Eyeglasses where to buy

Trying to figure out where to buy the best online glasses? Here's the skinny on the top e-tailers out there. Buying a new pair of glasses used to be a long, complicated and expensive process. But those days are long gone, thanks to a growing number of optical shops that have been popping up online. Now, it's possible to find every conceivable glasses frame and lens online -- and there are options for every budget. The sheer number of online optical retailers has caused the price of glasses to drop -- in some cases, you can save hundreds of dollars on prescription eyeglasses , contact lenses and sunglasses.

Then there's the time savings. Buying prescription glasses online from a manufacturer like Warby Parker or one of its many rivals is not only cheaper, but also a lot less time consuming than going somewhere in person for new glasses. It only takes a few minutes to input your prescription and measure your pupillary distance and you're well on your way to ordering glasses online. To help you narrow down your options and find the best prescription glasses online, I've pulled together the nine best online vendors I've found for buying prescription glasses, vetting by myself or someone else on the CNET staff.

We'll update this list as we get the opportunity to try more. But before we dive in, note the following prerequisites, caveats and tips:. Read more: Use your phone to check your vision. Several CNET editors have bought their glasses on Warby Parker, which has a good selection of sharp-looking eyeglass frames. But the finished products tend to be a step up from what more budget-oriented sites offer. Notable site features : The company's iOS app -- sorry, there's no Android version yet -- allows you to search the site by frame size and to try on various frames virtually it works surprisingly well and better yet, you can try up to five frames at home for five days for free.

Once your five days are up, you place your box in the mail with the prepaid return label. Hopefully, you find at least one style that you like from among the five you picked for the home trial. Warby also has physical optical stores in some locations around the country if you want to go in and try frames that way, and many have reopened after being closed due to the pandemic. Some of these locations also offer eye tests -- and that prescription can be used at Warby or elsewhere.

The online glasses store also has a "buy a pair, give a pair" program, so for every pair of glasses you purchase, the company distributes a pair to someone in need, either for free or for "ultra-affordable prices. Shipping times: According to Warby: "Single vision glasses take seven to 10 business days to reach you from the time we have all of your order information. Sunglasses and progressives take 10 to 12 business days to reach you.

Austin, Texas-based Roka has only recently branched out into the online prescription eyewear business. The retailer's marketing slogan is "The most technically advanced eyewear that doesn't look technical," and its glasses are impressively light, durable and stylish looking.

But Roka has some of the best glasses frames out there. Roka started out making athletic glasses for runners, bikers and triathletes, and many of its prescription frames are bendable at the ends and have rubberized tracks that help you get a more secure fit. The frames also come with three sizes of grippy nose pads to ensure a better fit. They are among the most comfortable glasses I've worn -- and they really stay on your face.

I personally like the small Oslo frame in clear. Notable site features : Like Warby, there's a home-trial program. You can try up to four frames at home for up to seven days. The box ships with a prepaid return label -- you just drop it off at a post office to send it back.

Shipping times: Roka doesn't provide general estimates, and instead will give you a shipping time estimate when individual orders are placed based on which shipping option you choose next-day, second-day or ground. But it also features premium designer frames from high quality eyeglasses brands, including Ray-Ban and Persol.

It also recently launched a landing page for flash sales on nonprescription sunglasses. And around major holidays you can look for seasonal promotions on men's eyeglasses, women's glasses and contact lenses. Notable site features : A virtual "mirror" feature lets you upload your photo to the site and see what a pair of eyeglasses looks like on your face shape to help you find the perfect pair of optical frames. And the company is upping the try-at-home ante.

Instead of just sending you the frames, GlassesUSA will send you the frame with your actual prescription in it so you can truly try it out for up to 14 days -- though the feature is limited to certain frames and lens options.

In addition to a virtual try-on feature, you can also choose up to five different frames to try at home, absolutely free. Liingo offers a day money back guarantee. Liingo also backs up any adjustments you need. Instead of using a still photo, the virtual try-on feature allows you to upload a video so you can get an accurate degree assessment of how each frame—you can virtually try on up to 50—would look on your face.

As you checkout, you can add upgrades, like polarization, transition lenses, or anti-reflective and anti-fog coatings. One major negative worth noting: Zenni Optical only offers store credit for returns. However if your glasses were made incorrectly, they will remake them at no cost to you. Warby Parker. Warby Parker was born from a mission to offer designer-style frames at affordable prices. The brand also offers a home try-on where you can pick up to five frames that Warby Parker will send to you, for free, to physically try on before you buy.

You can sort through their entire collection of frames, or you can take a short online quiz that asks you questions about your preferences, like frame material, shape and color, and then narrows down your options to only the frames that fit those specifications.

Warby Parker also offers a one-year, no-scratch guarantee. If your lenses get scratched in the first days, you can get new lenses made for free. As far as lenses go, you can get single vision, no-line progressives or non-prescription readers. You can also select different lens materials, from thin polycarbonate to lower-cost plastic, as well as optional upgrades like UV protection or scratch-resistant coating.

And before your order goes through, an optician will review everything to make sure you picked the best selections for your prescription. DIFF Eyewear delivers luxury frames at more budget-friendly prices. If you want to upgrade, you have that option, too.

To make you feel even better about your purchase: DIFF Eyewear prioritizes giving back and has partnered with Sightsavers, an international organization that helps provide vision to billions of people throughout the world.

Higher shipping cost. Best Designer Online Glasses. Designer frames Easy-to-upload prescription Frequent discounts. Most Online Glasses Options. Zenni Optical. Great frame variety Super affordable. Store credit return policy. Best Prescription Online Glasses. Free at-home try-on Adjustment reimbursements Unique, stylish frames. Best Non-Prescription Online Glasses.

DIFF Eyewear. Short return window. Designer brands Free in-store adjustments. Best Customizable Online Glasses.

Pair Eyewear. Customizable Super affordable. Smaller frame selection. Best Online Glasses with Fast Shipping. Capri Optics. Frequent discounts Express shipping options Designer frames. Best Athletic Online Glasses. Free at-home try-on Suitable for active lifestyles. No returns on prescription eyewear. What to consider when buying prescription glasses online. For every pair of glasses purchased from DIFF, the company offers exams, glasses, surgeries, and more to someone who needs the care.

After you order from DIFF, your glasses will arrive in a 1- to 9-day timeframe, depending on the shipping method you chose, and the company offers a day return policy for store credit. Not every online eyewear retailer can fill strong or complicated prescriptions.

Cost can vary considerably among online retailers. When comparison shopping, keep in mind that the cost of frames is only one piece of the entire price. Check out the cost associated with your lens type, any filters you add, shipping, and service fees to get the full picture. Check out consumer reviews. The eyeglasses you love during a virtual try-on may not look as good once you have them in hand. The eyewear you buy online should always be returnable within an ample amount of time.

Look for return policies of at least 30 days. Having your eyes checked once a year by an optometrist or ophthalmologist is the only way to stay ahead with your eye health and common vision disorders.

Not everyone loves an unending selection. If you feel overwhelmed by the thought of trying on dozens or even hundreds of frame styles, stick with a retailer that sells a smaller, distinctive selection of styles you can see yourself in.

There are many online retailers to choose from. Some also have brick-and-mortar stores you can visit, while others rely solely on virtual try-ons and at-home trials. When buying eyewear online, only purchase glasses from sellers that have customer-friendly return policies. Your provider may know what these mean — but do…. Eye prescriptions contain a lot of information, but decoding them can be tricky.

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