Buying Prescription Eyeglasses Online - Comments Page 1

I tried Zenni, had to return them twice and they failed both times to get the prescription right (bifocals). I'm out the cost of shipping, but got my money back for glasses.
I'll never order online again. I ended up going to BJ's wholesale and got 2 pairs that work just fine.

I have been buying prescription glasses online from Zenni Optical for last 2 years or so. Bifocal lenses with my choice of frame under $100.00; nobody can beat it. And, I must tell you I am extremely happy!!

Long live Zenni!!!

I know this is just a single data point, but I have purchased 3 pairs of glasses from Zenni Optical over the past few years, and I have been 100% satisfied with all of them. Two pairs were single-vision "computer glasses", and the third pair are progressive bifocals in titanium frames. All of mine are "half-frame" style, and my prescription is not that strange, so that may have made them an easier fit. I will order from them again, when I need to.

I have gotten extremely poor quality glasses at places such as Walmart, Costco, and others. Yet I have had extremely good success with Zenni. I have a very complicated prescription and have ordered many times from Zenni with wonderful success. Yet never getting the correct lenses from cheap local discount stores.

Hi Bob,

In the UK an Optician has to give their patient a copy of their prescription by Law. Many still try to avoid this.

Here the majority of the online retailers are actually opthalmic technicians who in the past were the 'Labs' that produced the glasses for the Opticians.

Bearing the connection in mind here it seems the chance of a mistake is the same with online and offline purchases.

I haven't needed a change in prescription for 10 years and bought 4 pairs of glasses at that time.

The two expensive pairs (over £500 = $800) are long gone into the drawer having fallen apart in a couple of years. I am still wearing both pairs bought online for £20 that's £10 including shipping a pair. ($16 each pair).

I will have my regular checkup soon and if there is need for a change I will be buying online again.

Well at a 96% price difference and five times life expectancy it is worth 'rolling the bones' for me.

Jon

This is definitely NOT a service/product I would ever every buy online. I've needed prescription eyewear/contacts since I was in 2nd grade. My prescription is complex now, extremely nearsighted coupled with astigmatism, and presbyopia (needing bifocals). I need the personal attention you can get only with in-person service. I have found a chain of providers, VisionWorks, that does very well with this and offers a nice discount to those over 55 (can't remember the terms now but they were very good, and their price points before the discounts are quite competitive).

I have bought prescription glasses online for several years and have never had a problem. One time, the glasses were very uncomfortable; another time, my OD's prescription was not right. Both times I sent the glasses back for full credit (minus the shipping) and got different pair. I have been very pleased. I have used eyebuydirect.com, zennioptical.com, and firmoo.com.

Warby Parker sends 5 frames out postage paid both ways for potential buyers to try. They also have retail stores now. There is one in my city of Atlanta.

I bought a spare pair of eyeglasses online without any problem.

They fit properly, the prescription is perfect and they cost me $15 compared to my main pair which were $350.

I'm not sure I would feel comfortable, exchanging incorrectly filled Rx's would be more of a hassle than in person.

That being said, I have had numerous pairs over the years incorrectly filled at places locally. A hassle still. Once the ophthalmologist gave me the wrong Rx to be filled- twice! It was a well recommended group... I now have another doctor and finally had lasik surgery so I only have to bother with reading glasses.

I bought my current glasses online from 39dollarglasses.com and I couldn't be happier. I didn't pay $39, though. With upgraded progressive lens, and a couple other extras, the bill came out to just under $200... but that's less than a third of what I paid for my previous pair with comparable features from a big chain.

When I ordered, I made an error in the prescription from my eye doctor (typical doctor handwriting, amirite?). 39dollarglasses.com CALLED me to confirm, saying the prescription was not unheard of, but highly unlikely. Big points from me for customer service.

I got them in less than a week, the prescription was spot on, and they've held up great for the last two years. I'm due for a new pair, and I won't hesitate to go back.

My son got a couple of pairsfrom Clearly contacts. It was a good experience for single focus plus coatings and transitions the sun. Frames were good. 2 pairs for under $300 Canadian. Delivered in under 2 weeks

Hi,

I think the idea of going to Walmart or Cosco would be a better alternative to online ordering all due to the reasons you mention above. One does not need to get a bad pair of classes or have them break in your face. It would seem their would be some kind of regulation on this to prevent such things from happening.

No way would I buy online. My needs are too complicated. I do buy from Walmart and have for many years. I get frames that have memory and can be bent but return to shape. Style is limited but I am a stylish 76 year old whose vanity has waned. The cost is always arund $500. I contract janitorial and maintenance services and work 40 or more hours weekly. Cheap glasses are what I have now as I have recycled the frames multiple times.

I found the best deal for me was at Costco. Single vision hard plastic with high quality titanium frames (spring hinges) for $150, second pair for half price. One year warranty. Better frames and considerably less than Walmart. I tried some from China, and they were cheaply made, no spring hinges, weak frames and no ability to try them on.

I recently bought glasses from EyeBuyDirect (online), and was satisfied. They replaced glasses from LensCrafters that did not satisfy (I needed a pair in a hurry). One of the reasons I first turned to online providers a few years ago was because of dissatisfaction with much more expensive products from traditional opticians.

Something as precious as my vision online? Nope. There is a reason for the adage you get what you pay for.

I did waste money with Zenni. The prescription was correct, but on one eye the optical center of the lens was lower than it should. I had sent the glasses back, but they did not correct the problem. This time I did as you suggested, bought online frames from a reputable manufacturer (Carrera) and had my lenses made locally.
Before the fall of the Canadian dollar (almost as much as the ruble???) it was much cheaper to buy glasses in the US than in Canada.

I have used EyeBuy Direct for about three years now and four pairs of specs. The first pair cost only 25% of what I was charged by my optometrist. She now knows that she only needs to do the exam.

The various fees add up fast but with all of the coatings I required and variable vision lens plus a discount (which they offer regularly)- they are always right around $100. I truly can get four pairs for the price of one! I even ordered prescription shades - why not.

They have a great warranty and have never let me down. There has not been a need to try any other online suppliers.

I wouldn't buy lenses online because one of my lenses is odd. Because there's a limited selection of frames locally, I've gone online to buy my last four pairs of frames.

I know exactly what I want and my ophthalmologist has been very helpful in making sure I order what I need.