best online glasses?

**cooliemae** · 08-27-2016, 07:10 PM

I've used eyebuydirect.com for the past couple of years and have been very happy with the glasses.

I use frameless frames and what I really love about the frames is that they use screws instead of rivets to keep the lens to frames. This means that I can tighten them if they get loose and even replace part of the frame if need be.

**MonkeyMama** · 08-28-2016, 07:01 AM

I am very happy with zenni. My current eyeglasses cost around $10 and I have had for a few years. I mean, in the past I have paid $200+ for glasses that weren't as sturdy. This is maybe my second pair with zenni. Plus I buy sunglasses since they are so reasonable.

**FLA** · 08-28-2016, 10:46 AM

thanks, guys!

**scfr** · 08-28-2016, 11:19 AM

I'm kind of leery about buying online so I get my glasses from Costco and have been happy with them and they are very reasonable for buying from a brick & mortar.

But what a fantastic idea to get prescription sunglasses online from Zenni! I don't have prescription sunglasses but would love to have them. Thanks for the great suggestion!

**Gailete** · 08-28-2016, 03:20 PM

Interesting topic considering what we are going through right now. My hubby had a cornea replacement in June '15 and in Feb '16 the Dr. started taking the sutures out, a few at a time. Finally about 2 and a half weeks ago his eyes had finally stabilized to the point that the Dr. could write him a prescription for glasses. So we go to Lenscrafters, use my AARP card and a few other things for a discount and he buys a regular pair of glasses and one for close-up work. His glasses always take a week to make so after a week he starts calling them to find out where they are. Oh they made the close-up glasses but the factory was waiting for the second pair of frames (identical to the other ones) to come in before making his 'regular' glasses. We have no idea what bozo made the decision to make the secondary glasses first!

So he keeps calling daily. It has now been over two weeks that we have been waiting. They tell us that they will take something off the bill for the problems it has been causing. Of course they don't tell us HOW much and it had better be a lot further north of $25 for us to be happy about this. They have never even mentioned that they would put a rush on them, or help expedite the glasses anyway. Just said they couldn't do anything about it. I find that hard to believe since at this point it is past the amount of time it needs to make a pair of glasses and get them to our local store by over a week! My husband hasn't been able to drive or work since February because his vision is so bad! So it isn't like he could just wear his old glasses. Just needed to vent and I suspect that FLA could relate! Hubby has corneal lattice dystrophy in his family and prior to corneal replacement surgery availability, many of his relatives went completely blind including his grandmother. Out of four kids in his family only one brother doesn't have it and they are all on their second set of corneas and his mom in on her second or third set! One very good reason I was happy to be past having kids when we got married.

I would have never thought of getting glasses on line. How do you decide about frames, and where bifocals (like for me) go, etc. We have never checked into glasses on line. I think I would be scared that they might be too much trouble or would need sent back multiple times until they are correct.

**MonkeyMama** · 08-28-2016, 06:32 PM

Originally posted by Gailete View Post

I would have never thought of getting glasses on line. How do you decide about frames, and where bifocals (like for me) go, etc. We have never checked into glasses on line. I think I would be scared that they might be too much trouble or would need sent back multiple times until they are correct.

I was personally very skeptical but gave it a try and was very pleased.

Since I've had glasses for a while I just looked for similar frames and measurements.

It's not too much trouble to save a couple of hundred dollars. Generally I always buy 2 or 3 pair and keep 1. Even if I don't return the others, it's still so much cheaper than just buying one pair anywhere else. If you have the measurements of some glasses that you are happy with, then it's easy to find a match. Maybe not 100% of the time, but maybe 50% of the time.

**cooliemae** · 08-28-2016, 10:38 PM

Originally posted by Gailete View Post

I would have never thought of getting glasses on line. How do you decide about frames, and where bifocals (like for me) go, etc. We have never checked into glasses on line. I think I would be scared that they might be too much trouble or would need sent back multiple times until they are correct.

Some sites also have the option of uploading a head shot so that you can see what the glasses will look like.

For anyone with vision insurance, you can check with your plan to see if you can manually submit a claim. Since we live in a 'low access' area, I can shop anywhere I want for my glasses. So I can usually get two pair paid for versus a single pair due to the prices. I just pay upfront and submit the claim myself.

Ironically, I did the math this year and I'm actually going to drop my vision insurance because the glasses I buy online are way cheaper than the premiums I pay.

**feh** · 08-29-2016, 06:39 AM

Been using Zenni for years (I no longer need to, as I had lasik last year, but my son & wife still do). Can't say it's the best, as it's the only online place we've used, so I can't compare & contrast with other vendors.

The days of triple figures for glasses are over.

**Gailete** · 08-29-2016, 07:46 AM

I will need to look into this. We have no vision insurance and Medicare doesn't seem to care if people can see, hear or chew as they don't cover dental, vision, or hearing loss unless you have a special policy. The only reason that hubby could have his cornea surgery was due to Obamacare. While thank you for it, as a self employed person, I have to guess what his income will be like for the year and little did we guess that due to not being able to see he has barely made a penny since early February, so I'm sure I'm over paying for his insurance!

**james.hendrickson** · 08-29-2016, 08:20 AM

Hi Guys,

I know this isn't "on-line" per say, but has anyone tried Costco glasses? Consumer Reports says they are significantly cheaper than alternatives.

**FLA** · 08-29-2016, 08:45 AM

I wish we had a Costco, then you can try them on. I went to BJs and the frames in the promotion were crap, cheap plastic, just crap.

10 yrs ago before I had the really weird prescription, I got sunglasses from Zenni. They were the best prescription glasses I'd ever had, I could see so crisply. I had my opthomalogist check them for correct vision.

I'm having trouble this go round finding a site with narrow enough frames, I have a little head. The big glasses in style are too big for my measurements.

At all the online stores, I am coming in right around $120 with thinned lenses and progressives. That compares to over $500 for just lenses at my independent optical store.

**scfr** · 08-29-2016, 09:10 AM

Originally posted by james.hendrickson View Post

Hi Guys,

I know this isn't "on-line" per say, but has anyone tried Costco glasses? Consumer Reports says they are significantly cheaper than alternatives.

Yes - Have gotten my glasses from Costco for the past 13 years or so and have been happy with them.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 08-29-2016, 09:29 AM

Does zenni allow returns for free? How do you know what looks good?

**FLA** · 08-29-2016, 11:24 AM

I want to try Costco but the closest store is 80 miles. BJs quality has gone way down hill since I bought from them years ago. And the woman pulled me aside to say their progressive lenses aren't "good". All in all, on a special sale, a really cheap, crappy pair of sunglasses with progressives would've been $200 with a promotion.

best online glasses?