I think it depends on the magnification you are looking for. I have a set of these. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06XYYCFRP
They work OK for High magnification work, but you don't get binocular vision. The focal distance is too short for both eyes to see the object.
For binocular vision I use a pair of strong reading glasses (x3.5), with a flip up set of magnifying readers clipped on top (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reading-Glasses-Magnifying-Magnifiers-Readers/dp/B07WW3J4ZN).
The readers are stronger than my reading prescription, and give nice magnification about 12-24" away. I can see things on the bench 3-4ft away, but looking for stuff across the workshop means swapping to my regular glasses. With the extra lenses flipped down (mine are x2.5) vision is highly magnified at 4-8" but beyond about foot all is a blur.
I find the combination great. Flip down to see when the cutter just touches the work, flip up to watch the machining.
I suspect the reason your friends are so expensive is that they give High magnification at long working distances – and that needs specialised optics.
Edited By Peter Cook 6 on 14/01/2021 21:45:11