Where to Buy Glasses Online. We explore what different online eyewear stores have to offer and how their services work.
The best and cheapest way to buy glasses today is through your computer. While you still have to visit an eye doctor to get a prescription, you can now save money and access a wider range of styles by ordering your glasses online.
Many of today’s online eyewear stores offer virtual fitting tools that let you see how your glasses will look before you even place your order. Others offer generous return policies that allow you to take the time to try on frames, decide if you like them, and return them free of charge if you’re not happy with the look or size. This takes much of the guesswork out of buying glasses online and helps ensure that you get a pair you love. Here are the main things to consider when buying glasses online.
Price
Comparing prices when buying glasses online can be tricky. Some stores, like Warby Parker, include both frames and prescription lenses in their prices, but others, like EyeBuyDirect and Goggles4U, charge separately for frames and lenses.
Finding the lowest price also depends on what you want to buy. For example, if you’re just looking for simple, inexpensive frames with single-lens lenses and no extras like tints or special treatments, you could pay as little as $6.95 at Zenni Optical or Goggles4U.
But for that price, you’re getting very simple lenses and simple frames. That’s perfect if you’re worried about losing or breaking your glasses, or if you want to take a spare pair with you when you travel, but if you’re looking for a variety of designer styles, you’ll pay higher prices. Even then, we’re not talking about how much you’d pay in-store. BonLook sells handcrafted and attractive glasses starting at $99.
The cheapest single-lens store may not have the best deals on progressive lenses or extras like treatments and tints. For example, EyeBuyDirect’s bifocals are cheaper (starting at $35) than Goggles4U’s most affordable bifocals, which start at almost $40, although Goggles4U offers a lower price for single-lens lenses.
Another thing to consider when comparing prices at different online eyewear stores is whether they accept your insurance. Glasses.com stands out because it accepts prescriptions from most eyewear suppliers and works with many local eye doctors. Although the initial price of glasses may be higher, when you factor in your insurance benefits, you’ll find that you can get them for less than anywhere else.
Types of Glasses
When shopping for glasses online, you’ll want to be able to order more than just reading glasses. Progressive, bifocal, and multifocal lenses are available at most stores, such as GlassesUSA. Most online eyewear stores sell sunglasses, but Zenni Optical and Coastal also sell ski and swim goggles with prescription lenses. Glasses.com includes protective eyewear in its product line, and EyeBuyDirect lets you buy computer glasses that are specifically designed to reduce screen glare.
When shopping online, you should also check out what special tints and care products you can add to your glasses. Blue, red, and brown tints, photochromic lenses, and UV protection are available from online stores like 39DollarGlasses, Zenni Optical, and Felix Gray. 39DollarGlasses includes scratch-resistant coatings on its basic lenses, while Zenni Optical offers a fingerprint-resistant option.
Those who spend a lot of time in front of a computer may want to consider lenses that reduce digital eye strain. Felix Gray’s blue light filter glasses use unique lens technology to reduce screen-induced headaches and eye fatigue. Despite their practical use, these lenses come in modern, stylish frames that don’t compromise on style.
Virtual Try-On
The biggest concern when buying glasses online is how they’ll look if you can’t try them on. Online eyewear stores have come up with two solutions to this problem. Most retailers now offer virtual try-ons. This means you can upload a photo of yourself and click on the page to see what you’ll look like in the frames you’re considering. BonLook and Goggles4U take this approach.
Another option is to order frames to try on for free at home. Warby Parker became famous for this option. It lets you choose up to five pairs of frames to wear at home for five days. You can ask your friends what they think and see how they perceive your face before choosing the ones you like best, or return them all and try on others. Shipping and returns are free.
EyeBuyDirect and GlassesUSA use both solutions quite frequently. Both sites offer virtual try-ons, but once you receive your glasses, you have 14 and 30 days, respectively, to try them on at home and return them for free to make sure you like them.
Shipping
Shipping is a cost you don’t have to pay when you receive your glasses. In some cases, shipping costs almost as much as the glasses themselves. On the other hand, many online eyewear stores address this issue by offering free shipping. Coastal and GlassesUSA offer free shipping on all U.S. orders, regardless of price.
Shipping times are also an issue, though you’ll usually have to wait a few days for your glasses to be ready if you buy them in a brick-and-mortar store. You can usually pay extra for expedited shipping to get your glasses the next business day. BonLook stands out by offering free shipping on orders over $80 and fast shipping in just two days.
Refunds and Returns
When buying glasses online, it’s important to know that it’s easy to return them if you don’t like them when you receive them. EyeBuyDirect offers free shipping and returns within 14 days, while GlassesUSA offers a 30-day return policy. In addition to Warby Parker’s five-day free trial of five frames, you also have 30 days to return your prescription glasses for a full refund, plus you can request a free replacement for scratched lenses within the first 12 months. EyeBuyDirect and GlassesUSA also allow customers to request a one-time replacement within the first 12 months if their glasses are damaged.
Range of Styles
One final benefit of buying glasses online is that you can choose from a much wider range of styles than your local eye doctor offers. BonLook is a great source for high-end men’s and women’s eyewear. All of their frames are handcrafted, high-quality, and crafted with a strong focus on style and trends. Glasses.com offers hundreds of styles, both designer and branded, for adults and children, while Coastal sells one of the widest selections of men’s eyewear, with a focus on fashion.
Buy Your Next Eyeglasses Online for Less
Buying glasses online gives you access to more styles, a wider range of additional services like treatments and tints, and, most importantly, lower prices. Since many online eyewear stores offer free shipping and no-obligation returns, you have nothing to lose by trying them out.
