Where to buy glasses online. We examine the offerings of various online eyewear stores and how their services work.
Today, the best and cheapest way to buy glasses is online. While you still have to visit an eye doctor to get your prescription, you can now save money and access a wider range of styles by buying your glasses online.
Many of today’s eyewear websites have virtual try-on tools that allow you to see how they look on you before you buy them. Others have 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 style or size. This reduces the uncertainty when buying glasses online and helps ensure that you get a pair that you love. 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 frames and lenses in the price, but others, like EyeBuyDirect and Goggles4U, sell them separately.
Finding the best price also depends on what you’re looking for. For example, if you just need simple, inexpensive frames with single-lens lenses, without any extras like tints or special coatings, you can find them for as little as $6.95 at Zenni Optical or Goggles4U.
However, 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 designer styles, you’ll have to pay a higher price. Even then, we’re not talking about how much you’d pay in a store. BonLook sells handcrafted designer glasses starting at $99.
The optical store with the lowest price on single-lens glasses may not have the best deals on progressive lenses or glasses with additional materials, such as coatings 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 does offer single-lens glasses at a lower price.
When comparing prices at different online optical stores, it’s important to consider whether they accept your health insurance. Glasses.com stands out in that it accepts most insurance plans 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 get glasses for less than you would anywhere else.
Types of Glasses
When shopping for glasses online, you’ll want to order more than just reading glasses. Progressive, bifocal, and multifocal lenses are available from most optical stores, 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 protective eyewear 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 the special tints and coatings available for your glasses. Blue, red, and brown shades, photochromic lenses, and UV-protective coatings can be found at online retailers like 39DollarGlasses, Zenni Optical, and Felix Gray. 39DollarGlasses includes scratch-resistant coatings 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 reduce digital eye strain. Felix Gray’s blue light-filtering glasses use unique lens technology to reduce screen-induced headaches and eye fatigue. Despite their practical benefits, these lenses come in modern and stylish frames that don’t compromise on aesthetics.
Virtual Try-On
The biggest concern when buying glasses online is how they will look if you can’t try them on in person. Online optical stores have found 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 how the frames you’re considering will look 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 others. Shipping and returns are free.
EyeBuyDirect and GlassesUSA use both solutions, although to a lesser extent. Both sites offer virtual try-ons, but once you receive your glasses, 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 don’t have to pay after you receive your glasses. In some cases, shipping costs are almost as much as the glasses themselves. However, many online optical stores are getting around this by offering free shipping. Coastal and GlassesUSA offer free shipping on all orders within the U.S., regardless of order value.
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 in a physical store. You can usually pay extra for expedited shipping to get your glasses the next 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, you should 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 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
Another 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 high-quality eyewear for men and especially women. All of the glasses are handmade, high-quality, and made with a strong focus on style and the latest trends. Glasses.com offers hundreds of designer and lesser-known brands for adults and children, 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, such as care and tint types, and, most importantly, lower prices. Many online optical stores offer free shipping and no-obligation returns, so you have nothing to lose by trying them out.
