The 9 Best Places to Buy Eyeglasses in 2023 (Online or In-Store) (2023)

FAQs

Is it a good idea to order eyeglasses online? ›

Reasons Not to Buy Glasses Online

Some experts say it's like trying to cut your own hair. It may be difficult to return the glasses. A large study found about half the online glasses had the wrong prescription or other problems. An incorrect prescription may give you blurred vision or make your eyes feel uncomfortable.

Costco charges $130 for high-definition progressive lenses, which, as with all Costco lenses, include an anti-reflective coating. That's about half what you'd pay at many walk-in stores. But if you need basic, plastic single-vision lenses, you can pay as little as $29 at Walmart, about half as much as at Costco.

Consumer Reports surveyed more than 91,000 members, and Costco Optical topped the list of eyeglass retailers for customer satisfaction. The key factor? Price. The median cost for glasses at Costco was $186, while the median price at LensCrafters was $369.

Online retailers that sell cheap eyeglasses and sunglasses often say they can offer low prices because they don't have the same expenses associated with a “brick-and-mortar” store, such as the high rent paid in retail shopping areas.

How long does it take to get glasses from Costco? If you order glasses for in-person pickup, Costco states they will take about 7 days to process. If you order glasses delivered to your home, it'll also take 7 days to process plus an additional 7 to 14 days to ship.

Zenni glasses are made at a dedicated factory and shipped directly to the consumer. Also, because Zenni sells its glasses online, they don't pay for brick-and-mortar retail space. This means they can avoid costly markups, and they pass that savings onto their customer.

What are the most comfortable prescription glasses? ›

Titanium frames offer an ultra lightweight stylish highly flexible option for those looking for the most comfortable pair of glasses. It is durable, strong and corrosion-resistant. Titanium eyewear comes in a variety of colors for a clean, modern look with a hint of color. And, it's hypoallergenic!

Glasses cost an average of $185 at Costco Optical — 54% less than other chains and retailers. Just like in most places, glasses at Costco Optical can have a wide range of pricing. To start, it depends on the frames you choose. If you go with the Kirkland brand, you will pay less than if you choose designer lenses.

Have you ever wondered why glasses cost so much? When you buy glasses from a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer, you're not just paying for the frame and lenses; you're also paying big money to cover the retailer's hefty outsourcing costs, which usually include manufacturing, licensing fees, warehousing, and more.

Average cost of progressive lenses

Compared to the slightly lower cost of bifocal lenses, the average consumer pays between $150 and $250 for their progressive lenses. For this price range, you should be able to purchase a decent set of progressive lenses.

The average cost of glasses without insurance is $242, according to statistics from VSP. That's for frames only. For basic, single lenses, it's $113. That means the total will run you on average about $351 for a complete pair of glasses if you don't have vision insurance.

An optometrist is an expert regarding eyes. A significant advantage of buying your glasses from them is that they can provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision. With an eye doctor's help, you can be assured you'll get the best frames and lenses for your eyes.

One of the key reasons eyeglasses are so expensive is the manufacturing costs; new technology incorporated into the making of glasses to have them deliver better results comes at an extra cost to the consumer. However, no amount of quality could indeed be worth the price.

Glasses can take from 3 - 7 days, depending on the prescription, special finishes, etc.

According to Walmart, 98 percent of orders arrive within 7 to 10 days. If an item is in stock, it's not uncommon to get it even sooner. On the website, you can also sort reading and computer glasses by various degrees of expedited delivery if you need things sooner.

Billing doesn't go through Costco since the optometrists are contractors, so your exam bill is separate from your membership. The glasses, contacts, and lenses are all Costco-owned, meaning you need a membership to buy those items.

Which progressive lens is best? ›

Best progressive lenses brands

We have to emphasize Varilux X series, including Varilux Xclusive 4D, Varilux X track and Varilux X design.

It's about value; no low-quality, no-name brands. Costco and Walmart optical departments are half the price of LensCrafters, but they are also half the quality. Your best deals will always be to stay away from the big chains where you are just a dollar sign when you come in the door.

Cheaper lenses will give you the clarity of vision you require, but more expensive ones will give you a more distinctive pair of glasses, with personalized features. Customized features like lens color, anti-reflective coating, scratch-resistant, polarized, photochromic, etc. are the components of higher price.

Overview of lenscrafters.com's closest competitors

The closest competitor to the lenscrafters.com is targetoptical.com that ranks 98321 worldwide, 28473 in United States. According to our estimations targetoptical.com is getting 671.6K visits in February 2023 and the authority score of this domain is 54.

Walmart offers some of the cheapest frames available and the lowest lens prices comparable to other retailers. A look at their available frames shows several options under $10. A reasonable variety of options under $30 are available as well for those unhappy with the limited extreme budget options.

Cheaper lenses generally use more common lens materials. They may not be as tailored to your needs as other lens materials, but they still provide clear vision for a fraction of the cost. Generally speaking, the lower the cost of your lenses, the fewer features you have available.

Anti-reflective lenses are very worth it, especially if you deal with a lot of glare from digital or LED screens, as well as glare from oncoming headlights when driving at night on a road trip. They also help you see better, look better, and feel better than going without uncoated lenses.

Bottom line. If affordability is the most important element of your next eyeglass purchase, Zenni might be the way to go. Though it tends to have lower prices than your local eye doctor's office, Warby Parker still tends to be more expensive than Zenni.

Eyewear sales make up 62% of an optometrist's salary.

It's no wonder you're getting the hard sell after every eye exam.

Who competes with Zenni Optical? ›

Zenni's top competitors include Warby Parker, and Lenskart. Warby Parker (NYSE: WRBY) is a brand of prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses.

In general, frames made from metal, titanium or alloys (a mixture of metals) stand up well to wear and tear. Titanium frames are very strong, lightweight and corrosion-resistant.

Are Glasses Better With or Without Nose Pads? The answer is generally up to personal preference. Some people find glasses with nose pads more comfortable because they hold the glasses on their face better and help prevent them from sliding down your nose or off your head.

In general, brown or grey tints are good driving lenses, because it will help you to identify traffic lights or brake lights in milliseconds and may improve your reaction time. TIP: Ask your eye care professional about tinted lenses with colour gradients.

Is the prescription correct? Consumer studies have shown that almost 50% of the lenses ordered from online retailers arrive with some error. These prescription mishaps are more common when buying glasses online because online retailers may not be able to accommodate specific prescriptions.

Yes! With an accurate prescription and pupillary distance, a pair of prescription glasses ordered online are the same as glasses you'd buy in a store.

To buy eyeglasses online with a prescription, you'll need to secure a copy of your prescription information. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires eye doctors to give you your prescription without an extra fee. For optimal results, you'll need to make sure your prescription is up-to-date.

Zenni glasses are made at a dedicated factory and shipped directly to the consumer. Also, because Zenni sells its glasses online, they don't pay for brick-and-mortar retail space. This means they can avoid costly markups, and they pass that savings onto their customer.

In 2009, they set out to correct the vision industry and make that possible by launching GlassesUSA, an online retailer for prescription eyewear. By removing the middleman from the typical supply chain, the company says it offers more options at lower prices.

What time of year is best to buy eyeglasses? ›

When is the best time to get eyeglasses for cheap? Many online and brick-and-mortar glasses retailers offer big seasonal sales several times a year. The best times to get deals on glasses include late summer and early fall for back-to-school, major holidays, Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Some online retailers — like Warby Parker — have brick-and-mortar locations you can visit for adjustments. If that isn't an option, though, you can usually go see an optician for an adjustment. Many opticians will do this for free regardless of where you purchased your glasses, but there could be a small fee.

Essentially, you don't need insurance to order glasses online. There is a straightforward process to get affordable, stylish glasses even if you don't have vision insurance. This can be done by getting a low-cost eye exam and then shop for discount glasses online or at an optical store.

Unfortunately, you won't be able to get a prescription filled without a new exam if your prescription has expired. It is actually illegal for someone to fill an expired glasses prescription. Even if you think your vision hasn't changed, you still need to get a new exam before you get new glasses.

Expect to wait 7–10 business days to get new prescription glasses following your eye exam, though quicker turnaround times are possible (especially with expedited shipping). And remember, once you get your prescription from an eye exam, you can use it to order glasses at any optical retailer (online or in person).

Walmart's website has been updated, and you can now order only frames online. You won't be able to add your custom prescription and have ready-to-use glasses delivered to your door. Instead, you can order your prescription glasses in-store or order your frames online and have the lenses replaced later.

Contrary to what some think, you don't absolutely have to buy progressive glasses locally. They can be purchased online and you can even save a substantial amount compared to what you might pay at a local store.

Overview. LensCrafters has a consumer rating of 2.38 stars from 33 reviews indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Consumers complaining about LensCrafters most frequently mention eye exam and new glasses problems. LensCrafters ranks 82nd among Contact Lenses sites.