Where to buy glasses online. We look at the different online opticians and how they work.
Today, the best and cheapest way to buy glasses is through a computer. While you still have to visit an optician to get your prescription, you can now save money and access a wider range of styles by buying them online.
Many online opticians offer virtual try-on tools that allow you to see how they look on you before placing your order. Others offer flexible return policies that allow you to try on frames, decide if you like them, and return them free of charge if you are not satisfied with the look or size. This significantly reduces the uncertainty when buying glasses online and helps ensure that you get a pair that you like. These are the main aspects to consider when buying glasses online.
Price
When buying glasses online, comparing prices can be difficult. Some stores, like Warby Parker, include both the frames and prescription lenses in the price, but others, like EyeBuyDirect and Goggles4U, sell them separately.
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, without any extras like tinting or special treatments, you can find them for 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 a spare pair for travel, but if you’re looking for a variety of unique designs, the price will be higher. In any case, we’re not talking about how much you’d pay in a store. BonLook sells handcrafted, one-of-a-kind designs, starting at $99.
The optician with the lowest prices on single-lens glasses may not have the best deals on progressive lenses or glasses with extras like treatments and tints. For example, EyeBuyDirect’s bifocals are cheaper (starting at $35) than Goggles4U’s cheapest bifocals, which start at almost $40, although Goggles4U has lower prices on single-lens lenses.
Another important consideration when comparing prices at different online optical stores is whether they accept your insurance. Glasses.com stands out because it accepts most insurance plans and works with many local eye doctors. Although the initial price of glasses may be higher, when you consider your insurance benefits, you will get glasses cheaper than anywhere else.
Types of Glasses
When shopping for glasses online, you’ll want to order more than just reading glasses. Many retailers, such as GlassesUSA, offer progressive, bifocal, and multifocal lenses. While most online opticians sell sunglasses, Zenni Optical and Coastal also offer 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 pay attention to the special tints and care that you can add to your glasses. Online retailers like 39DollarGlasses, Zenni Optical, and Felix Gray offer blue, red, and brown tints, photochromic lenses, and UV protection. 39DollarGlasses includes a scratch-resistant coating on its basic lenses, while Zenni Optical offers an anti-fingerprint coating.
Those who spend a lot of time in front of a computer should consider lenses that combat digital eye strain. Felix Gray’s blue light-filtering glasses feature unique lens technology to help reduce screen-induced headaches and eye strain. Despite their practical utility, these glasses come in modern and stylish frames that don’t compromise style.
Virtual Try-On
The biggest concern when buying glasses online is how they’ll look if you can’t try them on. Online optical stores have come up with two solutions to this problem. Most now offer virtual try-ons. This means you can upload a photo of yourself, then click on the page to see what you’d look like in the frames you’re considering. BonLook and Goggles4U offer this method.
Another option is to let you order frames to try on at home for free. Warby Parker became famous for this system. It lets you choose up to five pairs of frames to wear at home for five days. You can ask your friends for their opinions and see what they think of your face before choosing your favorite pair, or return them all and try on others. There are no shipping or return fees.
EyeBuyDirect and GlassesUSA use both solutions, albeit to a lesser extent. Both sites offer the opportunity to try on the glasses virtually, but once you receive them, you have 14 to 30 days to try them on at home and return them for free to make sure you like them.
Shipping
Shipping is a cost you shouldn’t have to pay when buying glasses. In some cases, shipping costs almost as much as the glasses themselves. However, many online opticians are getting around this issue by offering free shipping. Coastal and GlassesUSA offer free shipping on all orders within the US, regardless of order amount.
Shipping times are also important. If you buy from a physical optician, you’ll usually have to wait a few days for your glasses to be ready. You can usually pay more for expedited shipping to get your glasses the next business day. BonLook stands out by offering free shipping on orders over $80 and expedited 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 after receiving them. EyeBuyDirect offers free shipping and returns within 14 days, while GlassesUSA offers this service within 30 days. 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, and you can get scratched lenses replaced for free within the first 12 months. EyeBuyDirect and GlassesUSA also allow their customers to request a one-time replacement within the first 12 months if their glasses are damaged.
Range of Styles
A final advantage of buying glasses online is that you can choose from a much wider range of styles than your local optician offers. BonLook is a great option for finding trendy glasses for men, especially women. All of the glasses are handmade, high-quality, and made with a strong focus on style and trends. Glasses.com features hundreds of designer and brand-name models for adults and children, while Coastal offers one of the largest 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, additional services like treatments and tints, a wider selection, and, most importantly, lower prices. Many online optical stores offer free shipping and returns with no obligation, so you have nothing to lose by trying them out.
