Thanks to the internet, finding the Best Place To Order Glasses Online has never been easier. You can now browse a vast selection of frames, customize your lenses, and even virtually try them on, all from the comfort of your home. Forget about trips to the traditional optometrist’s office; the digital eyewear market offers convenience and variety at your fingertips. After extensive research and testing, we’ve identified leading online retailers that stand out for different needs, ensuring you find the perfect pair of prescription glasses online. For an overall top experience, GlassesUSA provides an unbeatable selection and seamless ordering process. If budget is your primary concern, Zenni Optical offers incredibly affordable options without compromising on style. For those seeking trend-setting eyewear, Warby Parker is the go-to destination for chic, in-house designed frames.
To pinpoint the best online prescription glasses retailers, we rigorously evaluated nearly a dozen highly-rated companies. Our testing involved a panel of four individuals who actively shopped for and ordered multiple frames from each website. Their detailed feedback covered every aspect of the purchasing journey, from website navigation and prescription submission to the fit and comfort of daily wear. Deputy editor Kari Molvar, a fashion expert with extensive knowledge in eyewear, reviewed our final selections, bringing her expertise and personal experience as a glasses wearer to the evaluation. By comparing each retailer’s frame variety, return policies, website features like virtual try-on and online prescription renewal, and incorporating our testers’ experiences, we’ve compiled a list of the top online prescription glasses retailers. Here are our top picks, including one exceptional company worthy of double recognition, for your consideration when shopping for glasses online.
Best Prescription Glasses Online Overall
Unbeatable Selection And Easy Ordering Process
GlassesUSA
Turnaround time: 10 to 16 business days (expedited shipping options available)
Return policy: 14 days, no questions asked
Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA/FSA
Virtual try-on: Yes
Virtual Rx renewal: Yes
Ships to: U.S., Canada and U.K.
What’s notable: GlassesUSA boasts an extensive collection of both name brands and exclusive house brands, encompassing everything from designer frames to specialized eyewear like blue light glasses, sunglasses, safety glasses, and sports glasses.
What could be better: The 14-day, no-questions-asked return policy is limited to your first pair of glasses.
GlassesUSA stands out as one of the largest and most reputable online retailers for prescription glasses. Their vast inventory includes hundreds of designer frames from renowned brands like Ray-Ban, Gucci, and Oakley, alongside a diverse range of more affordable house brands. No matter your preferred frame style or color, GlassesUSA likely has options to match. It was a clear favorite among three of our panel testers, who consistently praised the seamless and intuitive ordering experience. Prices span a wide range, from $39 to upwards of $700, depending on your brand selection and lens customization. The integrated virtual try-on feature allows you to upload a photo and realistically visualize how different frames will look on your face before you commit to a purchase. For added convenience, GlassesUSA also offers a mobile app that can scan your current lenses to extract your prescription details. Furthermore, customers with expired prescriptions can utilize the company’s virtual vision test to obtain a renewal, streamlining the entire process of ordering glasses online.
All lenses from GlassesUSA are custom-made in their facilities and undergo rigorous quality inspections to ensure clarity, proper alignment, and accurate prescription fulfillment. Customers also have the flexibility to enhance their lenses with upgrades such as progressive lenses, anti-reflective coatings, and transition lenses, with additional costs up to $169. One tester described the overall experience with GlassesUSA, from browsing the selection to checkout, as “sleek and intuitive,” and was particularly impressed with the fast delivery. Another tester received her glasses just nine days after placing her order, even with the Thanksgiving holiday weekend included in that period. If you are not completely satisfied with your new glasses, GlassesUSA offers a 14-day, no-questions-asked return policy, providing peace of mind when ordering online. However, it’s important to note that this generous return policy applies only to your first pair purchased from them.
Best Affordable Prescription Glasses
Wide Variety Of Cost-Effective Pairs
Zenni Optical
Turnaround time: 8 to 18 business days (expedited shipping options available)
Return policy: 14 days for refund (excluding shipping costs) or 30 days for store credit
Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted
Virtual try-on: Yes
Virtual Rx renewal: No
Ships to: Over 200 countries worldwide
What’s notable: Zenni Optical is renowned for its extensive selection of prescription glasses available at remarkably low prices. The website also features a user-friendly and effective virtual try-on tool.
What could be better: Standard U.S. shipping is priced at $6.95 regardless of your order total, and this shipping fee is non-refundable on returns.
Zenni Optical’s primary mission is to make prescription eyewear accessible and affordable. Their in-house designed frames start at an incredibly low price of just $7, with the most expensive options still capping at only $50—and these prices already include standard prescription lenses. “With my complex prescription, the cost of lenses can quickly escalate, so starting with a lower-priced frame is a significant advantage,” one of our testers noted. While Zenni has expanded its offerings to include designer brands, sticking with Zenni’s own line of frames provides the most exceptional value for your money.
Another panel tester highlighted the effectiveness of Zenni’s virtual try-on feature, stating, “The try-on is very advanced, providing a comprehensive view of how the glasses will look. The whole experience, from start to finish, was seamless.” Furthermore, Zenni allows users to filter frames by pupillary distance (PD), which simplifies the process of finding well-fitting glasses. Zenni also caters to specific needs, offering low-bridge fit options and ANSI Z87.1 certified safety glasses with both single vision and progressive prescription lenses. Customization options are also available, including lens upgrades like polarization, starting from $33.
Most Stylish Prescription Glasses
Fashion-Forward Designs You Can Try On For Free
Warby Parker
Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days
Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange
Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA/FSA
Virtual try-on: Yes, as well as in-home try-on
Virtual Rx renewal: Yes
Ships to: U.S. and Canada
What’s notable: Warby Parker offers a wide array of stylish prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses, and sunglasses, in addition to a variety of contact lenses from both their in-house brand and third-party brands like Acuvue, Bausch + Lomb, and Biofinity.
What could be better: Kids’ glasses are exclusively available for purchase in-store or via phone orders.
Warby Parker has successfully carved out a niche by offering designer-inspired glasses at accessible prices. One of our testers, a loyal customer for over a decade, consistently orders her prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses from Warby Parker. All frames start at a competitive price of $95, which includes basic prescription lenses. While they provide a virtual try-on feature, Warby Parker is particularly known for its innovative at-home try-on program. This program allows you to select up to five frames to be shipped to your home for free, enabling you to physically try them on before making a purchase decision. “The size accuracy, feel, and overall fit have always been excellent in my experience,” shared our long-time panel tester. “The frames I regularly wear include blue light-blocking lenses, and they seem effective in reducing eye fatigue (as far as I can tell).”
Once you’ve chosen your frames, you can add basic prescription lenses, which another tester described as “perfectly accurate” and “not excessively thick,” even with a strong prescription. Warby Parker also offers a range of lens upgrades, such as progressive lenses, blue light filtering, and light-responsive lenses, with additional costs up to $200. If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, Warby Parker provides a generous 30-day return or exchange policy for a full refund. Furthermore, they offer a unique benefit: if your lenses get scratched within the first 365 days, you can get them replaced for free.
Best Designer Prescription Glasses
Designer Brands At A Discount
Frames Direct
Turnaround time: 11 to 14 business days
Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange
Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted
Virtual try-on: Yes
Virtual Rx renewal: No
Ships to: Over 140 countries worldwide
What’s notable: Frames Direct boasts an impressive inventory of high-end designer eyewear, including sought-after brands like Gucci and Versace.
What could be better: Customers are responsible for return shipping costs on refunded items. Additionally, the website offers a limited number of product photos for each frame style.
Frames Direct positions itself as having the largest online selection of designer eyewear. Their inventory includes nearly 5,000 frames from luxury brands like Gucci and Versace, as well as popular brands such as Oakley and Ray-Ban, available in a wide spectrum of colors. Our tester noted that her Armani Exchange glasses arrived with a “certificate of authenticity,” assuring customers of the glasses’ genuineness. Most brands are offered at discounts ranging from 20% to 80% off the standard retail price, and prescription lenses are frequently available at discounted rates as well. “The overall value for these name-brand eyeglasses, especially considering all the lens add-ons I selected, is truly impressive,” one tester commented. Another tester, who wears progressive lenses, added, “The lenses are accurately made to my prescription and provide one of the widest fields of vision compared to other glasses I’ve tried.” Frames Direct also incorporates a virtual try-on feature on their site, enabling you to preview how each pair of frames will look on your face before you make a purchase.
Regarding lens options, Frames Direct offers single vision lenses, no-line progressive lenses, and non-prescription readers. You can also customize your lenses by choosing from various materials, ranging from lightweight polycarbonate to more economical plastic options, and select optional upgrades like digital light protection or scratch-resistant coatings. Before finalizing your order, an optician reviews your selections to ensure they are the most suitable choices for your specific prescription needs, adding an extra layer of assurance when ordering glasses online.
Best Prescription Sunglasses
Mix Of Wallet-Friendly Brands And House Designs
Eyebuydirect
Turnaround time: 7 to 14 business days
Return policy: 14 days for a one-time replacement or refund
Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted
Virtual try-on: Yes
Virtual Rx renewal: No
Ships to: U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia and more
What’s notable: Eyebuydirect offers a broad selection of prescription sunglasses, eyeglasses, and blue light glasses at prices to accommodate various budgets.
What could be better: The return policy allows for only a single replacement or refund, and currently, there is no option to renew your prescription through their website.
Eyebuydirect’s extensive frame selection can be customized with tinted prescription lenses, providing a vast number of options for prescription sunglasses. For those seeking guidance, Eyebuydirect also features its own in-house line of prescription sunglasses, managing the entire process from concept and design to manufacturing to maintain affordability. One of our testers, who prefers large, rectangular frames, found the website’s filtering options particularly useful during testing. Prescription sunglasses at Eyebuydirect start at $39 and generally cap at under $100, offering excellent value for the quality.
Once you find a frame you like, the “try on” feature lets you upload a photo to visualize how they look on your face. Your uploaded photo remains visible as you browse the site, allowing for quick comparisons of different options. Testers reported that their eyeglasses from Eyebuydirect arrived promptly and securely packaged in a compact cardboard box. Eyebuydirect provides a 14-day “no questions asked” return policy for a one-time replacement or refund if you’re not satisfied with your purchase. Additionally, their 365-Day Product Guarantee covers manufacturing defects for a full year, offering long-term protection for your purchase.
Best Prescription Glasses For Kids
Child-Friendly Styles They’ll Want To Wear
Zenni Optical
Turnaround time: 8 to 18 business days (expedited shipping options available)
Return policy: 14 days for refund (excluding shipping costs) or 30 days for store credit
Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted
Virtual try-on: Yes
Virtual Rx renewal: No
Ships to: Over 200 countries worldwide
What’s notable: Zenni Optical simplifies the process of shopping for kids’ glasses by organizing them into categories based on age ranges.
What could be better: The variety of color choices could be expanded, especially for some of the more basic frame styles in the kids’ collection.
Shopping for kids’ glasses can be challenging due to their particular preferences. Zenni Optical excels in offering a wide variety of children’s frames at budget-friendly prices, making it our top recommendation for the best kids’ glasses online. Frames start as low as $6.95, including basic prescription lenses, with the majority of frames priced between $16 and $30. This affordability is a significant advantage for parents, as replacements are not overly expensive if frames are misplaced or damaged.
Zenni’s kids’ collection includes flexible frames designed for toddlers, options with secure straps, and stylish designs that appeal to older kids and teens. The website’s virtual try-on feature allows your child to preview how the glasses will look on their face, ensuring they are happy with the style before you purchase. Similar to their adult offerings, Zenni’s glasses for kids can be further customized with add-ons like specialized lens coatings, extra accessories, or frame engraving.
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Why Trust Forbes Vetted
Forbes Vetted’s content library includes numerous eyewear guides, ranging from recommendations for the best polarized sunglasses to the best glasses for men. We leverage our subject matter expertise to identify and recommend online retailers that offer the best prescription glasses.
How I Chose The Best Prescription Glasses Online
My selection process involved extensive research into popular eyewear companies, focusing on factors such as frame selection, overall value, insurance acceptance, return policies, and delivery turnaround times. Additionally:
- Our panel testers personally navigated the online purchasing process, evaluating the user-friendliness of each website and highlighting useful features like virtual try-on and online prescription renewals. Upon receiving their orders, they wore each pair of glasses for extended periods to assess comfort and performance in daily use.
- I analyzed the comprehensive feedback from our four testers, ultimately selecting the top online retailers that offer the best value and service, categorizing them based on their key strengths, such as affordability or designer selections.
- I compiled detailed information on estimated turnaround times, return policies, availability of virtual try-on features and vision renewal tests, and insurance and HSA/FSA acceptance to help you easily determine the best prescription glasses retailer for your specific needs when buying glasses online.
How To Buy Prescription Glasses Online
Purchasing prescription glasses online is generally a straightforward process, but for first-time online buyers, understanding the steps involved can be helpful. Here’s a comprehensive guide to what you need to know before making your online eyewear purchase:
1. Have A Current Prescription
To buy prescription glasses online, you will need a valid, current prescription. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to schedule an in-person eye exam with an optometrist. If your prescription has expired, renewal is necessary before you can proceed. For added convenience, some online retailers like GlassesUSA and Warby Parker offer the option to renew your prescription online through a virtual vision test for an additional fee.
2. Measure Your Pupillary Distance
You will also need to know your pupillary distance (PD), which is the measurement of the distance between your pupils. Accurate PD measurement is critical to ensure that your glasses are correctly aligned with the center of your eyes. According to the Cleveland Clinic, proper alignment “helps providers correctly align the light-bending properties of prescription lenses with the pupils of your eyes.” While the most precise PD measurement is typically obtained from your eye doctor, you can also utilize online tools at home. Retailers like Zenni Optical offer a digital PD ruler, and Warby Parker provides a PD measuring tool to assist you in obtaining this measurement yourself.
3. Choose Your Lens Type
The two primary types of lenses for prescription glasses are single vision and multifocal lenses. According to the Eye Institute of South Jersey, single vision lenses are designed to correct a single vision issue, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Multifocal lenses, conversely, incorporate two or more vision corrections within a single lens. This category includes bifocal lenses, which are divided into two segments: the upper portion for distance vision and the lower part for near vision. Progressive lenses are another type of multifocal lens, offering “three main fields of vision including near, intermediate, and distance,” as explained by the Eye Institute of South Jersey. A key characteristic of progressive lenses is the absence of a visible line separating the different prescription zones, providing a smoother visual transition.
4. Choose Your Lens Coating
Most online eyewear retailers offer a variety of lens coatings that can enhance the functionality and durability of your glasses. For an additional cost, you can upgrade your lenses with coatings such as anti-scratch, anti-fog, and blue light-blocking. An anti-scratch coating is particularly beneficial for those who are prone to rough handling of their glasses, while an anti-fog coating can be especially useful for individuals who frequently wear face masks. Blue light-filtering coatings are designed to reduce eye strain for people who spend extended periods looking at digital screens, making them a popular choice for modern lifestyles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I Buy Glasses Online With My Prescription?
Yes, you can absolutely purchase glasses online using your current prescription. Technological advancements have even made it possible to renew expired prescriptions online through certain retailers. Websites like GlassesUSA, Warby Parker, and Roka provide vision exams that can be completed from your smartphone or computer for a nominal fee, and the results are reviewed by licensed optometrists, simplifying the process of getting your eyewear needs met online.
Where Is The Most Affordable Place To Buy Prescription Glasses Online?
Generally, buying prescription glasses online is more cost-effective than purchasing from a traditional optometrist’s office. Zenni Optical is consistently recognized as one of the most affordable online options, offering a wide range of frames starting at just $7. Large online retailers like GlassesUSA and Eyebuydirect also provide competitively priced options. To maximize your savings, it’s advisable to watch for promotions and discounts that many eyewear companies frequently offer, particularly during specific times of the year.
Is It Worth Buying Prescription Glasses Online?
Yes, purchasing prescription glasses online can be highly worthwhile, offering several advantages, but it’s important to consider both the pros and cons. On the positive side, online shopping provides significant convenience and access to a much broader selection of styles and brands, often at more affordable prices compared to brick-and-mortar stores. It’s particularly beneficial for individuals who already know their prescription and pupillary distance, as finding the best online glasses can be quick and efficient. However, a potential drawback is that it can be challenging to assess the fit and frame quality without a physical try-on option, and the level of personal assistance from online retailers may be limited compared to in-person experiences. It’s also possible that you might need to have your glasses adjusted for fit once you receive them if you order online.
