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Both prescription and nonprescription glasses are available online, often providing more cost-effective and convenient buying options.
A quick look at some of the best places to buy glasses online
- Best for fast delivery turnaround: Overnight Glasses
- Best for athletes: ROKA Eyewear
- Best place to buy glasses and contacts together: Warby Parker
- Best for prescription sunglasses: Liingo Eyewear
- Best to purchase name-brand eyewear: EyeBuyDirect
- Best for multifocal lenses: GlassesUSA
- Best for a budget: Payne USA
- Best for a versatile style inventory: Zenni Optical
- Best for lens options: Lensabl
- Best for brand-name glasses: Eyeglasses.com
Prescription glasses are available at many online and traditional retailers. To purchase them online, a person needs a current prescription from a licensed doctor.
This article discusses how to purchase glasses from an online retailer and the factors to consider.
We considered several factors when buying glasses online. We list some of them below.
Company reputation
Reviews on a company website can often favor the most positive.
To get a good sense of a brand’s reputation, we looked to third-party reviews on other websites, where usually at least one independent reviewer has tried the company’s products.
We also checked independent reviews, such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which lists a brand’s relevant reviews, recent complaints, business rating, and accreditation.
Insurance
Some companies suggest that a person can use their insurance to purchase their glasses. If an individual has an optical benefit through their insurer, they must usually pay upfront and submit a reimbursement claim.
However, an insurer may classify an eyewear company as an out-of-network provider, which could lead to higher costs.
Liingo Eyewear, for example, states they are an out-of-network healthcare professional on many insurance plans, but not all companies are clear on their insurance status.
With this in mind, individuals can contact their insurance company to confirm coverage.
Several retailers offer prescription glasses online. Some brands include:
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Best for fast delivery turnaround: Overnight Glasses
- Price: starting from $40
- Shipping: overnight or 3-day shipping
- Returns: 7-day return policy
Overnight Glasses offers a wide range of prescription glasses from major retailers and claims to deliver within 24 hours.
The company has accreditation from the BBB, has a B+ rating, and is also favorable among customers with a 4.77-star review rating.
Pros and cons
The company offers a large supply of glasses for adults and children and allows customers to use flexible spending accounts (FSA) and HSA plans to pay for their prescriptions.
Overnight Glasses also offers lens replacement for any pair of glasses that a person already owns from any retailer.
However, customers who left negative reviews on the BBB report that they had difficulty receiving refunds and getting into contact with customer service.
Learn more about Overnight Glasses.
Best for athletes: ROKA Eyewear
- Price: starting from $215
- Shipping: 2–7 business days
- Returns: 30-day returns policy
The idea for Roka Eyewear came from two American swimmers who wanted to market their eyewear for athletes requiring efficiency during sports.
The company offers a wide range of prescription glasses, sunglasses, and other athletic gear. Customers can try on up to four pairs of glasses at a time for a 7-day trial period.
It is important to note that the company does have limited prescription ranges for each pair of glasses on its site.
While Roka does not have accreditation with the BBB, it does have an A+ rating on the site.
Pros and cons
It also accepts some major insurance providers, free shipping for orders above $150, 30-day free returns, and a 2-year warranty period.
However, the warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, including lens scratches and surface abrasions. It also does not cover incidental damage.
Learn more about ROKA Eyewear.
Best place to buy glasses and contacts together: Warby Parker
- Price: starting from $95 for glasses
- Shipping: 7–10 business days
- Returns: 30-day returns policy
Warby Parker offers a selection of glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses. The company is not BBB-accredited, but the brand has an A+ rating on the review platform.
Pros and cons
The company offers at-home trial services, where a person can request free delivery of up to five pairs of glasses for a 5-day trial period.
Warby Parker also offers customers the option to complete an eye exam if they live near one of the company’s stores.
The brand accepts some major insurance providers and offers a 6-month no-scratch guarantee.
However, those who left negative reviews on the BBB state that the customer service is inconsistent and that they experienced delivery delays.
Learn more about Warby Parker.
Best for prescription sunglasses: Liingo Eyewear
- Price: starting from $49
- Shipping: around 2 weeks
- Returns: 60-day returns policy
Liingo Eyewear offers a large selection of glasses, sunglasses, and accessories. The company sells prescription lenses ranging from -14.00 to +6.00 sphere and cylinder ranges between -3.75 and 3.75.
Reviews on its website are mostly positive, and the company has an A+ rating with the BBB.
Pros and cons
Liingo Eyewear offers a virtual try-on option, free in-home trials, an option to assist in finding the right frame for customers, and an in-app prescription reader that can scan a person’s glasses to find their prescription.
Liingo offers free shipping and 60-day returns, and frame adjustment reimbursements.
However, it does not provide any long-term warranties.
Learn more about Liingo Eyewear.
Best for name-brand eyewear: EyeBuyDirect
- Price: starting from $9
- Shipping: 2–day shipping
- Returns: 14-day returns policy
EyeBuyDirect offers several custom pairs of glasses and sunglasses. In addition to its own brand of products, the company also provides some brand-name options.
EyeBuyDirect has an A+ rating with the BBB and generally receives positive reviews on its website.
Pros and cons
The company offers services, such as a glasses search guide, a guide to reading prescriptions, and an eye doctor finder to help customers find doctors to obtain a prescription. Additionally, it offers virtual try-on and a 1-year guarantee on all glasses.
However, the company’s thinner lenses are more expensive, potentially costing over $100.
Learn more about EyeBuyDirect.
Best for multifocal lenses: GlassesUSA
- Price: starting from $78
- Shipping: 7–10 days
- Returns: 14-day returns policy.
GlassesUSA offers a selection of brand-name glasses and sunglasses from various manufacturers.
The company sells single and multifocal lenses and also offers services, such as a virtual try-on and an in-app scanner to read a person’s subscription in their current glasses.
GlassesUSA has a B rating with the BBB, but does not have accreditation with the platform. It also has a 2.12 out of 5-star rating. The company closed over 1000 complaints in the past 3 years.
Pros and cons
It also offers free shipping and returns, a 1-year warranty, and the ability to pay via FSA and HSA cards. The brand also supports paying via insurance providers.
Negative reviews on the BBB report that customer service is slow to respond. Others mention receiving wrong prescriptions and experiencing shipping delays.
Best for a budget: Payne Glasses
- Price: starting from $5.95
- Shipping: up to 3 weeks
- Returns: 30-day returns policy
Payne Glasses offer several styles of frames and glasses for adults and children.
The company sells multifocal, progressive, single lens, blue light, and high-index lenses. It also provides a large variety of colors, materials, and shapes, including nautical, steampunk, and helmet frames.
The company has an A+ rating and receives an average rating of 4.73 out of 5 stars on the BBB website.
Pros and cons
Payne features guides that teach customers how to read their prescription and pupillary distance.
Unlike other competitors, Payne does not provide free shipping. The standard package offers a conditional 30-day return policy that excludes shipping costs. Alternatively, people can upgrade to a risk-free warranty package that offers up to two exchanges within 30 days and one exchange within 6 months of delivery.
Best for a versatile style inventory: Zenni Optical
- Price: starting from $6.95
- Shipping: 7–14 business days
- Returns: 30-day returns policy
Zenni Optical offers both designer frames and its own brand of frames.
It also sells Blokz lenses, blue light lenses that help protect the eyes from digital screens. Many lenses include options and upgrades, such as UV protection, anti-scratch coating,
It has an A+ rating and an average of 2.79 out of 5 stars rating from customer reviews on the BBB site. Negative reviews mention incorrect prescriptions and delivery delays.
Pros and cons
Zenni Optical has a virtual try-on service and provides guidance on measuring pupillary distance. The company also accepts FSA and HSA payments.
However, the company does not offer free shipping.
Learn more about Zenni Optical.
Best for lens options: Lensabl
- Price: starting from $97
- Shipping: 4–7 business days
- Returns: 30-day returns policy
Lensabl offers prescription glasses and contacts, frames, and lens replacements. People can choose from in-house and brand glasses and sunglasses.
Customers give this company a 2.97 out of 5 stars rating on the BBB.
Pros and cons
Many lens types and options are available, including blue-light blocking, anti-reflective coating, anti-scratch coating, and UV protection.
However, some reviewers on the BBB state they received incomplete or incorrect orders and experienced delivery delays.
Best for brand-name glasses: Eyeglasses.com
- Price: starting from $108
- Shipping: up to 7 days
- Returns: 30-day returns policy
Eyeglasses.com has a selection of glasses from around 350 brands, including Armani, Prada, Polo, and Ray-Ban. On the website, people have many filter options to choose from, including shape, bridge, temple, and material.
Moreover, people can choose from prescription eyeglasses, reading glasses, and prescription and nonprescription sunglasses.
Eyeglasses.com does not hold accreditation with the BBB. The organization gives it an A rating.
Pros and cons
Eyeglasses.com offers bifocal, trifocal, progressive, and blue-light-blockers lenses. It also accepts insurance.
However, warranty periods depend on which brand a person chooses. People may wish to carefully consider the different warranties before choosing a particular frame.
The following table compares the eyeglass brands in this article.
| Price | Shipping | Returns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight Glasses | from $40 | overnight or 3 days | 7-day returns policy |
| ROKA Eyewear | from $215 | 2–7 business days | 30-day returns policy |
| Warby Parker | from $95 | 7–10 business days | 30-day returns policy |
| Liingo Eyewear | from $49 | around 2 weeks | 60-day returns policy |
| EyeBuyDirect | from $9 | 2 days | 14-day returns policy |
| GlassesUSA | from $78 | 7–10 days | 14-day returns policy |
| Payne Glasses | from $5.95 | up to 3 weeks | 30-day returns policy |
| Zenni Optical | from $6.95 | 7–10 business days | 30-day returns policy |
| Lensabl | from $97 | 4–7 business days | 30-day returns policy |
| Eyeglasses.com | from $108 | up to 7 days | 30-day returns policy |
Prescription glasses are available at many online and traditional retailers, but not all retailers operate in the same way.
To purchase prescription glasses online, a person needs a current prescription from a licensed eye doctor. This is the only information necessary to place an order in some cases.
If a person wishes to change their glasses but does not need to change their prescription, some companies, such as Liingo Eyewear, can read an individual’s current pair of glasses with an app to determine their prescription.
However, in most cases, people will need a copy of their current prescription, or they should ask their optometrist to provide one. Many companies will allow a person to purchase their glasses first and send a copy of their prescription later.
Online retailers often feature a large selection of frames and lenses. These frames come in several different styles and color options, with lens choices that include:
- extra scratch resistance and durability
- blue light filtering
- the option to convert them into sunglasses
- lighter weight options
Payment options and costs
Once a person selects their frames and lenses, they can often pay the full cost upfront or split repayments over several months. Companies will offer varying payment options and terms and conditions.
Some insurance plans will cover some or all of the costs of frames and lenses. A person may wish to check their policy or contact their insurer to confirm their coverage.
If an individual’s insurance does not cover costs, a health savings account (HSA) may. An HSA is a tax-free savings account from banks and insurers that allows people to pay for eligible medical expenses, such as lenses and contacts, with its funds.
Meeting needs
Companies offering glasses can typically fill most prescriptions.
If a person needs special lenses, they should check with various companies to ensure they can accommodate their needs.
Additionally, a doctor may be able to recommend companies that offer them.
Other considerations
Glasses are often a combination of both function and style. When selecting eyewear, a person may wish to consider:
- frame styles, patterns, and colors
- frame materials
- comfort and fit
- lense tinting
- trial periods, returns, and warranties
About
As prescription lenses help a person see more clearly, it can appear as if their eyesight worsens when they remove them. The result is a common misconception that an individual’s eyes may become dependent on corrective lenses.
However, according to the
Preventing vision loss
The
- maintaining a moderate weight
- cleaning the hands and contact lenses before touching the eyes
- wearing sunglasses when outdoors
- resting the eyes from using electronic devices
- getting regular eye exams
- using protective eyewear when necessary
- eating a nutritious diet
- maintaining healthy blood sugar levels
- sharing family eye history with a doctor
About blue light
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), small amounts of blue light from computers or other digital screens do not correlate with the eye health concerns that online retailers often warn about when selling blue light glasses.
The AAO adds that blue light from these devices does not cause:
- sleep issues
- eye damage or disease
- eyestrain
The AAO also notes that digital eyestrain occurs due to not blinking as frequently during screen use. To prevent eyestrain or discomfort, the organization recommends:
- reducing glare from screens
- sitting at an arm’s length from the screen
- using artificial tears or eye drops as necessary to lubricate the eyes
- looking at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds for every 20 minutes of screentime
- wearing glasses when working on a computer
Here are the answers to some common questions about purchasing glasses.
Can I buy glasses online with a high prescription?
Yes, many online stores support high prescriptions, including glasses for astigmatism.
How can I buy glasses that fit online?
Many online stores offer home trials or virtual try-on that may help people find a pair of glasses that fit and suit their fashion style.
Some companies also provide instructions on how to measure a person’s face and pupillary distance to ensure their glasses fit.
Who makes the best quality eyeglass frames?
Looking at other people’s experiences may help individuals make an informed choice about the best quality eyeglass frames.
People should always check online reviews from reputable websites such as the Better Business Bureau or Trustpilot to gain information on the company’s eyeglass frame quality.
A person who needs prescription glasses can find a wealth of options online. Many companies offer custom frames, styles, colors, and lenses.
When choosing a company to purchase prescription glasses from, individuals may consider the brand’s reputation, the comfort and fit of the glasses, and whether a person’s health insurer accepts claims from the company.