this post was submitted on 07 Aug 2023
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I've been going to VisionWorks but I want to shop around this time. I don't want to go to any Luxottica store.

I've never bought online. Is that a good option now? How do you know how the glasses are going to look on you?

Thanks for any ideas.

ETA: Thanks everyone. Great tips and info!

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[–] [email protected] 42 points 1 year ago (6 children)

ZenniOptical. My prescription is pretty strong (-6) but they manage to make the lenses pretty thin. I think a usual pair costs me $50 versus $500 at the optician’s store.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago

Thirding the Zenni recommendation. I have bought 3 pair from them now, both regular Rx and sunglass Rx and they are always fast, cheap, and well made.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Been using Zenni for years. Hell of a lot cheaper than any brick and mortar and I’ve never had any issues.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I'm -7 in one eye and the thinner plastic to deal with that can get kinda expensive (even at Zenni) compared to the crazy deals folks with better eyesight can get...but it's still something like $70ish, compared to the $300/pair it was at brick and mortar stores.

So yeah, Zenni all the way for me.

(I also haven't found them to be junk like another poster suggested. I suppose it's true I've never had a really high end pair of glasses, whatever that comprises, but I've worn Zenni for years with no unusual breakage.)

Edit: The one downside to Zenni is there's no good way for me to find sunglass-capable frames for my small PD and high prescription. I'll see a frame and go, "That'd be cute as sunglasses!" and once I enter my info in it tells me my prescription is too strong or my PD too small. :(

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

How do they deal with progressive lenses, like top top is for long distance gradually further down is for closeup like reading?

I think that is what had prevented me from trying the online stores. Has that been addressed?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (3 children)

IIRC, my dad bought progressives from Zenni and said they were as good as the ones he got from an optician.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'm hoping someone answers you. I need progressives too.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

How are they still only $50 for you at Zenni despite having a higher prescription? My prescription wavers back and forth in the -7 to -7.5 range and it's always way more money than their average price to get high index lenses. I think the last time I tried plugging in my prescription it was more like $100, but I can't recall exactly.

Because of my strong prescription, I'm also wary of using a place like Zenni because if the lenses are made slightly imprecisely or if they don't get the PD just right or have it fitted to my face correctly, it's significantly more noticeable and impactful for me. Have you noticed any issues with your relatively higher prescription and buying online?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Used Zenni for years. Cheap enough that I can even have sunglasses! I did Warby Parker one year and the try-on experience and quality was good. But Zenni price wins the day.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Bought a couple of pairs from Costco.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Costco is amazing. Even my optometrist agrees that their quality is great. He said if I wasn’t going to buy from him, then go to Costco

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Came here to say Costco, too.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I didn't want to prompt this but I was thinking about going this route. I'll check them out, thanks.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

Zenni has really good prices. I bought some prescription sunglasses from them for about $50. The site suggested I spend an extra $70 on high-index lenses but I ignored it. Glasses work great.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My last ones are from Zenni. No complaints.

In fairness, my optometrist has reasonable prices and good selection. And I’ve had good luck at Walmart in the past.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I've gotten my glasses at Walmart for years.

May not be as cheap as those online places, but at least they have glasses that dont look like they belong on a chainsmoking grandmother in the 1970s, lol.

Also, what really sold me on Walmart is that a couple times while traveling I had an accident with my glasses..took them to the local wal-mart and they fixed them without issue, just asked "You got these from walmart?" and "Would you say you got them in the past few years?"

Yep to both, and they go into the back, fix them, give'm back, no charge and i go about my business being able to see again.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

I know people who have good luck shopping online because of the price and variety, but I prefer in person because I'm so incredibly picky about my glasses.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Either Zenni or EyeBuyDirect.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

A bit pricier than the other options listed in this thread but I'm really happy with my glasses from warby Parker. I like having an in person store to try on frames and the customer service is pretty great

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

I use EyeBuyDirect. The only thing I don't like about them is that it's kinda hard to get a refund from them

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Zenni as well here. Overall I'm happy. To answer your question: the website has a semi-functional "virtual try-on" that works well enough for checking the look of glasses. I only used to it gauge the size of them, because I have a big head.

Worth noting that if you have a strong prescription, you're going to pay more wherever you buy them. I have a -4.5 cup number, and the glasses I wear now cost around $100, despite the frames starting at like $25

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Bought my current pair from Zenni. Getting the pupilary distance was a bit of a pain, but I've been happy with them. And the price was much better than the wallet rape by Luxottica.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Eyebuydirect is my go to also. I am very picky about glasses and they have better variety than most in person stores. And if you don't like them you can swap

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Eye Buy Direct was half the cost of even the cheapest store bought glasses in our case, and I really like their order status tracking! Don't sign up for their emails though, you'll get like five a day 😳

Depending on how picky you are about how glasses frames might look or feel, you may want to consider finding frames separately and mailing them in to get lenses added. It will still save you money! But if you're less picky they do have both virtual try one and measure your pupil distance so your chances of liking them seem good!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I've been going with EyeBuyDirect the last few times I've gotten new glasses. I've used Zenni a few times, and they're definitely on the list of places I check, but EBD has a better selection. I save so much money on frames I can afford better lenses, and they run 2 for 1 deals pretty often. So I get a pair of regulars and a pair of polarized sunglasses.

You can upload a picture and then try on the glasses virtually and judge that way.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Zenni is pretty good. My current pair is from Firmoo and is also pretty good. Goggles4u has also worked fine for me, but they took ages to ship.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I've bought countless pairs from Zenni for more than a decade and they've always been pretty good. Sometimes some frames might feel a little cheap but that seems to have gotten better. For kicks I just bought a pair from EyeBuyDirect and was very pleased. They had them to me in about a week and they are perfect. For the prices, especially for single vision, you could try with very little risk. One thing that I'd note is make sure you get your Pupil Distance measured accurately. I've tried at home and was off. Any doc will do it at an exam.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Eyebuydirect.

Online you have to know sizes and what not, you can get a vague idea what it will look like on you, they let you use your phone camera or webcam to get a better idea. But you can't beat the prices, glasses in the US are ridiculously priced.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Had amazing luck with Warby Parker. Way cheaper than Walmart out of pocket for much, much higher quality than any of the vision stores I’ve been to

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

For frames, check out the brand Silhouette. They’re so lightweight you can’t feel them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Zenni Optical. I get progressive lenses with anti-reflective coating and a nice frame for a little more than $60 US. That's probably ten percent of what I'd pay at a mall store.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Zenni, until I learned the V.A. makes glasses.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I've been buying from Zenni for the past few years. You can't beat the prices for prescription glasses.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

We've tried online but had bad luck figuring out the PD number at home. Not sure if anyone has tips to measure it more accurately

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Zenni will ship you a PD ruler for free and I think has a pdf of one.

I still get eye exams at my Dr. I make sure they send me with my rx including PD.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Ask for the PD when you get your exam.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

There are apps that will scan your face and tell you your PD

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I got one pair from Zenni and they were junk, definitely "get what you pay for" level crap.

I got my most recent pair from Eyeconic just because it's connected to my insurance company somehow, and even though it cost around twice as much I'm definitely more than twice as satisfied with them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I've pretty much purchased glasses exclusively from Zenni for the last 8 years or so. They have frames that every level, but they're cheap enough that you can just try different frames till you find the ones you want. I'm pretty cheap, so I order the $8 frames. And now I've settled on a style I like and I just reorder it every time. So I've got a drawer full of zenni glasses now.

Being inexpensive is a good thing, that way I can have throw away glasses for trips and backups and backups and backups. And an extra pair for the car and an extra pair for the other car. Cheap is amazing

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