It’s hard to find cheap glasses and contacts nowadays, and if you have a strong prescription or your local stores don’t have the best prices, things can get incredibly expensive.
Luckily, there are some low-cost options that can help you save big on your purchase — namely Costco and Zenni Optical, where you can find great products that won’t break the bank.
Costco is renowned for customer service, and their optical stores are no exception. Most buyers are incredibly happy with their experience, making it a great option.
Cheap Glasses and Contacts at Costco
Costco Optical is open to everyone, even if you don’t have a Costco membership. This part of the store offers exams, glasses, and contacts, making it a one-stop shop. However, you can also bring in an outside prescription for glasses or contacts purchases.
Most vision insurance plans work at Costco Optical as well. This allows you to use your benefits to offset the cost, helping your cheap glasses and contact cost you even less.
If you’re looking for the latest vision technology, Costco Optical has your back. The locations also have a reasonable selection, including name-brand frames and sunglasses. However, each store may have slightly different options, so keep that in mind.
Generally, it will take about a week to receive your glasses once you place your order. Contacts, on the other hand, might be available immediately for the more popular prescriptions.
Zenni Optical for Cheap Glasses
Zenni Optical is an online store that focuses on glasses. It has incredibly low prices — including some frames on sale for just $6 apiece — and a vast selection of frames and sunglasses. While name-brand options aren’t available, the frame quality is on par with most brands that are found in stores. Plus, Zenni offers lenses with some of the latest technologies.
Since Zenni Optical is entirely online, you can’t physically try on the glasses in advance. However, you can upload a picture and do a virtual fitting before you select your frames. If you don’t want to upload a photo, you can use one of the models instead.
Just make sure you pick a model that can accommodate the distance between your pupils — this is referred to as pupillary distance (PD). You should be able to find that on your prescription or by contacting your eye doctor. There are instructions for getting this measurement yourself, but having your physician handle it could yield better results.
You can’t buy cheap contacts through Zenni, as the retailer only sells glasses. Additionally, shipping times can be a little long, usually between 14 and 21 days; however, if you’re in a rush, expedited mailing options are available if you’re willing to pay extra. But even then, there’s still a considerable wait before the company can get your package to the overnight mail providers.
Zenni Optical doesn’t take insurance directly. However, you may be able to file with your insurance provider for a reimbursement, allowing you to recoup the cost.
Which Is Better for Cheap Glasses and Contacts?
Since Zenni doesn’t offer contacts, you’ll want to use Costco for that purchase. However, when it comes to cheap glasses, both are great. You just need to decide if trying on frames in-person is a priority or how you feel about the shipping times.
Otherwise, both Costco and Zenni offer pleasant experiences and high-quality products, so you really can’t go wrong.
Have you tried Costco or Zenni Optical? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.
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Tamila McDonald is a U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of service, including five years as a military financial advisor. After retiring from the Army, she spent eight years as an AFCPE-certified personal financial advisor for wounded warriors and their families. Now she writes about personal finance and benefits programs for numerous financial websites.
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