Comments on: Buying eye glasses online: cheap but risky

By: Ray

Ray — Sat, 23 May 2009 22:45:28 +0000

i bought 2 pairs of glasses from zenni for my girlfriend and she loved them i had a great experience with them now i need glasses and plan on ordering from them to get some for myself

By: Angela

Angela — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:18:54 +0000

I always go over to glassyeyes.com to the forums to read who’s currently doing the best. These places go up and down like a yo-yo with the customer service.

Always had great luck buying online.

By: Helen

Helen — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:37:04 +0000

I ordered from Zenni 3 times in the last 3 months and each time I had a good experience. The glasses are perfect – I get compliments all the time – sturdy frames, right prescription lenses. The length of time to receive the glasses varied (18 days, 11 days and 14 days) but each time, I got the glasses and loved them. I am completely converted – for the price you cannot go wrong with Zenni. After paying $200-$400 for glasses, even with insurance discounts, and getting 8 pairs of glasses from Zenni for just under $200, I would be a fool to shop anywhere else. I recommend online glasses highly. If you know the size of frame that fits you well and the general shape (you can try some on in local shops), you can always match it up to something you chose online. For me, it was a breeze!

By: Glasses Gal

Glasses Gal — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:07:17 +0000

DO NOT buy from Zenni – after 6 weeks and 4 phone calls with NO follow-up response (after it was promised each time), I finally canceled my order. I ended up going to a local drugstore for a pair.

By: Bargain Babe » Results: buying glasses online v. at Costco

Bargain Babe » Results: buying glasses online v. at Costco — Thu, 07 May 2009 11:42:13 +0000

[...] They cost $107, about $50 MORE than if I had bought them online. (My previous post covered options to buy cheap glasses online.) [...]

By: Diane

Diane — Mon, 04 May 2009 03:59:46 +0000

Here’s another vote for Costco. Too much guessing with online purchases even though I have a pretty simple prescription. However, I want my husband to read this blog. His prescription is such that virtually no one can get his lenses into a frame that can contain them–Costco, Fedco (yes, that long ago!), even Kaiser!!

By: Ravi

Ravi — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:55:14 +0000

I normally wear contact lens and switch to glasses after I get back from work. I have liked the glasses I obtained from eyebuydirect.com.

I guess the trick is that you visit lenscrafters kind of shop to figure out the width, length of the glass and the temple arm length. After you have all the information, you can then search for options based on these criterias and place the order online.

By: Arif Ali

Arif Ali — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:52:32 +0000

Finding your size is super easy, no need to measure and convert from Inches to mm. Just read on the Inside the arms of your glasses , it will have three number like 45.18.135 which stand for Lens Width , Bridge Width and Temple Arm Length . Read this and then order online.

I have used Zenni with very good results

By: Dana-Maria

Dana-Maria — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:47:44 +0000

Re : Zenni my prescription is strong too. I only pay $9 more for a strong prescription.

By: Janet

Janet — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:42:23 +0000

my son had glasses and we always used Costco–they replaced the frames when someone stepped on them and would adjust them for free–which meant almost every week when you’ve got an active child!

By: bn

bn — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:34:42 +0000

I have a very strong prescription, too weird for Costco or Wal-Mart. I tried the online sites but most could not handle my diopter, prism, etc. Finally found a place in Tarzana (in the Valley Produce building) where I got progressives for $170 and distance-vision sunglasses for $80. They send out to a local lab to grind out the prescription lenses. The salesclerk there was very nice when taking my order and made sure they were adjusted to my face when they arrived a week later…

By: Diana

Diana — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:24:08 +0000

I have got my last several pairs of trifocals from Costco. Never a problem and they let you exchange them within a year if you are not happy. Even with all their coupon discounts, Lens Crafters is really expensive.

By: Lynda

Lynda — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:01:38 +0000

I’ve worn contacts for years, the hard lenses (gas permeable) so the initial cost of lenses is higher. I found an optometrist I really liked (in a Walmart store) and then took the prescription to my local Sam’s Club for the lenses. (it was cheaper that way at the time).
I had heard about 1-800 contacts, so I went on line and checked them out, but I also found Coastal Contacts, which had lower rates for my type of lenses.
The thing about hard lenses is they’re not ‘one size fits all’ like the soft ones…so if you need to get them, it takes longer. I wanted to get two pair, so I’d have a spare for travelling, etc. I ordered from Coastal and paid about $40.00 per pair less than through the Walmart optician.
It’s going to be time for an exam so I can order more, but the process is easy. The optometrist has to give you a copy of your prescription. You order online, send them a copy, they verify with the doctor, and ship within a couple of days. You get the same brand (mine is Boston Envision) although mine only comes in one color, blue (so you can find it if you drop it).
It’s $33.95 per lens (vial) and with 3 you get free shipping.
I see (from their site that they also have regular glasses, including some designer frames. I suppose you could find frames you like and then find a better price online…
The address for Coastal Contacts is:
http://www.coastalcontacts.com
You can also look up 1-800contacts…I haven’t checked our their prices recently, I’m happy with Coastal. And yes, you can find discount coupons for most online companies at:
http://www.couponcabin.com/contacts/index.htm

For those who wear disposable or extended wear contacts, I think you’d see similar savings online.
And yes, I did lose a lens one time when travelling so I was very happy I had the spare pair with me.

By: Dana

Dana — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:28:02 +0000

I have been using Zenni Optical for over a year now with nothing but good results. I have over 13 pairs of glasses. The keys is papillary distant and know the size using a pair of glasses you already own and convert from inches to mm.

By: stefanie

stefanie — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:26:30 +0000

I’ve used Zenni Optical and have been very pleased with them. I have a very strong prescription and need thinner lenses to fit in most frames. This costs more at Zenni (as it does everywhere), but I was still able to get 3 pairs of prescription glasses, including 1 pair of sunglasses, for $140 last year from them. That would normally not cover the cost of just the lenses for 1 pair at Lenscrafters, including my health insurance discount. It was well worth the risk for me, and I ended up being happy with all of the frames I chose.