- Instead of haggling with a store clerk for a pair of generic eyeglasses, take your prescription eyewear shopping online.
- EyeBuyDirect, Zenni, Warby Parker, Felix Gray, GlassesUSA.com, and Eyeconic are making it easy and affordable to find a pair of stylish prescription glasses and sunglasses.
- Some accept insurance, while all accept FSA and HSA dollars to help bring down the cost of your glasses.
- A couple also feature virtual try-on options so you really never have to step into a physical store again.
I remember visiting the optometrist’s office as a kid, emerging from my eye exam to peruse the books of gorgeous glasses-donning models with furrowed brows — as if I could afford those frames then or even now as an adult.
Traditional optometrist offices and glasses retailers tend to overcharge or upsell you on their frames, but it’s easier to skirt this awkward and painfully expensive process today. Grab your prescription and go to your laptop or phone instead. There are now many online glasses retailers that can provide a seamless, convenient, and affordable shopping experience.
As a glasses-wearer, you probably often feel like you’re being punished for not having perfect vision, but these retailers will make you enjoy shopping for glasses again. They offer a large variety of frames, from the classic to the quirky; are able to accommodate for all different types of lenses; and even throw in a nice discount now and then.
Some other things to take into consideration when shopping online for glasses are whether the retailer accepts insurance and FSA/HSA dollars, offers a virtual try-on option (and if not, whether it has a generous return and exchange policy), and has kids' styles if you want to shop for the whole family.
Learn more about the 7 best places to buy glasses online:
EyeBuyDirect
Shop glasses at EyeBuyDirect here
Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at EyeBuyDirect:
- Men's and masculine eyeglasses ($6-$70), Women's and feminine glasses ($6-$70), and glasses for children ($12-$39)
- Men's and masculine sunglasses ($10-$70) and Women's and feminine sunglasses ($10-$70)
- Blue light glasses in EBDBlue ($6-$70) and SightRelax ($6-$70)
Why you should shop at EyeBuyDirect: Not only are EyeBuyDirect's frames incredibly affordable, but they're also really stylish, so you never feel like you have to decide between your wallet and your look. They're made from metal and premium acetate and hold up well, and since they're so inexpensive, you can get multiple pairs if you tire of wearing the same frames every day. Lenses start at just $7, and available options include single-vision distance, reading lenses, Transition lenses, progressives, and bifocals.
Virtual try-on option: No. But you can see its guides for how to pick glasses for your face shape and how to take frame measurements. It has a 14-day free exchange and return policy.
Insurance and other programs: Does not accept insurance but can provide you with the information necessary for a reimbursement. It does accept FSA and HSA dollars for prescription eyewear and sunglasses purchases.
Read our full review on EyeBuyDirect here.
Zenni
Shop glasses at Zenni here
Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at Zenni:
- Men's and masculine eyeglasses ($7-$46), Women's and feminine eyeglasses ($7-$46), and eyeglasses for children ($10-$33)
- Men's and masculine sunglasses ($10-$30) and Women's and feminine sunglasses ($26-$46)
- Blue light blocking can be added to any of the lenses
Why you should shop at Zenni: Similarly affordable is Zenni Optical, where it's easy to shop by style, face shape, and collection. You can also find specialty frames such as Sports Glasses and Goggles, so the range of options is truly diverse. It's a great place to shop for the whole family because it separates the kids' section further into little kid, pre-teen, and teen categories. Its resource library of guides is robust and demystifies all your questions about the costs of wearing glasses, why you might want to consider progressives, and many more topics.
Virtual try-on option: Yes. Use Zenni's video capture tool to get a 180-degree view of how the frames will look on you. It has a 30-day return policy where you can get 50% back directly or 100% back in-store credit.
Insurance and other programs: Does not accept insurance but can provide you with the information necessary for a reimbursement. It does accept FSA and HSA dollars for prescription eyewear and sunglasses purchases.
Warby Parker
Shop glasses at Warby Parker here
Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at Warby Parker:
- Mens' and masculine eyeglasses (starting at $95) and women's and feminine eyeglasses (starting at $95)
- Men's and masculine sunglasses (starting at $95) and women's and feminine sunglasses (starting at $95)
- Blue light blocking can be added to any of the lenses
Why you should shop at Warby Parker: Most of Warby Parker's frames cost $95 and include the price of the lens (if you get the classic, non-blue light and non-light responsive ones). This does make them pricier than other online glasses brands, but you do get the benefit of free Home Try-On, a large variety of on-trend styles to choose from, and the opportunity to visit a physical Warby Parker location near you. In addition, the company distributes a pair of glasses to someone in need for every pair purchased.
Virtual try-on option: Yes. Its iOS app, available for iPhone X, features a Virtual Try-On option. It also has a Home Try-On program where you can pick out five frames to have sent to your house for free. You have five days to try them and decide which to keep. Send them all back and Warby will send you a fresh pair. It has a 30-day free return and exchange policy.
Insurance and other programs: Accepts insurance from major providers, including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Anthem, etc. If your provider is not listed, you will need to contact your insurance company directly for reimbursement. Check your vision benefits here.
Warby Parker also accepts FSA and HSA dollars for all prescription eyewear purchases.
Read our full review on Warby Parker here.
YesGlasses
Shop glasses at YesGlasses here
Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at YesGlasses:
- Men's and masculine, women's and feminine, and kids' eyeglasses starting at $39
- Men's and masculine, women's and feminine, and kids' sunglasses starting at $39
- Bluelight-blocking glasses starting at $39
Why you should shop at YesGlasses: YesGlasses has a great selection of stylish frames, incredibly affordable prices, and many lens options. All prescription glasses from YesGlasses come standard with high-index 1.61 lenses, but you'll find options for "super-thin" 1.67 lenses and "ultra-thin" 1.74 lenses. This is important for people who have a stronger prescription and want a thinner lens.
Virtual try-on option: YesGlasses does have a virtual try-on option. In order to try on glasses virtually, you'll need to upload a photo of yourself without glasses on your face and have your pupillary distance (PD) handy. If you don't have it handy, you can learn how to measure your PD here.
Insurance and other programs: YesGlasses accepts Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts(FSA) for purchasing prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses, as long as your FSA or HSA account is affiliated with a major credit card. For all other insurance, YesGlasses can provide a detailed copy of the invoice so you can request reimbursement through your insurance provider.
Read our full review of YesGlasses here.
Felix Gray
Shop glasses at Felix Gray here
Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at Felix Gray:
- Men's and masculine eyeglasses (starting at $95) and women's and feminine eyeglasses (starting at $95)
- Men's and masculine sunglasses (starting at $145) and women's and feminine sunglasses (starting at $145)
Why you should shop at Felix Gray: Felix Gray started primarily as a computer glasses company, highlighting the negative effects of our increasingly digital world. All of its glasses contain a blue light filter to provide relief from the harsh light of our computer and phone screens. If you already know you want blue light glasses, Felix Gray is probably the most convenient place to get them since it bundles the feature directly into all its prescription glasses options.
Virtual try-on option: No. Check Felix Gray's Fit Guide to see which pair will look best. It has a 30-day free return and exchange policy.
Insurance and other programs: Does not accept insurance but can provide you with the information necessary for a reimbursement. It does accept FSA and HSA dollars for prescription eyewear and sunglasses purchases.
GlassesUSA.com
Shop glasses at GlassesUSA.com here
Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at GlassesUSA.com:
- Eyeglasses for men ($28-$500+), women ($28-$600+), and kids ($28-$176)
- Sunglasses for men ($38-$800+) and women ($38-$750+)
- Blue light glasses ($50-$197)
Why you should shop at GlassesUSA.com: GlassesUSA.com is the largest online eyewear retailer, operating in over 92 countries, and selling both designer and in-house brands. Though prices can run into the hundreds and even thousands because of the designer leaning, it often runs sales and promotions (and we also have some Business Insider promo codes for you here), which can help you save on a sleek new pair of glasses. There are multiple ways to give your prescription information: You can fill it out online, upload it, have your doctor send it directly to the site, or use previously saved information.
Virtual try-on option: Yes. You can use its virtual mirror, and see its guides for how to find your frame size and the best glasses for your face shape. It has a 30-day free return and exchange policy.
Insurance and other programs: Does not accept insurance but can provide you with the information necessary for a reimbursement. It does accept FSA and HSA dollars for prescription eyewear and sunglasses purchases.
Read our full review on GlassesUSA.com here.
Eyeconic
Shop glasses at Eyeconic here
Types of prescription eyewear you can shop at Eyeconic:
- Eyeglasses for men ($96-$600+), women ($96-$500+), and kids ($103-$200+)
- Sunglasses for men ($65-$700+), women ($69-$900+), and kids ($73-$185)
Why you should shop at Eyeconic: Eyeconic is part of VSP Vision Care and thus accepts insurance. It also helps connect you to 38,000 doctors if you need an optometrist, giving you a more convenient and online-centric version of the traditional eye care experience. Like GlassesUSA, it offers designer brands as well as many discounts and promotions - the difference is that Eyeconic is more closely tied to the eye care professional community and insurance companies, plus it has a couple retail one-stop shops.
Virtual try-on option: Yes. Use Eyeconic's video capture tool to get a 180-degree view of how the frames will look on you. It has a 30-day free return and exchange policy.
Insurance and other programs: Accepts insurance from VSP, MetLife, and Cigna Vision. If your provider is not listed, you will need to contact your insurance company directly for reimbursement.
Eyeconic also accepts FSA and HSA dollars for all prescription eyewear purchases.