9 Best Places to Buy Eyewear 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.

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.

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.

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.

For most people, hugely expensive eyeglasses are not worth the money; eyeglasses do not have to be $1000 for them to be durable enough to last a few years. The most cost-effective way to buy your eyewear is to buy moderately priced frames and replace the lenses every year using Rx-able's lens replacement services.

Retro, 1970s-inspired tinted lenses will be popular in 2023, especially lenses in red, orange, and yellow, which have been spotted by trendsetters at Coachella. It's being called the “new retro.” Metallic frames paired with tinted lenses will also trend next year, as well as aviator-style frames.

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.

What is the cheapest way to get 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!

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.

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.

Zenni Optical is a U.S. company, but Zenni glasses are made in China. The Zenni Optical headquarters is located in San Francisco, and the one-million-square-foot Zenni Optical factory and eyewear laboratories are located in Danyang, China.

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

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.

Average frame cost

The price range for glasses frames spans from about $50 to more than $1,000, depending on the brand, though the average price is usually slightly less than $200, with insurance.

Do expensive glasses make a difference? ›

When it comes to more expensive glasses, you'll benefit from added features and customization. While these added features aren't always necessary, they can sometimes make a drastic difference, especially if you have a demanding lifestyle or unique vision needs. With more expensive glasses, you have more 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.

Progressive wearers should avoid aviators and cat-eyes because both can cut off the bottom portion of the prescription, resulting in a loss of reading vision. Instead, they should look for shorter frames with rounded edges such as horn-rimmed, retro wingtip, circular, and oval ones.

What is the difference between the premium progressives and standard progressives? Our high-definition premium progressives feature wider intermediate and reading areas of the lens than standard progressives. Peripheral (side) distortion is reduced by up to 40% compared to the standard design.

Benefits of Anti-Glare & Anti-Reflective Coatings

AG and AR coatings offer many benefits and are definitely worth the extra cost, especially if you find yourself bothered by glare. They can help you see better, look better, and feel better compared to wearing glasses with uncoated lenses.

Good-quality progressive lenses can cost up to $1200—considerably more than your average pair of standard lenses.

However, most people don't realize that buying from your trusted eye care professional, your eye doctor, not only is the best option to find a great pair of glasses but will provide you with lower costs, great customer service, and exact prescription.

For people who want their frames to make them look and feel younger, cat-eye frames or upswept rectangular frames with rounded corners can achieve a younger feel. Remember: A well-fitting pair of glasses should not touch your cheeks.

Warm-colored glasses make you look younger. Cool and flashy tones are best left to the younger generations. Warmer tones look great on both older men and women. Look for frames in browns, berry tones, and jewel tones.

Five main shapes stand out: Slim Racer Frame, with thin, sporty lenses reminiscent of competition; Fashion Shield, oversize styles, true to their name; Future Classic Frame, with retro contours and shapes skillfully reinterpreted with a futuristic vibe; Geometric Frame, 1980's vintage-inspired geometric lenses; and ...

What eyeglass frames are currently in style? ›

Round-eye tortoiseshell glasses are the definition of timeless eyewear. They're a safe bet. This enduring glasses style is popular across all age groups, making it an adaptable and ageless glasses style for you to wear.

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.

They have a good selection of eyewear at fair prices, including many varieties of eyeglasses and contact lenses. On top of that, the centers are tastefully decorated, which might make you more comfortable. Many people like being able to walk in without an appointment and find a popular name-brand frame.

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.

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.

The lowest strength is usually 1.00 diopters. Glasses go up in strength by factors of . 25 (1.50, 1.75, 2.00). The strongest glasses are 4.00 diopters.

Before ordering, you'll want to have your current prescription ready. Bonus points if you have the physical prescription, but Walmart can also call to confirm with your doctor if not.

What does Walmart do with old glasses? ›

The collection boxes are usually near the Vision Center entrance. Each month their staff freights collected glasses to the nearest Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center. Use the Walmart store locator to find Centers near you.

zennioptical.com's top 5 competitors in December 2022 are: eyebuydirect.com, glassesusa.com, framesdirect.com, glasses.com, and more.

Many people purchase prescription glasses through online retailers like us. Just like eyeglasses you might buy from an optical shop, eyeglasses that you order online can accommodate almost any prescription and help you see clearly.

A huge range of options with in-store backup: LensCrafters

It's moved into online retail now, providing an overall similar experience to its sibling online-only brand Glasses.com, but with the added bonus of a hybrid approach that takes advantage of its brick-and-mortar locations to get you an exam or a fitting.

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.

Zenni Optical is a U.S. company, but Zenni glasses are made in China. The Zenni Optical headquarters is located in San Francisco, and the one-million-square-foot Zenni Optical factory and eyewear laboratories are located in Danyang, China.

Hi there, our glasses have always been manufactured at our Zenni lab in Danyang, China. They will still ship from our distribution center in Canada.

Zenni's virtual try-on technology is more advanced and easier to use than Payne's. Based on our firsthand testing, Zenni's try-on feature is more reliable than Payne's and allows you to see how the glasses look on you from multiple angles.

“Fast Frame is one of the most impactful outputs of our new Ohio manufacturing and fulfillment facility for our customers across the country.” All Fast Frame glasses are globally sourced and finished and processed at Zenni's new manufacturing facility in Obetz, Ohio.

Can you use insurance with Zenni Optical? ›

Do you accept insurance? We do not accept insurance. However, some insurance companies will accept an invoice copy for reimbursement. Check with your insurance company, and if they do, you can request an emailed invoice copy from our Customer Service department.

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.

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.