Glasses Online

[Steve@Advance]

Steve-Maine reminded me that I wanted to ask about glasses online.

I just bought myself a pair from a local optometrist, ripped off horribly!!! Insane price that I am ashamed to admit, and still got flimsy frames, and the lenses are already showing scratches in spite of every coating offered.

I've tried Walmart, poor quality, Americas Best, poor quality and bait and switch pricing, not a member of Costco or Sams.

My wife is overdue for new glasses, and I don't want to be cheated again, but I want her to be happy.

I've been seeing glasses online. You send them a prescription, select the frames and lens option, they make them and mail them.

My question is how do they know the bifocal height? Has anyone actually done this and how did it work for you?

Thanks!

 

[rmg]

I have been buying them online for years now. Go to optometrist every few years to make sure my eyes have not changed that much. Have bought from Eyebuydirect and bought from Zenni Optical. As long as you are careful and follow their directions you won't have a problem. Quite a bit cheaper than the local eye doctor. Don't know about the bifocal thing as I wear progressive lens. My wife and I both buy online and have been happy with the results.

 

[Mike M]

Another Zenni user here. Been for years and I go with the cheapest I can get in the style with the partial rim and fishing line holds the lens in. The work really good and when they get trashed I'm only out like $ 10.00 total including shipping.

 

[kcm.MN]

I used GlassesUSA several years ago and was thrilled with the quality. However, I see that Zinni has FAR more business, so I would tend to try them next time....which is coming up soon!

 

[Andy Wickiser]

My situation is different from yours and simpler, I use Eyeglass Direct in Brooklyn NY and have been satisfied. I can knock out a pair of single vision polycarbonate lens glasses for less than $100 (more like $80). I sometimes use frames I already have and sometimes buy frames on eBay (I actually like safety frames and those are usually less expensive than designer/retail frames). I also can do my own refraction because I have a trial lens kit. Anyway you have to educate yourself on sizing eyeglass frames so that the frames match your facial dimensions and preferences. You could contact them with your questions about bifocals. Disclaimer, I can't guarantee you'll like them any better that the places you've already listed.
Eyeglass Direct

 

[Leroy]

NEVER AGAIN!!!!! Several years ago wife orderd a pair for me I where try focals. Frames apeared OK in height but when glasses came lens only onch in height and NO TRYFOCALS, No room to fit a tryfocal in that midijet lens. Don't rember where from. But never again will I order even for a spair on line. What I oit was totally useless. Since that time I have no line bifocals. And the only person that in 40 years could get the frames to fit my face. Other Drs office they adjusted them so 24-7-365 I had scabs on my checks under my eyes from frames not adjusted. So I han sticking to someone I know

 

[Stephen Newell]

The worst pair of glasses I've gotten from an eyedoctor I paid about 600 bucks for. I got a little better quality glasses from from America's Best for well under a hundred buck. What aggravates me is the one size fits all frames. It used to be when you got new glasses a technician would put the frames on you and make adjustments to where they fit right for you. Now they just hand them to you and send you on your way. Then temples on the expensive glasses were way too long where I had to bend them to where they wrapped all the way around my ears. In the old days the technician would have changed them out with some shorter ones but when I tried to take them back shorter temples were unavailable.

 

[DaleinWV]

I've used Zenni too. Pleased with their service, online selection - the see how you'd look feature. I'm just happy to see, and not a picky butt on style. Fairly quick turn-around.

 

[RobCons]

Never purchased online. Looked at Warby Parker and they were as costly as a store when all the options were added on. We are happy with our local Walmart. The doctor leases her space, Walmart employes staff the selection area. All have been there several years.

 

[Russ from MN]

We get our exam at our health care provider, and then go to Costco for the glasses, and have had good luck. Right now I'm wearing some that I got at Americas Best, about 5 years ago, and I am happy with them too, but Costco is cheaper. I'm 71 so my prescription hasn't changed in years. When I was working my employer provided safety glasses, when I was about 50-55 I needed a new prescription every year.

 

[504]

I have had Zennis without any problems. You have to look at the frames and make sure they will work with you prescription. If I remember they will not let you order frames that won't work. I bought these local because I broke mine and needed new ones yesterday not in a week.

 

[cjunrau]

Zenni is where we buy. Not one problem in 10 years. I ordered for my dad. $40 instead of $400
No brainer even if you need to order 2-3 different frames to get what works for you. My children mostly $10-18 per pair. Buy 3 at a time and if the sit on one they have a few spares cheap.

 

[el6147]

I'm not going to be able to answer your question .

I have been buying from Eyemart Express , and have been pleased with the quality, the service and the cost not having insurance. I get split line bifocal polycarbonate lenses with no coatings. as coatings tend to scratch if you have to work for a living .

Friend of mine has been complaining about RX Optical to me for years and I finally convinced him to try Eyemart , he is very pleased also .

 

[woodbutcher]

Hi Steve,

I made a mistake when I went to an optometrist for glasses several years ago. I insisted on having the bifocal line lowered on the new glasses I ordered. When I received the new pair, I found that it was hard to read with them, because the lens was so low. My mistake. I think I will order my next pair online.

Butch

 

[TJ in KY]

I have bought glasses at Costco for about 8 years now. I get no-line progressive bi-focals. average cost $200 to $225, glasses and frames only, no exam. I was paying double that previously.
If you know someone who is a member, I believe you can get around the membership thing by asking them to get you a Costco Shop Card (gift card). The Costco Shop card will get you in the door and you can use it to pay for the glasses.

 

[Muir hill 101]

I go to eye mart express. I buy the warranty or whatever you want to call it and about 225$ for frames and Lenses . They replace the lenses free if scratched and I had one pair they replaced lenses and frame free after getting lost in a heavily traveled farm lane covered in snow . Was plowing snow and just happened see out of corner of my eye what looked like my glasses sure enough it was .them . Took them in handed them to the girl about 30 minutes later she called they were brand new again

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

(quoted from post at 12:30:25 02/16/23) still got flimsy frames, and the lenses are already showing scratches in spite of every coating offered

The first part, you have nobody to blame but yourself. You picked the frames out. You had them in your hand. You surely could have determined if they met your standards for durability. If you didn't like any of the frames they had there, you had every right to walk out the door and go elsewhere.

The second part, I'll tell you a secret: The COATINGS are what scratch. Don't get the coatings. They're a waste of money. My optometrist told me that, after I showed him my old glasses which looked like someone had cleaned them with 80 grit sandpaper. 4 pairs of glasses in the last 6 years, no scratch coating, and no scratches.

I also don't use paper towels, my finger, a dirty grease rag, my jeans, or anything else "convenient" to clean my glasses. The closest I will come to that is the tee shirt I'm wearing if it's still clean. I use microfiber towels dedicated to wiping glasses.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Oh, and I would NEVER consider getting glasses online.

 

[WNYBill]

I had cataract surgery last summer. I no longer need my prescription glasses, EXCEPT for reading, can't see anything close. So I had special reading glasses made especially for the computer, $200.00+ just for lenses! Guess what I wear.... $20 for two pair of progressive 2.75 Amazon Readers. Got them all over the house and shop. Not sure where the fancy prescription readers are!

 

[sotxbill]

if you have an astigmatism, you can NOT get the correct glasses from the quick stores. Everyone will give you something close, but not exact.