Kaiser is actually the best/most European option, if it's available to you. This exact thing happened in my family, but the lesson I took away is being grateful to Kaiser for letting us know the price ahead of time, and all but forcing us to go a different (much cheaper) route for my wife's glasses. Don't hate the player, hate the game, and all that...

Apologies for being a little off-topic, but what online vendors did you use? Asking because I have the very same issue in New England.

Eye care is mostly a monopoly where luxotica owns the market.

Warby parker, zenni, etc are the disruptors.