-on sunglasses have been discontinued. Mine broke where the clip-ons attach to the bridge of the glasses and I cannot get a replacement. Although they still sell my style and size the clip-ons are discontinued leaving the only option of putting different size lenses in the frames, to the tune of $250.00. I still have not decided what to do yet. I am using scotch tape to hold the clips on my glasses. Unbelievable huh?.. on a $350 pair of glasses I have to use scotch tape.........

I recently bought my 2ond pair of silhouttes, the first ones I had about 3 years, loved them, then the left temple just broke off, shortly after the right one. It cost a lot to repair to the left one, since I needed to change my prescription I didnt fix the right. I needed bi-focals this time, so I bought a similiar but larger silhoutte frame with progressive lenses. I hate them. The have anti-reflection coating on them, and looking straight is fine, but I get such awful reflections from both the top and the bottom of the lenses they are hard to use. I also bought a cheap back up pair, which I am using. The eye doctor's say its something I just have to get used to. I never had it in my smaller ones, and my rimmed bi-focals are fine. I live in Canada, and these glasses cost over $600.00. Does anyone else have a problem with this?

Gosh, I have been reading about the comments regarding Silhouette frames and I was shocked to hear all the negatives. I have had my polycarb , progressive lenses and frame for over four years. No problems. I am an active senior, play basketbal, garden, mow my own 2 acre lawn and they have fit great and never needed adjusting or repair. My thought about the cracking problems is that it's not the fault of the frame but rather the lenses. Maybe it's the the fault of the lab that is mounting the lense rather than Silhouette frame. They were costly but the comfort and not having to get them adjusted every few months was worth it. I plan on getting another pair. I hope the work out as well as my first pair.

I have been shocked to read all the comments posted about Silhuette rimless. I have been wearing mine for more than 7 years. I have had them reglazed with an updated prescriptions and repaired once. The repair was because "I" was too heavy handed with the cleaning. Also they have taken a great amount of heavy use and been dropped and thrown. The result, they still look and feel great. I only looked for a site because last week I had an eye test and was told that it was not possible to have a reglaze again. I was shocked and was trying to find out if this was true. I did feel that the opticions just wanted to make another sale. They have won, I am picking up my new pair of Silhuette rimless today, and will hopefully be using my old ones for many many more years.

I just got a set, and I'm not real happy. The compression fittings at the bridge seems to extend into my field of vision so it seems like there a line of fuzzy dirt. It is very distracting.

Anybody else notice this?

I've had my prescription rimless Silhouettes for seven years or so. Wore them every day for a couple years, then got contacts and now wear them to read at night, etc. I never had a problem except when I took them to the beach in Brazil--and scratched the lenses. Miraculously, my guys were able to remove the anti-scratch coating (which had scratched) and they're like new.

I also have a pair of their rimless sunglasses (custom, not premade) with polycarbonate lenses. Those were great--for several years--until they blew off my head and were run over by a car. Actually they'd still be fine but one of the lenses broke. The other arm and the bridge stayed together and in near perfect shape.

It might be that some people are better at assembling them than others. With normal, careful use, my experience is that they last for years.

I purchased the Silhouette glasses since they were light weight and rimless. They were the most expensive glasses I have ever bought. My wife bought a similar pair.

My experience has been wholly negative. My left temple broke and had to be replaced, not under warranty of course. The right lens had to be replaced as the anti glare coating failed and left me lookng out of a foggy lens. No sooner had those things been repaired than my wife's left temple broke and needed replacement. Since then the sunglasses that were provided with the glasses have broken. The clip no longer keeps them secure on the glasses. Needless to say I am completely disappointed. Never in 50 years of wearing glasses have I ever had to repair any of them for any reason so I do not believe I have suddenly become heavy handed when I purchased these.

I would never recommend these glasses to anyone

:jan

Corith,

The extended bridge on my new Silhouettes is certainly noticeable and rather annoying. There were a few points during the past two days where I was engrossed with an activity and didn't notice it. However, many other times I've had to take them off for a few minutes because seeing the bridge there was straining my eyes. I'm hoping my vision will adjust to it.

I've had my Silhouettes for about 4 years and have never had any problems with the frames. The style I have are rimless but the arms do have a hinge at the temple, perhaps that helps. I have the lenses changed every couple of years if my prescription changes but the frames are good as new. I use polycarbonate transitions lenses with Crizal anti-glare coating. I tried progressive lenses for a year and hated them. They cut out too much of my peripheral vision.

My first pair I wore 5+ years. They are still in great shape. I purchased new Silouette frames (same style) only 15 months ago in a bronze color. Most all of the bronze finish is gone and it changed to a bright purple! Now some of the purple is changing to a dull silver color. I only have about a 1/4 inch left of bronze in two spots except the bridge is still all bronze. My end result is frames that are three different colors. I'll never bye Silouettes again. I spent about $400.00 for the frames alone. My set ended up costing me nearly $1,000.00. I am shocked to the point I'm thinking I ended up a a pair of forgery. I bought my glasses in Miami. Is anyone else having this problem?

i do not work for the manufacturer !

I have had mine for just under two years.
The welded arm that holds the nosepad just broke recently, the doctor ordered an entire bridge/nose assembly under warranty (no charge at all), was delivered in one business day (wow!) and replaced it inhouse in a half hour.

My friend and I went out last night and his did the exact same thing- so we may have a design/component issue here ... if you are outside 2 year warranty, I expect this is a very expensive thing - be warned

the glasses are simply amazing - I have never had a lens problem (cracking ?) and neither have any of my three friends who have these

taking them off and putting them on is indeed a one hand operation if desired - you quickly learn to get the little ball tucked in behind you ear and swing the on from the side - to be fair, this may stress the side pieces a bit more than usual, but again the four sets of frames I know of have never failed on the sides, and never experienced lens cracking.

one caution before buying - the sunglasses attachment is cumbersome, ugly and will likely scratch the main lens if you are less than careful with glasses (sounds like some of you are a little tough on them)...I wound up getting prescription sunglasses instead .. which means I get halfway into the grocery store before I realize I have left the normal ones in the car - and have to blindly fumble for items and money - this of course is an issue with ANY set of glasses

drawbacks:

initial cost

flexible but very hard to adjust - if you do not have a perfectly aligned head, you have to bend them and the amount of force required is disturbing

if you lose your grip while taking them off, they fly off your head in a springloaded fashion and hit the pavement

i do miss hinged earpieces - stowing these is a pain
in the car when I need sunglasses, I use the defroster vents - stick the earpieces in there, lenses up ... and there you go

I've had my sihouettes for 5 years and love them. They're the best looking, most comfortable glasses I've ever had. Unfortunately I broke them yesterday. It turns out that while the arms are very flexible sideways, they will snap from force in the vertical direction. Lesson: don't leave them on your bed where you can roll over them.

I'm going to buy another pair today.

I'm sitting at my desk wearing a pair of silhouettes that only have one ear! Last night I removed my glasses and the left ear piece just came apart in my hand. I've had the glasses for about 2 years and I was under the impression that they would last practically forever. What a surprise. I paid a lot of money to have glasses that were "invisible" and "indestructible". I'm so disappointed. Never again.