How to Buy Prescription Eyeglasses & Save up to 90%

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Home > Health & Beauty > Topics: Eye Care

How to Buy Prescription Eyeglasses & Save up to 90%

Submitted by: Ray @ Tip Hero 08/29/2008 7:54 AM

A few years ago I was having a discussion with a friend who was telling me how she could only afford one set of prescription eye glasses. She mentioned how she lived in fear of either breaking or losing her glasses because they cost so much. Having been fortunate enough not to have ever needed prescription glasses I was clueless as to how much eyeglasses cost so I asked her. Between $300-$400 she replied. Holy cow I said. It didn�t make sense that something so basic as glasses cost so much. Is that for solid gold rims I joked. She didn't laugh.

Well, about a year later I came across an article discussing the enormous mark-up on prescription glasses, sometimes as high as 1000%. The article highlighted a fellows quest to find a reasonably priced pair of glasses. He shopped around at the eyeglass stores in the mall and became so frustrated with the prices that he decided to check out buying them online. The first set of glasses he ordered online were decked out with titanium hinge-less frames, high index lenses, anti-reflective and scratch-resistant coatings. He got all of this for $81 compared to the $400+ it would have cost him if he had to buy them from the eyeglass shops in the mall. The glasses arrived in the mail and he was surprised at how well they fit and the prescription was spot on.

Why are Prescription Glasses so Expensive?

Before online eyeglass stores came along there was primarily just two options for those needing prescription eyeglasses: their optometrist and the one-hour shops in the mall like LensCrafters. Optometrists tend to be expensive because they need to charge a really high mark-up to pay for rent and staff. The reason the one-hour shops in the mall are so expensive is because many of them are owned by a single company: Luxottica. I found this quote on Metafilter discussing Luxottica and it�s virtual monopoly on the eyeglass market:

I remember one day a couple years ago, after I got a pair of eyeglasses at the mall, wandering from shop to shop looking for a reasonably priced case for my glasses. Sears, Pearle, Lenscrafters . . all had the same overpriced cases. Finally, I made it to the Sunglasses Hut near the foodcourt. As I reached the counter, there they were---the same overpriced cases! When I mentioned the strangeness of this to the girl behind the counter, she looked around and *whispered* to me: Well, we're all owned by Luxottica, you know!

Want to check the prices at LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical, and Target Optical. Well, these are all owned by Luxottica.

What do You Need to Buy Eyeglasses Online?

To buy glasses online you�re going to need to get an up-to-date prescription from your optometrist. They may hesitate when asked but if they do be firm. I believe that some states have laws that they are legally required to give you your prescription/eye exam results. If your prescription doesn�t include your pupillary distance (PD), the length between your pupils measured in millimeters ask your doctor to measure it for you. You can also measure it yourself.

You also need to find frames that feel good on your face. Some folks use the one-hour shops in the mall to test out different styles of frames, others take measurements of frames they already own. Once you�re armed with all this information you�re ready to hit the online shops to compare prices and order.

How Much Can you Save?

You can literally save hundreds by buying your prescription glasses online. I�ve read several stories of folks buying glasses online for $40-$60 that would have cost ten times that if they had bought them from one of the major mall brands. I�ve also heard of extreme examples were folks were able to get online prescription glasses for $10-$20.

A Whole New World

With folks now able to buy glasses for $25-$60 it opens up a whole new world. I�ve read about some people who have been able to buy several pairs of prescription glasses, a reserved, low-key pair for work, and a trendy pair for nights out on the town. Some people are now able to afford prescription sunglasses for the first time because the cost has come down so much with online shopping. If you�re a little nervous about buying eyeglasses online why not buy a cheap emergency pair of eyeglasses for $20 to see how it turns out.

Related Searches

online glasses prescription glasses

Additional Reading

Online Eyeglasses Blog

Adventures in $40 eyeglasses

How To Get an Unbelievable, Amazing, Fantastic, Thrilling Deal on New Glasses

If you have a friend who wears prescription glasses, please forward them this article.

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Comments:

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yes,very much so thanks

Posted by Dot Robbins on September 01, 2008 7:59 PM

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How do you measure pupillary distance?

Posted by Carolyn Baker on September 10, 2008 8:57 AM

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For what it's worth, Wikipedia has a post about "pupillary distance" and explains:

"An optician can accurately measure your PD, or you can measure it yourself using a ruler, with someone�s assistance or a mirror."

Also: "The typical pupillary distance for adults is around 54-68 mm, while measurements generally fall between 48 and 73 mm. For children the measurement usually ranges from 41 to 55 mm."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pupillary_Distance

Posted by anonymous on September 10, 2008 11:16 AM

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I recently bought Trendy frame with Bifocal no line progressive lenses for $109 at 39dollarglasses.com. In the past I bought similar trendy frame with no line progressive lense from mall for over $400.

Posted by Eskay on September 15, 2008 10:44 AM

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What I do to save on eyeglasses is to just have them put new lenses in my existing frames.

Posted by anonymous on September 28, 2008 9:22 PM

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I need glasses and find that Medicare won't pay for anything. This is such a great idea. I will do it.
Janet

Posted by granny on September 30, 2008 10:16 AM

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Doesn't anyone other then me need their frames adjusted? How do you get that done by going through an online store? Just curious.

Posted by Pinky212 on February 12, 2009 10:10 PM

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This is fine if you don't have much correction, special needs or if you don't need to REALLY see for work or hobbies.

I have purchased mall glasses as well as online discount glasses and they do not measure up.

I need to REALLY see for my job and found that these places simply do not carry high enough quality lenses to produce really good vision. I also discovered that they lied to me on several points. For example, they told me that no-line bifocals are not available in my correction. The reality is that they do not carry lens blanks in a high enough quality to produce them. So they lied to keep my business. There were other things also, but the point is they lied and sold me an inferior product.

There is a difference, a big difference.

Posted by jd on March 18, 2009 9:36 AM

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I bought from Zenni Optical and was pretty well satisfied for a second pair of progressives. Clark Howard, consumer advocate on Atlanta radio buys from them.

Posted by Harriet on May 06, 2009 9:16 PM

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I bought my last pair of glasses from the local BJ's wholesale club. Their usual price for uncomplicated frames and lenses is $99. I paid more... new semi-rimless frames, progressive lenses, correction for stigmatism, coating to cut night glare... came to under $200, about half of the price of other places in my area. But here's the deal: BJ's will replace the glasses if you don't like them for any reason (likely this is a 30-day limit, or something).

When my husband tried to switch from bifocals to progressives, he was unable to adjust, so they replaced the lenses back to bifocals. But I was stunned to learn they will also replace the glasses simply because you don't like the frames you picked out!!!

When I try on glasses, I can't see what I look like... it's slightly blurred, so I think the glasses blend well on my face. When I actually get the glasses in frames, I have been shocked at what I picked out, but just endured them for years. However this time I was REALLY unhappy with the pair I picked, which my adult daughter okayed when I picked them. I went back to at least see if I could swap for a different color, and was then informed of the store policy. The frame selection at this small-city BJs was limited, so BJ's arranged for me to go to the big-city BJs and try on frames there. This time I took a friend, she spent a long time with me, and we picked out different frames, requiring entirely new lenses. BJs gave me a second pair of glasses at no charge. Also if I damage my glasses the future they will be replaced at no charge... such as if I run them over with a lawn mower, as my husband did.

When husband bought new frames this year, after wearing them for several days, he was quite sure the prescription was wrong, so we went back. The optician adjusted the frames so that the lenses were the proper distance from his face, and glasses have been fine since.

When I judge purchases I think about cost-per-use. If I wear these glasses 2000 times, the cost per use is 10 cents. If I could have saved $100 by purchasing them online, then the cost per-use savings is 5 cents per day. Many of us don't blink at buying a liter of soda each week.

These online prices ARE intriguing, and perhaps they work for some people.

Posted by anonymous on May 07, 2009 7:21 AM

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For Pinky's question, here goes.

My stepfather used to own a chain of optical stores, so I literally NEVER paid for the optician's visit, simple medication, contacts, eyeglasses, sunglasses, and extra supplies. When he sold his business and I had to buy my own, I was shocked senseless by the prices!

Number one - you can buy contacts for extra cheap online, just tell them the prescription, size, etc.

Number two - by law, opthamologists and opticians HAVE to give you your prescription (the original) if you ask for it - this is everywhere in the U.S. This is too inhibit price-gouging.

Number three - if you need to have your frames adjusted, screws replaced, or new nose cushions, just go to one of the big chain optical stores and request they do this while you wait. Don't tell them where you got your glasses, this is a no-cost service and to pay for this is highway robbery. You may also request some supplies such as contact lens holders, etc. for free.

Number four - make sure they clean your glasses before leaving, again, no cost and they will sparkle. Ask your optician for the best INGREDIENTS to use for youur contact lens fluid, then match it with generic or low-cost fluid at grocery or drug stores. You can also ask your eye doctor for samples; believe me, he has ALOT. Finally, at home, clean your glasses with just a dab of Dawn, warm water, and a soft, lint-free cloth or a coffee filter. Sorry for the long post and I hope this helps!

Editor's Note: We moved this comment to its own tip page http://www.tiphero.com/tips_1933_4-ways-to-save-on-eye-care.html

Posted by JillMaria on September 24, 2009 10:05 AM

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Eyeglasses: I've been buying my eyeglasses online at zennioptical.com for the last 4 years. This is a great site. I have recommended this site to all my friends, family and others. The customer service is great. I have no complaints.

The eyeglasses starting price is $8. I normally receive my eyeglasses in about 2 weeks.

Posted by Adrian on January 12, 2010 11:36 PM

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so many thanks to you Tip Hero... i really find your post relevant and helpful....

Posted by GlobalEye on January 13, 2010 1:44 AM

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great post as usual!

Posted by TomPier on May 07, 2010 2:46 PM

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I tried Zenni Optical and was not happy. It seemed like the prescription was focused in the center of the lens and the outside area of the lens was blurry. Is that possible? I ordered two pairs and it is the same with both. Also, wore the first pair for one day and the bridge pad fell off.

Posted by anonymous on May 27, 2010 12:12 PM

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Tip Hero, your article is an insult to licensed opticians. First of all, how can you tell how the frames will look if you don't try them on and look in the mirror? They may be totally wrong for your face and the type of lens you need. If you need bifocals, measurements need to be made to make sure the bifocal falls in the right place depending on whether you are reading, doing computer work etc. Believe it or not, there are differences in the quality of materials used by optical shops. Frames need adjusting, it's, difficult to do that on line. I have super thick lenses and they always take special care to reduce the thickness by beveling the edges and using other tricks to improve the appearance of my glasses. The price of on line glasses is cheap because the labs are using cheap labor, probably somewhere outside of the United States. Opticians in the US have several years of training and continue their education to stay up to date, many of them take special pride in their work. What may seem simple to you is not simple at all. The bottom line is you get what you pay for, I'd rather deal with people locally whom I can trust and who will be there for me if I need to make an adjustment or return.

Posted by cmmcd472 on March 19, 2011 12:59 PM

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I just bought my first pair of eyeglasses. Buy 1 Get 1 Free! When my total came to $500.00 the second pair somehow didn't feel FREE!. No what I mean? I was shocked to hear about the mark up although I new I was overcharged for them. Especially when she knew I was paying cash and didn't have insurance. My question is..Why don't Dr. Bizers value vision andother chain stores have two prices. The hospitals and doctors have two prices. One for insured individuals and another non-insured.

Posted by Dd on April 05, 2011 8:44 PM

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