I got my first pair of glasses, cute pink wire frames, when I was in third grade. I don’t know how bad I actually needed them, but my best friend had glasses, so I really wanted them. Both of my parents wear glasses, so the optometrist probably knew that it was inevitable. I have worn glasses all day everyday for years.
When I was single and in college, my glasses were covered under my parents’ insurance. When I got married that changed. Since my eyes aren’t too bad, I didn’t worry too much about having regular eye appointments. For years I wore the same glasses. That was better than paying for glasses out of pocket (or so I thought).
Then at the playground one day, my glasses went crashing to the ground. Pavement and gravity decided it was time for new glasses. I did my research and learned that I could get glasses online for a fraction of what they cost in person. At first I was a little nervous to try buying glasses online, but with the spectacular deals I found, I figured I didn’t have much to lose. In fact, I went ahead and bought two pairs, knowing that I had many years of playgrounds in my future.
Get Your Prescription
Before you can order glasses online, you’ll need your prescription. If you already have your current prescription, you’re set. I did not have my prescription and I was well overdue for an eye exam anyway. Since we didn’t have any vision insurance, I called around and found the best price for an exam. Make sure that you can read your optometrist’s handwriting.
In addition to your prescription, you’ll need to know your pupillary distance (PD). This isn’t normally part of the exam, it’s usually done by the person who helps you pick out and order your glasses. It’s probably best to have a trained professional take the measurement for you, but I have had friends successfully measures one another’s. Apparently there are even apps that will do it for you.
After browsing the glasses in a eyeglasses shop, I asked the lady who was helping me if she would measure my pupillary distance. She was very kind and did so without a question. Now that buying glasses online is becoming popular, vision professionals probably know exactly why you’re asking for your PD measurement to be taken. They might even warn you against buying glasses online. You can’t blame them though– after all, selling glasses is their job.
Find a Great Fit
To start, look on the inside of your current glasses to get the size measurements. It will be printed on the inside of the arm or the bridge. There may be two, three, or four numbers. They correspond to the size (in millimeters) of the different part of the glasses. For example, the glasses I’m wearing right now say 52-17. The 52 refers to the width of each lens and the 17 is the width of the bridge (part that goes over your nose). The other pair I wear regularly says 53-15-136. The first two numbers are the lens width and bridge width, like my other pair. The third number is the length of the entire front of the glasses.
You can try on glasses in person and make note of the sizes that look and fit best. Then, when you’re online, you can search by size. Most sites that sell glasses online allow you to upload a headshot picture of yourself so you can virtually “try on” different frames.
My Recommendations
There are lots of online eyeglasses retailers. I will share with you the ones that I can personally vouch for, along with the highlights of each one.
- Upload an image of yourself to “try on” glasses virtually.
- Lots of frames for $49 which includes standard lenses and free shipping (there are a few less than $49 too).
- New customers receive 10% off their order with code NEWCOASTAL.
- Free shipping on all glasses and sunglasses.
- Return or exchange glasses within 365 days with free shipping and free returns
- Upload an image of yourself to “try on” glasses virtually.
- Frames starting at just $6.95
, which includes standard lenses.
- Standard shipping is $4.95 in US ($9.95 international)
- “How to” videos to help you choose and order your glasses online.
I’m not the only one!
I’m not the only one who gets excited about figuring out how to save money on glasses. A few months ago, my dad excitedly told me that he had a great idea for a post for Six Figures Under. (Secretly, I was just flattered that my dad reads the blog.) He told me about how his secretary and office manager convinced him to try buying glasses online from Zenni Optical. He was a little skeptical at first, but his staff helped him upload a headshot, measure his PD and try on different frames.
He had a wonderful experience and saved lots of money on his glasses. He was amazed how quickly he received them and that they had his prescription (which is way more complicated than mine) just right. He was so excited to share his money-saving tip with me so I could share it with all of you. I didn’t let on that I already knew the secrets to saving money on glasses, but he does get credit for reminding me to write about it!
- Have you bought glasses online? What was your experience?
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Three months ago my 3rd son (15) was playing with his glasses at church and broke them. (why he was playing with them and not listening to the speakers is another story).
A friend told me about gogles4U.com – so my son got to pick out his own frames and the type of glasses – and as a bonus he got to pay for them himself! (about $40). If we had to go to a regular eye dr, the same glasses would be at least $100, if not more.
It was such a great experience that last month he decided he wanted a 2nd pair that was a different style. He gave me the money and asked if I would order them for him.
It is always great when we can teach financial lessons to our children.
I too wear progressive no line bifocals lenses. I went through eyebuydirect.com and they were great with their customer service and were only 69.00 and change for lenses and frames!
I actually need a new pair of glasses and glad I came across your site! I would love if you would stop by and share on my Friday Favorites linkup!
Wowee, I’m glad I found your post. I’ve been hemming and hawing about doing the online thing – I got my prescription but no longer have insurance, and can’t pay the $300-400 price tag that my prescription costs. Thanks for the info – lots to check out now!
I need glasses what about deals on contacts. I need those too. I still have my old boxes.
Coastal.com has contacts too. Right now they have a deal for free express shipping
on any contacts with no minimum order! Use code EXPRESS at checkout.
I totally plan on doing this! I’ve been looking into the online retailers and I’m planning on going with Zenni Optical. I couldn’t believe that my eye dr wanted $250 for new lenses – not even including a frame. I couldn’t pay that much, this was just for a backup pair too because I wear contacts. Thanks for sharing a great resource!
The prices they give you in-store are outrageous!
I have used Coastal and they frequently run a special for your first pair free! I only used them for a back up pair but great for what I needed!
It’s nice to have a back up pair (and be able to afford them)!
My husband bought two pairs from warbyparker.com and he really enjoyed the process. They (or one of the other sites he looked at, I can’t remember) had a tool that used his laptop’s webcam to find out the PD. He just had to look at the screen, line a few things up and click a button. I am fortunate to not *have* to wear glasses – yet, but once I do, I’m likely to go the online route as well.
That’s great that you don’t even need glasses. My husband has perfect vision too.
I’ve bought from Zenni for almost ten years. I’ve always had great experiences with them and they rushed me a pair when I was leaving the country for an extended period of time. I would definitely recommend them.
That’s awesome Candice! Thanks for sharing your experience!
This is good! My wife needs new ones, so I’m going to have her check these out.
That’s totally awesome that you can upload your face to ‘try on’ the glasses! I recently had my lenses replaced at the cost of $995 … I only had to pay $15 after insurance. That’s just for the lenses though. I would like to purchase readers as my progressives aren’t great for working on the computer. I need to look into this!
That’s a hefty price! Thank goodness for insurance! You can use your HSA or Flex plan online too!
We’ve had great success with Zenni. We got 4 pair of glasses for around $60–a regular pair for each of us and then prescription sunglasses for both of us as well.
In our experience, it was super hard to get our PD from the eye dr. That’s info they wouldn’t give to us. I guess because they knew we wouldn’t be buying from them! But the Zenni website tells you how; there are also YouTube videos available. It’s pretty easy to do on your own. They sent us a little PD measuring tool with our order so we can use it next time.
That’s annoying that your eye doctor was stingy about the PD info. Thankfully there are lots of tutorials and apps that can help.
We use insurance for my glasses, but my wife uses her insurance money for contacts, so it’s out-of-pocket when she needs new glasses. May have to try online then….
My trick is to get glasses every other year, and have the shop order the frames in late December and the lenses in early January, or vice versa. That way, I can use two years’ insurance amounts toward a single pair of glasses. (Though obviously only every other year.)
That’s a great trick for getting them every other year with insurance!
I’ve personally bought from GlassesUSA.com and Goggles4u.com with good results. I’ve also bought from Rivet and Sway in the past but they closed up shop – their frames are still available at Glasses.com but I haven’t tried them out yet. I have a complicated prescription and a very petite face so my options are more limited. I usually wait until a sale or coupon code comes out and can get them for around $100. So much better than the $300+ I’ve paid at the glasses store!
At least online you have more options than in-store. I can imagine it would especially frustrating when you already have a limited selection because of the size you’re looking for.
Can you get bifocals and blended lenses on line? I am sick to death of spending $$$hundreds on glasses!
Yes Caryn! That’s part of the reason my dad was so thrilled. He got progressive, no-line, multi-focal glasses for something like $60.
My latest glasses are from Warby Parker. It was $130 for frames + premium lenses. (The regular lenses were about $35 more, so you could’ve gotten them for $95.) I love them so much!
That’s great Holly!