Universal healthcare such as here in the UK comes in for lots of criticism, mainly from Americans with good health insurance.
Maybe they would feel slightly differantly if they were in the position of the OP.
The Lions Club is basically VOSH. My uncle was a Lion for umpteengazillion years 
and was very involved with VOSH.
If your lenses are heavy, look into glasses with cable temples, the ones that curve around your ears? If it seems impossible, it’s not. If you are able to get a frame that you like (and is affordable), ask the optician to contact the opthalmic lab where your glasses would be made. The frames department SHOULD be able to get cable temples for pretty much any frame.
Miss-who worked as a Frames rep for an opthalmic lab-Take 