In a Consumer Reports’ fall survey, the eyeglass and contact lens stores that topped our ratings received high marks for overall satisfaction. Results were based on more than 11,000 members who, collectively, reported on eyeglass purchases at 18 retailers.
We asked respondents to tell us about a variety of attributes, including product quality, price, selection, fitting, customer service and follow-up service, and more. Out of all the attributes we asked about, product quality was the biggest predictor of a respondent’s overall satisfaction with his or her retailer. That makes sense; after all, your glasses need to do their job of correcting your vision, holding up to daily use, and fitting, feeling, and looking good on your face.
Still, there are plenty of trade-offs to make. For example, retailers that got high marks for service, fitting, and follow-up, including independent retailers and private doctors, also tended to cost more. Some of the least expensive options for online shopping tended to receive somewhat lower scores when it came to product quality. And some of the retailers with the highest Overall Scores, including Costco Optical and Sam’s Club Optical, are only accessible if you’re a member.
The takeaway is that when you’re figuring out where to get eyewear, the option that works best for you is the one that meets your individual needs the best. Our ratings highlight exactly what survey respondents reported each vendor provided—or didn’t. Here are some considerations that may come into play when you’re looking for an eyewear store.
Cost
Whether they’re buying online or at a walk-in store, many CR members told us that cost is one of their chief considerations when choosing an eyewear retailer. The median price respondents paid after insurance for a pair of glasses was $205, but there’s a lot of variance when it comes to eyeglasses. The cheapest stores in our ratings sold glasses for a median of less than $100, while the priciest had a median of more than $300. And a handful of respondents reported they paid as much as $1,000 for a pair of frames.
One cost-saving possibility: Look online. People who found their glasses there paid a median of $111, while those buying in-store paid $215.
Service and Follow-Up
If it’s important to you to get help and information from your eyewear retailer and you don’t mind paying more for a new pair of glasses, it may be worth it to buy from an independent local optical shop or a private doctor’s office, where you’re more likely to get exceptional personal attention.
Convenience
Some people may have plenty of walk-in stores available nearby, while others have few local options. But more and more people are drawn to the convenience of buying glasses online. Even though frames have to fit (and ideally be flattering), online retailers are increasingly coming up with ways to give you a sense of how frames will look on you, from letting you “try” them on an uploaded photo of yourself to allowing you to order and evaluate multiple frames and return the ones you don’t want.
When you’re buying glasses online, the selection is likely to be good, and so are the prices. But both may vary a lot from site to site, so it’s still worth shopping around.
There can also be drawbacks to buying online. You’re taking a chance if you buy frames without having tried them on to see how they look and fit, so you may want to stick with an online retailer that offers a way for you to try them before you buy. It can also be a hassle to return glasses you’ve purchased if there’s an issue. This can be more problematic if you order eyeglass lenses along with your frames, especially if you have a complex prescription. And if your frames need adjusting, you’ll probably have to find a local professional to do it.
All that said, it’s worth noting that satisfaction rates averaged about the same for online retailers as for walk-in retailers overall.
One retailer that strives to give you the best of both worlds is Warby Parker. It sells eyeglasses online and in walk-in stores, which also provide eye exams.
Where and how you should look for glasses will depend on your needs and preferences. If you’re not fussy about frames, a discount store may be right for you. If money isn’t a primary concern, your ophthalmologist or optometrist (if they sell eyewear) or an independent eyeglass store may be your best choice. But if you’re looking for savings, a great selection of frames, and the personal touch that comes with dealing with a professional in person, you might consider splitting up the process, as we discuss below.
Talk to Your Eye Doctor
If you’re having your eyes examined (which is always a good idea to rule out any underlying eye health conditions, as well as to get an up-to-date prescription), ask the doctor for advice about which lenses are best for you and whether there’s anything you need to consider when buying frames or lenses. For example, if you’d like progressive or other multifocal lenses, a narrow frame might not be able to accommodate your prescription. And rimless and semi-rimless frames may be problematic if you have a strong prescription that requires thicker lenses.
Also discuss add-ons, such as anti-glare coatings and transitional lenses, to find out what your doctor thinks. If your doctor’s office sells frames, try some on to get a sense of what you do and don’t like. And ask the staff for advice about what will work best for you.
If you’re planning to buy your eyewear elsewhere, make sure to ask the doctor to measure your pupillary distance (the distance between the center of each of your pupils) because online vendors will need that information to create your glasses properly. There are some online tools for this, but a professional can do the job more accurately. Note that some offices may charge for this. About a third of respondents in our survey who bought their glasses online but got their pupillary distance at another location had to pay for this service.
Comparison Shop
If you look for frames at your doctor’s office and don’t find anything that you like or think is reasonably priced, try some walk-in stores. Many brands and frames are available from multiple retailers, so write down the brand, model number, and size of the frames you’d consider buying. You’ll find that information marked on the frame’s temples (the pieces that connect the glasses to your ears).
Once you have a few top picks, search the web using those brands and model numbers. There’s a good chance you’ll find the frames you like at a much lower cost. If you plan to buy your lenses online as well as the frames, check the site’s lens prices, too.
Divide and Conquer
You may be able to save some money if you purchase frames online but have the prescription filled at a local discount store. You’ll probably have to pay a little extra to have lenses put in frames you bought elsewhere. The store may be willing to adjust your new frames if needed.
Or Consider One-Stop Shortcuts
If your eye examination is at Costco or Target and you spot a frame you like there, you might not need to look any further for lower prices. A Warby Parker store may be another one-stop option, especially if you only need single-vision lenses, because those are included in the prices of their frames.
Report Any Problems Right Away
After you get your new glasses, alert the retailer immediately to any problems you notice with the frames or lenses. Some retailers will let you exchange frames that you find you don’t like for little or no cost, even if you ordered prescription lenses. If you find defects or just don’t like your glasses, be aware that warranties and store policies vary, so there may be time limits involved.
More than 75% of US adults use some form of vision correction, according to research from the Vision Council, a nonprofit trade association. Various estimates put the average cost of a pair of prescription glasses at north of $200. According to vision insurer VSP’s calculator, without factoring in insurance coverage, you can expect to pay approximately $527 (including $150 frames) for a pair of glasses with single vision, high-index lenses with anti-glare and scratch-resistance coatings. So it’s no surprise that, according to the Vision Council, eyeglasses are a $65.6 billion business in the US.
If you buy glasses online, you can cut your bill by up to half the brick-and-mortar price (or even more), with comparable frame and prescription lens pairings from our picks going for anywhere from $13 to $400+ at the time of our research. Note, though, that with optional upgrades or specialty-lens needs, your online costs can quickly add up—sometimes even matching or exceeding what you might encounter in person with an optician.
If you have a hard time finding frames that fit your face or your personal style, shopping around for glasses online may broaden your options. Collectively, online glasses retailers have a far greater variety of frames—including wider, narrower, and shallower styles, plus frames for people with lower nose bridges, higher cheekbones, or frame-weight restrictions—than what you’d find at any one optical shop. Many online glasses stores have tools to help you find the perfect-fitting pair of glasses for your face, through in-home frame trials and sophisticated virtual try-on tools (and, less formally, through generous, no-questions-asked return policies). To get a jumpstart on finding frames that will fit, check inside the arms of a pair you already own, as many frames are etched with their measurements. You can then search for the same dimensions in a new set of frames. Many sites also have style-searching tools, so you can quickly find glasses that fit—and that you like the look of. Keep in mind, though, that if you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for, you can try on the widest variety of styles and sizes in the least amount of time by visiting an optician in person.
Buying prescription glasses online is not ideal for everyone. The collective advice from the eight eye-care professionals we talked to was that buying online is generally okay if you have a low or uncomplicated prescription. Individuals who have very strong prescriptions or other complications, such as the need for prism correction or progressive lenses, may feel more comfortable getting glasses from a brick-and-mortar shop to ensure prescription accuracy (though even they can sometimes make mistakes). There is no official designation for what constitutes a “strong” prescription, but, in general, it means prescriptions of +/-4 power or more, Dr. Neil Pence of the Indiana University School of Optometry told us.
Some readers who say they have strong or otherwise “complicated” prescriptions have noted that, after they’ve taken the time to find frames they like from our picks, the retailers have refused to fill their prescriptions. This is understandably frustrating. If your prescription is on the strong side, check the company’s parameters before spending too much time on its site (or go to an in-person optician).
To buy glasses online, you need two things: a valid prescription and your PD, or pupillary distance.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) recommends that all adults under 65 have their eyes examined in person at least once every two years, and that people over 65 see an eye doctor each year (though most prescriptions won’t officially expire until closer to five years). It strictly recommends against online-only eyeglasses prescription renewal services and do-it-yourself prescription checkers. “Patients need to be wary of any company that claims its [service or] device can replace the care that a doctor provides,” the AOA wrote in an emailed statement. Optometrist Dr. Camille Cohen pointed out that only in-person eye exams can reveal early signs of glaucoma, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Along with a valid prescription, you’ll also need a number known as pupillary distance, or PD, which is unlikely to be on your prescription. Pupillary distance is the length in millimeters between your pupils (in a single PD number) or from your pupils to the center of your nose bridge (dual PD). PD values indicate where the company filling your prescription ought to place the horizontal center of vision in the lenses, so you can see clearly through them. According to Indiana University’s Pence, the stronger your prescription (that is, the larger the spherical numbers—positive or negative), the more important it is that the lenses are lined up correctly in front of your eye. (Read more about this and other alignment issues in Should I Buy Glasses Online?)
Online glasses retailers should ask for your PD when you order frames with prescription lenses. Even though your doctor probably determined this number during your eye exam, they’re not necessarily required to provide your PD (unlike your glasses prescription, which is required by federal law to be patient-accessible). According to the FDA, currently, only a half-dozen states—including Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Rhode Island—require that your PD be recorded on your prescription. Elsewhere, it’s up to the eye-care professional whether or not to provide this important information. To mitigate any awkward exchanges, ask when you’re booking your appointment whether your PD will be included on your prescription. If you have already gotten your eyes examined and your doctor didn’t provide your PD on your prescription, contact their office to request it. Chances are, your doctor will provide the information when asked—even if they technically don’t have to. But if your doctor decides to hold this information hostage, you still have options.
All of the retailers we ordered glasses from offer workarounds for determining your PD without a professional’s help. These include everything from marking dummy lenses on in-home try-on frames to using a piece of paper and a ruler to virtual eye exams. However, as they said of online and other DIY eye exams, experts we spoke with unanimously advised against trying to determine your PD on your own.
For the best shot at getting online glasses that work for you, it’s worth having a professional measure your PD—if you can find one who’s willing. We called a random sampling of eight “big box” opticians nationwide and asked if we could get our PD measured for a fee. Every one of them refused to provide this measurement to someone who was not planning on buying glasses directly from their establishment. Some retailers’ representatives cited state laws making them liable for glasses that did not fit well. And others (including a customer service rep for a LensCrafters in New York) insisted that their companies never shared this information (even with their own customers), and that we should try “a mom and pop shop.” Indeed, independently owned Oscar Oglethorpe Eyewear in Greensboro, North Carolina, was the only shop we called whose rep said its staff would measure anyone’s PD free of charge, whether or not someone purchased glasses from their establishment. With a few calls, you may be able to find a local pro who is willing to measure your PD for a nominal or no fee.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTTo find the best online glasses stores, in we shopped for, ordered, and returned prescription lens-and-frame pairings from each of the retailers we chose to test. We evaluated each retailer’s frame selection and lens options, virtual try-on experience, the overall ordering experience, standard shipping times (which ranged from two days to four weeks), and—crucially—return policies and processing.
In , two test panelists—one who has a relatively weak single-vision prescription (-3.75, -1.25 with moderate astigmatism) and prefers minimalist, wire-framed glasses, and another (me), who has a strong single-vision prescription (-6, -7 with mild astigmatism) and gravitates toward plastic-heavy statement styles—ordered from all seven retailers we tested. A third panelist—who wears moderate progressive prescription lenses (with moderate astigmatism), and most often chooses statement specs made primarily of plastic—ordered glasses from the four best-performing retailers based on the first two testers’ evaluations.
Even though frames cost a pretty penny, it’s usually the lenses that most affect the final cost of prescription glasses, with thinner, lighter ones potentially doubling or even tripling the total cost. The higher the lens number, the higher the lens index, and the thinner and lighter the plastic of the lenses. The “free” lenses in the frames of most online retailers have a standard index (1.50). Zenni offers 1.50 or 1.57. (Lenscrafters and Target Optical have a base lens called “enhanced slim” that doesn’t have an index attached.) All of the retailers that we tested offered lens upgrades, with some offering lenses all the way up to an ultra-thin index of 1.84; these higher-index options generally cost much more, but they can be worth the upgrade, particularly in certain frame styles.
To make the strongest possible direct comparisons across brands, we had each tester choose near-identical frames and lenses from each retailer. Of course, there were some slight differences in styles based on the options each retailer offered at the time of our testing. For example, some of the wire-framed glasses that Tester 1 ordered were a slightly different shape than others. The anti-glare and hydrophobic coatings we ordered differed slightly from pair to pair, depending upon retailer offerings and costs.
Whereas I (Tester 2) was aware of the prices of each pair I was evaluating, Testers 1 and 3 had no idea whether they were trying on, for example, a $19 pair of glasses or a $145 pair.
EyebuydirectFelix + Iris*FirmooGlassesUSALiingo EyewearWarby ParkerZenni OpticalTester 1$43When we ordered my glasses (metal-and-plastic frames filled with comparatively stronger Rx lenses), we found that two retailers, Eyebuydirect and GlassesUSA, required that we order more-expensive lenses based on the prescription (costing an extra $79 and $70, respectively). Firmoo and Zenni allowed us to order basic lenses, with the option to upgrade.
Finally, to test how the four most-promising retailers handled progressive prescriptions, we ordered near-identical plastic frame-and-lens combinations from each. In all of the acetate frames, the difference between the cheapest and best-available lenses was almost imperceptible. That’s largely because the all-plastic frames typically do a better job of “hiding” thicker lenses. We also found that the weight difference between these thicker basic lenses and thinner, more expensive ones was negligible, ranging from 0 to 2 grams.
In wire frames, however, the difference between thick and thinner lenses is generally much more visible. Even though many of the online glasses retailers we tested insist that upgrading to thinner lenses is about more than appearances, and that they can improve, as Felix + Iris put it, “visual clarity,” the reality is not so clear-cut. “High-index lenses bend light faster, which causes a difference in perception that is not always ‘better’ or ‘worse,’” explained Pence of Indiana University. In fact, sometimes pricier, lighter lenses can distort vision more than thicker, basic ones. “When light goes through lenses faster, it’s like going faster in a car,” he continued. “More things can go wrong.” So if you’re wearing thick plastic frames anyway and are not concerned about an extra gram or two of weight, you may do well to skip paying more for thinner lenses.
Finally, we had an independent eye-care professional evaluate each pair of glasses, to be sure all of the prescriptions were accurate. All were within an acceptable margin of error.
Although we didn’t test them, both of our picks sell prescription sunglasses.
Online glasses retailers know that shoppers love a “deal.” So most will gladly throw coupons and discount codes your way, essentially as soon as you start browsing their sites. In our testing, we used coupons and codes whenever possible (designer frames tend to be excluded). We did end up saving quite a bit of money this way, versus paying the full, published price—though whether we got any true deals is up for debate. Some tips:
If you have vision insurance, retailers that participate in your insurer’s network may be able to bill the insurance provider directly, lowering your upfront cost. Otherwise, you may be able to submit an out-of-network claim for prescription eyeglasses you buy online. Check with your insurance provider to see how this applies to your benefits. Even though neither of our picks directly take insurance, customers with vision insurance can submit their receipts for out-of-network provider reimbursement. (For people who want to easily use vision insurance, even if it means paying a bit more overall, we recommend considering Eyeconic, Lenscrafters, or Target Optical, three retailers that are in network for a variety of insurers.)
Prescription eyeglasses are generally considered health savings account (HSA)/flexible spending account (FSA)-eligible expenses. Consult your HSA or FSA administrator for details.
If the glasses you buy online don’t work for you, for whatever reason, return them! Really.
Ten of the 11 retailers we ordered glasses from offered no-questions-asked return policies. And indeed, though we did follow each company’s instructions perfectly, all accepted and processed our returns on time. The eleventh retailer, Zenni Optical, offers refunds, less any initial shipping costs for returns. We had no problems with our previous refund transactions at Zenni, nor did we have problems using the store credit we were issued.
Wondering what happens to returned spectacles? At the time of our testing, we asked each of the retailers we tested what they did with unwanted prescription glasses. Liingo Eyewear by 1-800 Contacts said it reuses returned frames for its in-home try-on services, as well as donates glasses to various organizations. Eyebuydirect, Firmoo, GlassesUSA, and Warby Parker all said they partner with charities to distribute glasses to those in need. Zenni donates them to Lions Clubs International.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTMost everyone can find frames they like and lenses that suit their prescription at Eyebuydirect. Prices are in the mid-range, and the return period is shorter than most, but our testers consistently rated Eyebuydirect glasses as being better than the competition.
Of the 11 brands we tested, Eyebuydirect offers the most impressive balance of aesthetics and affordability. All of the prescription lenses we ordered were accurate, and our , , , and test panelists all found Eyebuydirect’s extensive selection of more than 2,000 frames to be superior to all other companies we tested . Although the company doesn’t offer in-home frame trials, we found its virtual try-on tool more than adequate. For lower single-vision prescriptions, the company offers a plethora of lens-thickness and coating options. Eyebuydirect does force customers with strong prescriptions to upgrade to thinner, lighter lenses, but the fee is nominal ($30 to $50), especially after you apply a coupon (the retailer offers many, though some frames may be excluded). We found that most people can buy a stylish yet substantive pair of high-quality glasses with single-vision Rx lenses for under $100—even for stronger prescriptions. Those with weaker prescriptions should usually be able to find a pleasing pair for well under $50 when they use an on-site or emailed discount code.
Eyebuydirect’s superlative catalog makes sense considering that the company is owned by the world’s largest manufacturer of eyeglass frames and lenses, EssilorLuxottica. As a standalone company, Eyebuydirect has been in the online glasses marketplace for more than 15 years (among the online-only retailers we tested, it’s second in age only to Zenni).
Eyebuydirect can fill bifocals for an additional $29, on top of the standard lens prices, and progressives for an additional $49 or $89, depending on upgrade options. In we tested its photochromic lens option, which, for a cost of $99 and up (before any eligible coupons), enables eyeglasses to “transition” into sunglasses in the presence of sunlight. We found Eyebuydirect’s transitional lenses to be high quality and quick to switch to and from sunglasses.
Orders over $119 ship for free (orders costing less incur a $6 shipping charge). Eyebuydirect says glasses can take one to two weeks to produce and mail, but all of our test pairs arrived within seven days of ordering, save for the more-complicated progressives, which arrived within the promised two weeks.
Eyebuydirect offers two-day delivery on single-vision prescription glasses in more than 400 frame options, for an additional fee of $19 (though sometimes it’s free, and you can usually pay less with a coupon code). We tried this service and were pleasantly surprised to receive our order within 33 hours of placing it.
The 14-day “fit & style guarantee” may seem spartan compared with the 30- to 90-day return policies of other companies we tested (it’s the shortest of them all, tied with Zenni and GlassesUSA). But in most situations, two weeks should be plenty of time to figure out whether you like your new glasses. If you order more than one pair, the company will provide a prepaid label for you to ship the glasses back, no questions asked. If you order only one pair of glasses, the shipping costs are on you (though Eyebuydirect reimburses up to $7 of your expenses). Make sure to read the return instructions and all communication from customer service about the return process. We found that unless Eyebuydirect provided a prepaid shipping label, we were expected to put in a little more work to receive a refund than with other retailers, since the process is not automated. After paying to return the unwanted eyeglasses that did not come with a prepaid label, we had to reach back out to the company to ask it to provide a receipt and tracking number and again request a refund. In our experience, Eyebuydirect customer service reps work hard to get you to accept 115% store credit instead. We found the tactic somewhat annoying, but we had no trouble declining such offers and receiving full refunds, along with the $6 shipping credit, within two weeks.
The company offers a one-year warranty on all prescription eyeglasses.
Our long-term testers are happy with both their glasses and Eyebuydirect’s customer service. One tester did note that one of the screws that holds the lenses in place kept falling out, and while they didn’t reach out to Eyebuydirect about the issue, a local optometrist was happy to replace the screw for free. After that, the glasses went back to performing well.
In addition to Eyebuydirect’s shorter return policy than most and mandatory lens upgrades for stronger prescriptions, we don’t love that the company also charges at least $3.50 for a glasses case (most companies provide a protective case and a lens-cleaning cloth by default). We also dislike the company’s mercurial coupon strategy, which can cause extreme fluctuations in the price of a pair of prescription eyeglasses, to the point where you almost never know if you’re getting the best “deal.” In an eight-week timeframe, as we were shopping around, Eyebuydirect offered varying discounts: anywhere from 15% to 50% off the total price of frames, lenses, or both.
The company always offers a 20% discount for veterans and 20% to 30% off for students; this may or may not be better than another coupon and cannot be combined with other offers.
Although Eyebuydirect generally has strong TrustPilot customer reviews, some customer reviewers have cited poor customer service. A few Wirecutter readers have reported difficulty unsubscribing from the company’s promotional emails. A spokesperson said that anyone who experiences issues with the “unsubscribe” function or updating the contact preferences associated with their customer account can contact the company directly in order to be removed from the distribution list.
It’s possible to score a great pair of prescription eyeglasses from this retailer. And judging by customer reviews, as well as our own testing, many people do, sometimes at astonishingly affordable prices. But its return and refund options make it a slightly higher-risk choice.
If you want to spend as little as possible on prescription eyeglasses and are willing to forego a refund of outbound shipping costs in the event you return them, you might strike gold at Zenni Optical. Our testers did (and, yes, all of the prescriptions on pairs we ordered were accurate).
Like Eyebuydirect, Zenni does not offer in-home frame trials. We found the company’s virtual try-on tool satisfactory, though some styles still were not included, and it wasn’t as seamless of a try-on experience as that from our main pick, Eyebuydirect. But Zenni has an incredible selection of more than 1,500 frames (more than Eyebuydirect's) and myriad lens options, including the choice of basic lenses even for people with stronger prescriptions. For example, with Zenni I was able to choose the 1.57 lenses (included in the base price of $13), whereas Eyebuydirect forced me to pay $33 to upgrade my $12 frames to 1.67 lenses, for a total cost of $45 for a similar pair of glasses.
It is entirely possible to snag a handsome, functional pair of single-vision glasses from Zenni for under $30 shipped: We did it multiple times, both during testing and after (when I bought myself a complete pair of $28 glow-in-the-dark specs). Tester 3, who wears progressive lenses in acetate frames, chose Zenni glasses ($149, including 1.74 lenses) as her favorite pair. These were half the price of the similar Warby Parker pair we’d ordered for her ($295, with 1.59 lenses), and significantly cheaper than the equivalent glasses we got at Eyebuydirect and Liingo. As part of our testing, we tried Zenni’s photochromic lens option, an add-on that starts at $25 (before any applicable coupons), and turns regular eyeglasses into sunglasses when exposed to sunlight. Zenni’s transitional lenses were of high quality, darkening quickly to protect eyes from the sun, and swiftly transformed back to clear when we moved indoors.
Our testers gave high marks to the quality of most of the Zenni frames we ordered (on par with their scores for frames from Eyebuydirect and Liingo), though some of the cheapest ones did indeed look and feel cheap. We were somewhat surprised to discover that in both style and construction, some of the more expensive Zenni frames (which top out at $90) could easily rival $400 ones. However, some Wirecutter readers have noted that they have been less impressed with the quality of the glasses they’ve received from the retailer. (One reported receiving glasses with an air bubble in a lens.)
Each pair we ordered arrived within seven to 10 business days, on par with Eyebuydirect’s and Liingo’s shipping times.
In , we ordered the exact same glasses that we ordered in to evaluate consistency. We were pleasantly surprised to note that not only was the prescription perfect, but the glasses were also slightly less expensive the second time around, thanks to the recent uptick in Zenni coupon codes.
Some may consider Zenni’s return policy a dealbreaker. The retailer provides a 100% refund or store credit for returns made within 14 days. (Only store credit is available for returns made between 15 and 30 days from the delivery date.) We also don’t love that anti-reflective coating isn’t included in any of the lens options, which forces customers to pay an extra $5 for something that’s included in our other pick. Zenni’s warranty coverage is also lackluster compared with that of our other picks. Zenni offers a year of protection against lens-coating defects only.
The company ships all glasses with a hardshell case and a lens-cleaning cloth.
Overall, our testers are still happy with their glasses from Zenni, with no reported complaints.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTIf you already wear glasses that fit, you’ve got a head start on finding and buying new ones. Take a favorite pair of frames and look at the inside arm: You’ll probably find three numbers that tell you, in order from the left, the lens width, the bridge width, and the temple arm length. If not, and you remember where you bought your last pair of specs, give the shop a call. That’s what I did with my favorite pair of glasses, which were unmarked (or the numbers had eroded with time and abuse). The store was happy to give me the frame measurements and designer over the , since I’d purchased the glasses there.
Of the retailers we tested, Eyebuydirect, Firmoo, GlassesUSA, Eyeconic, and Zenni Optical allow you to limit viewable frames to a variety of toggleable desired size parameters. (Other retailers we tested often list the measurements on each frame’s page, but offer no way of setting parameters to see frames only in certain lens heights, frame widths, or arm lengths.) Note that even when a frame has nearly the exact same official measurements as another, style and fit can vary dramatically.
If you don’t have frames that you already know fit, you’ll probably need to try some on, either in person or through the in-home try-on services. Though the virtual try-on services are better than nothing, especially for a seasoned glasses wearer who knows their face, to find flattering frames, a novice in need of specs should probably take a bit more care the first go-round.
When it comes to an all-day accessory like eyeglasses, weight matters, and frame size and material can have a lot to do with how heavy your specs are—which can determine how long you can comfortably wear your glasses. Eyebuydirect and Zenni allow customers to search specifically for lightweight frames, which can help someone avoid picking attractive yet unwearable glasses. Generally speaking, mostly-plastic frames are lighter than all-metal ones, but some wire frames fit the featherweight description.
A common fitting issue arises if you have a low nose bridge—meaning the shallowest part of your nose is at or below your pupils—or high cheekbones. Frames that don’t accommodate such facial features typically sit too low or too close to your eyes for the glasses to be comfortable and effective.
Likewise, if the temple arms are too long for you, the glasses can slip forward and off your face or dig in behind your ears, an issue that can sometimes be mitigated with an in-person fitting with a professional (for which Liingo offers a $25 credit; Eyeconic offers this service for free).
Kits frames are gorgeous but pricey, due to mandatory upgrades for stronger prescriptions and expensive upsells for add-ons that are either included or less inexpensive at the sites we recommend. Kits offers free returns for 30 days and free exchanges and repairs for a year. It is one of the few online retailers we’ve considered that offers free prescription renewal, though the American Optometric Association does not recommend people use this type of service.
With DiscountGlasses.com, our testers found that when trying to order glasses similar to ones they’ve ordered from our picks, the glasses came out to be 30% to 60% more expensive, even when sticking with thicker lenses.
Bonlook has a useful virtual try-on tool and almost 200 frame options. Its website isn’t intuitive, though, and some prescriptions incur additional lens fees that customers aren’t alerted to until deep into the checkout process. We found it difficult to reach the company’s customer service by any method: chat, , or . Bonlook does, however, have a 30-day free returns policy for orders over $80, which is easy to activate online. (Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico are excluded from this offer.)
Firmoo is beloved for its extensive selection of stylish and unusual frames and affordable pricing. Even though the unwieldy website navigation, exclusive use of PayPal, and lack of package-tracking numbers leave us unable to fully recommend the site, our panelists generally loved the Firmoo glasses we tested. And the return experience was positive, though not free (you’re not refunded for the outbound and return shipping costs).
GlassesUSA’s enormous, 1,500-plus frames selection (around the same number as Eyebuydirect’s, but with name-brand options) was sullied, in our experience, by fluctuating prices, coupon landmines, and upsells upon upsells. It is the only company we considered that did not include anti-scratch coating with lenses, instead offering a $39 “package deal” for anti-glare, anti-scratch, and UV protection. When one of our orders didn’t arrive, we contacted customer service. GlassesUSA sent a new shipment notification two days later. Nearly two weeks after that, the glasses arrived. We quickly received full refunds for the glasses we returned to this retailer.
We eliminated the following retailers without testing:
Coastal is now part of Eyebuydirect. Previously, it had the same return policy and virtual try-on options, as our pick, Compared with Eyebuydirect, Coastal offered more-expensive with Eyebuydirect, Coastal offered more-expensive frame options (including from brand names like Coach and Tory Burch).
Barner and Sunnies Studios are both pricier than most of our picks, and neither company offers free returns.
See Saw Seen offers virtual try-on of its small but unique selection of frames, but prescription lenses are nonrefundable.
SmartBuyGlasses offers virtual-try on, but its seemingly generous 100-day return policy applies only to brand-new, unused items with manufacturer seals intact.
Archibald London offers in-home try-on, but these made-in-Japan frames and lenses start at $225, and prescription lenses are nonrefundable.
Cooper Crwn prescription lenses are nonrefundable.
Covry offers in-home try-on for $10 (credited to the purchase of new glasses), but prescription lenses are nonrefundable.
GlassyEyewear returns are not free and there are fewer than 40 available frames.
David Kind offers in-home try-on and a no-questions-asked, 30-day return policy (with a restocking fee), but the least expensive frame and lens combinations are at least $295.
Roka prescription lenses are not fully refundable - there is a $20 restocking fee.
We also eliminated the following online eyeglasses retailers because they lacked a personalized virtual or in-home frame try-on service at the time of testing: Ambr Eyewear, America’s Best, Caddis, Coco Leni, Diff Eyewear, Eyeglasses.com, FramesDirect, GlassesShop, GreatEyeglasses.com, Overnight Glasses, Polette, Payne Glasses, Visionworks, Vint & York, and Walmart Optical.
Leigh Krietsch Boerner contributed reporting to this guide.
This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.
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