5 Places to Save on Glasses
I was lucky and did not have to get my first pair of glasses until I was in my mid-20s, so I didn't know much about the eyeglass industry before that first visit. I had vision insurance and thought I would be able to get my first pair of glasses for pennies, so I was beyond shocked when I had to fork over a couple hundred dollars. I was not at all prepared to pay that much, but needing glasses and not being sure where else to go, I paid the steep price.
I have since started shopping at a few different places online that allow me to purchase prescription glasses for a fraction of the cost of that first pair. If you wear glasses and do not mind shopping online, these are the stores I recommend checking out:
Warby Parker (warbyparker.com):
Warby Parker creates some of the most stylish eyeglasses available anywhere and they cost just $95 per pair, which includes the prescription lenses. Prescription sunglasses cost $150 per pair. Warby Parker frequently offers new collections of glasses, so there is always something new to check out.
One of the biggest perks to Warby Parker is that they have a free at-home try-on program. You can choose up to five pairs to try on from the comfort of home, and as long as you return the frames within five days you will not be charged anything. This helps alleviate some of the pressure of purchasing glasses online.
Warby Parker does accept insurance, as well as health savings plans. As an added bonus, for each pair of glasses purchased from the site, they will donate a pair to someone in need.
Firmoo (firmoo.com):
The most expensive prescription glasses available at Firmoo cost $39. No, you are not reading that wrong. Honestly, I have never even paid $39 for a pair of glasses because the site frequently offers coupons that enable shoppers to save as much as 100 percent on a new pair of prescription frames. If a coupon is not available, frames are frequently on sale for as little as $8 per pair.
Firmoo is where I go for some seriously budget-friendly eyewear, but don't let the prices fool you. There are hundreds of different frame styles available at Firmoo and many of them are quite stylish!
One thing worth noting about Firmoo is that all frames ship from China, which generally means you will be waiting anywhere from two weeks to a month for frames to arrive in the mail.
Coastal.com:
The first pair of discounted glasses I ever purchased online was from Coastal.com and they were free. Like Firmoo, Coastal occasionally offers promotions where shoppers can get their first pair of glasses for nothing. Even the paid frames are generally inexpensive, with most prescription frames costing less than $100.
Coastal.com carries brands such as Gucci and Ray-Ban, and while these frames are discounted up to 50 percent below what you would pay at a traditional optical store, they tend to cost more than some of the other frames on the site and are not privy to the free frames promotions. All Coastal glasses are made in the United States.
GlassesUSA (GlassesUSA.com):
GlassesUSA is very similar to Coastal.com in that it offers very inexpensive frames and occasionally offer the first pair for free. If the first pair free promotion isn't available, another coupon is usually offered, making it near-impossible to pay full price for a pair of glasses. The prices at GlassesUSA are, on average, about 70 percent below retail prices, with prescription frame costs starting at just $38.
If you love the glasses you receive from GlassesUSA, you can also take advantage of the referral program and receive a $30 credit for each new shopper you refer to the site.
BonLook (bonlook.com):
BonLook costs marginally more than the other stores on this list, as the prescription glasses cost $99 per pair. But it does offer unique and fun styles that are unlike the frames that are available on any of the other sites, and the site also features sales.
To help you find your ideal pair of frames, BonLook has a "perfect fit questionnaire" that will provide frame suggestions based on your face shape and lifestyle. They also offer a virtual try-on, where you can upload your photo to get an accurate look at how the glasses will appear on your face.
Before ordering glasses from any online store, the main thing you will need is your most recent prescription. Eye doctors are required to provide this information to you upon your request. Once you have your prescription in hand, I am positive you will find ordering glasses online to be easy, budget-friendly and fun!
Lisa Koivu is the founder of ShopGirlDaily.com, a budget fashion and shopping blog for women who want to have the best for less.
