Finding glasses has always been a difficult task for me. I’m someone who shuns contacts since I don’t really need to wear corrective lenses at all times (my doctor will tell you differently) and I enjoy a little… uh… flair to my daily style. At my last eye appointment I had left with only my prescription because I just couldn’t find anything to suit me. Doesn’t anyone carry cateye glasses anymore? Where does that “Criminal Minds” girl get her fun eyeglasses?
I managed to answer my own questions when I found that eyeglasses can be bought online. When I stumbled upon this discovery, I found (almost) too many choices to fit anyone’s style. And in some cases buying glasses online was a much more affordable option compared to buying from the doctor’s office. Jackpot! Pretty soon I was going to have a collection that rivaled Elton John’s!
Before I get into my favorite sites to buy eyeglasses, there are a few tips I should share to make first time ordering a breeze.
Make sure your prescription is up to date. Some sites will not let you order if it is an older prescription.
Make sure your prescription is filled out completely. My doctor has a habit of leaving somethings blank on the sheet and you’ll need everything filled out to get the glasses ordered online just right. If something is blank, you can always call and get what you need.
Once you receive your glasses, go in somewhere and get them fitted properly. I always pop in to my local WalMart. They are extremely nice and always get the fit right for me. Your mileage may vary, just go where you feel comfortable.
Now on to the good stuff: my favorite sites for ordering eyeglasses online.
Coastal.com- I only recently tried coastal.com after they had a Facebook offer for a pair of glasses free, only pay shipping. I only paid $15 for a $75 set of frames and lenses. They tend to have a higher price point that some of the other sites, but my free pair has lasted me a year without any problems. They also have a great selection of styles and colors to choose from. I never get tired of recommending them- they were fast and everything was perfect when the glasses arrived.
WarbyParker.com- One day, I will have enough money to order from this site. They are higher price range, but still considerably less than buying in store, and they have a great selection of vintage styles. They also let you try multiple pairs in home and you can ship back the pairs you don’t like for free! And when you buy a pair of their glasses, someone in need gets a pair of glasses. How cool is that?
I always lump together EyeBuyDirect, Zenni Optical, Glasses USA, and 39 Dollar Glasses when recommending people online glasses providers. They have a lot of the same frame styles and around the same price point. All of the sites are ridiculously affordable- so much so that I have multiple pairs of the plastic framed glasses around my house. I’m clumsy, have a toddler, and am really good at losing things. But all of the glasses hold up well and each site hasn’t failed me on timeliness or customer service. I always recommend browsing each of these sites around holidays. Most will have a promotion where you can get an extra percentage off or free shipping. But if you miss out on the promotions, you will not break the bank ordering from any of them.
If you find yourself at your next eye appointment at a loss for what kind of glasses to get, consider ordering online! It’s wallet friendly, there are more choices, and it’s actually fun!
