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 tints 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 a lot of 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 store with the lowest prices on single-vision 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-vision 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 optometrists. Although the initial price of glasses may be higher, when you factor in your insurance benefits, you’ll get glasses for less than you would anywhere else.
Types of Glasses
When buying glasses online, you’ll want to be able to order more than just reading glasses. Progressive, bifocal, and multifocal lenses are available at most retailers, such as GlassesUSA. Most online optical stores sell sunglasses, but Zenni Optical and Coastal also offer ski and swim goggles with prescription lenses. Glasses.com includes safety glasses in its catalog, and EyeBuyDirect lets you buy computer glasses that are specifically designed to reduce screen glare.
When shopping online, it’s a good idea to ask about special tints and treatments that can be added to your glasses. Blue, red, and brown tints, photochromic lenses, and UV protection are available from online retailers like 39DollarGlasses, Zenni Optical, and Felix Gray. 39DollarGlasses includes scratch-resistant coatings on its basic lenses, while Zenni Optical offers anti-fingerprint protection.
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-filtering glasses feature unique lens technology to help reduce headaches and eye fatigue caused by screens. Aside from their practical benefits, these lenses come in modern and stylish frames.
Virtual Try-On
The biggest concern when buying glasses online is how they will look if you can’t try them on. Online optical stores have come up with two solutions to this problem. Most now offer a virtual try-on option. This means you can upload a photo of yourself and click on the page to see what the frames you’re considering will look like on you. BonLook and Goggles4U use this method.
Another option is to order frames for free to try on at home. 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 before choosing the ones you like best, or return them all and try on the others. There are no shipping or return fees.
EyeBuyDirect and GlassesUSA use both solutions, although not in all cases. Both sites offer the ability to try on 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 won’t pay when you buy glasses. In some cases, shipping costs almost as much as the glasses themselves. However, many online opticians get around this by offering free shipping. Coastal and GlassesUSA offer free shipping on all orders within the United States, regardless of the total order amount.
Shipping times are also important, although you’ll usually have to wait a few days for your glasses to be ready if you buy them from a physical optician. In general, you can 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 only two-day expedited shipping.
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 this service for 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 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
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 eyewear for men and women. All of their frames are handmade, high-quality, and crafted with a focus on style and the latest trends. Glasses.com offers hundreds of designer and more affordable brand-name models for adults and kids, while Coastal has 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, a wider range of additional services like treatments and tints, and, most importantly, lower prices. Many online optical stores offer free shipping and hassle-free returns, so you have nothing to lose by trying them out.