Direct-to-consumer companies have made it easier than ever to shop for eyewear from the comfort of your living room. To find the best places to buy prescription glasses online, we considered nearly a dozen eyewear retailers, enlisted a panel of four testers and selected five top contenders. After comparing each retailer’s variety, return policy, site features and FSA/HSA policy, our top pick is because of its staggering array of options at prices to suit every lifestyle. is our top value pick for its range of affordable house-designed frames and advanced site filtering options. See our testers’ findings below, plus an expert-informed buying guide to help you find your perfect pair.
Our Top Recommendations
- Best Prescription Glasses Online Overall:
- Best Affordable Prescription Glasses:
- Best Designer Prescription Glasses:
- Most Stylish Prescription Glasses:
- Best Prescription Sunglasses:
- Best Prescription Glasses For Kids:
GlassesUSA is one of the largest and best online prescription glasses retailers, offering hundreds of designer frames from , and , along with less expensive house brands in every frame style and color you can imagine. It won among three panel testers who were impressed by the easy ordering process. (I also chose it as the top retailer in my buying guide for reading glasses.) For quality assurance, most glasses are assembled in the USA in the company’s optical lab, and prices run the gamut from $19 to $847, depending on which brand you choose.
Virtual “In-Store” Experience
With its virtual try-on feature, you can upload a photo directly to the website and see what each frame looks like on your face before you commit; and if you don’t know where to start, its new helps you choose the best style for your face shape.
If you don’t have your prescription handy, the GlassesUSA app can scan your prescription through your current lenses. (The company also has an online prescription renewal option, but this is only for contact lenses.)
Easy Checkout, Quick Delivery And Ways To Save
All lenses are made to order in-house and then put through a series of inspections to check for quality, clarity and proper alignment. You also have the option for upgrades like progressive lenses, anti-reflective coatings and transition lenses for up to $99 more.
One tester describes the selection and checkout flow as “sleek and intuitive,” and was pleased with the speedy delivery time. Another notes that her glasses arrived nine days after her order, which is pretty impressive given that the window included Thanksgiving weekend. If you’re unhappy with your new glasses for any reason, GlassesUSA has a 45-day return policy with free refunds and exchanges, plus a 365-day warranty to protect against manufacturer defects. Just note that you’re limited to two returns per item.
GlassesUSA regularly offers deals, promotions and coupon codes to help you save. Our deals team tracks and verifies GlassesUSA deals, or you can browse the site’s before making your purchase.
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Zenni is all about making prescription glasses affordable, with house-designed frames starting at just $7 and capping at $60—and that price includes standard prescription lenses. (Read our fashion writer’s full review on Zenni Optical).“With my complex prescription, the cost adds up fast so a lower-priced frame is a nice bonus,” says one tester. While the retailer now sells as well, you’ll get the most bang for your buck by sticking with Zenni’s line; plus, the name-brand selection is limited.
Advanced Try-On Features And Style Suggestions
Another panel tester is a fan of the , saying, “It’s very advanced to give you a well-rounded view of what your glasses will look like. It was a seamless experience from beginning to end.” Additionally, she appreciates a feature that allows you to upload or take a photo with frames you love to find similar ones. “For creatures of habit like myself, I love the idea of being able to search for frames similar to styles that I typically wear,” she says.
Easy To Filter Frames By Pupillary Distance
In addition, you can filter frames by pupillary distance, making it easier to find the right fit. Another tester loves this feature, saying, “My eyes are set close and it can be hard to find glasses that won't be too wide at the bridge for me.” Zenni also offers and with prescription single vision and progressive lenses. You can add upgrades, like polarization, that start at $33.
Frames Direct claims to have the largest selection of designer eyewear online: There are almost 5,000 frames from high-end brands like and , as well as and (in a wide variety of colors, too). Our tester mentions that her Armani Exchange glasses arrived with a “certificate of authenticity” that guarantees the glasses are genuine.
Great Value For High-Quality Frames And Lenses
Most brands sell for 20% to 80% off the retail price, and you can often score prescription lenses at a discount. “The value of these name-brand eyeglasses, with all the additional add-ons to my lenses, is very impressive,” our tester says. Another tester, who wears progressives, adds, “The lenses themselves match my prescription and have one of the best fields of vision of any of the glasses that I tried.” The Frames Direct site also has a to let you see what each pair would look like on your face before committing to a purchase.
Optician-Reviewed Orders For Peace Of Mind
As far as lenses go, choose single vision, no-line progressives or non-prescription readers. You can also select different lens materials, from thin polycarbonate to lower-cost plastic, as well as optional upgrades like digital light protection or scratch-resistant coating. And before your order goes through, an optician will review everything to make sure you picked the best selections for your prescription.
Warby Parker offers designer-style glasses at affordable prices. One tester has been ordering her prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses from the site for over a decade. All frames start at just $95, an impressive price that includes basic prescription lenses. Plus, it has a , making it ideal for those who switch between the two modes.
Impressive Try-At-Home Program
You can try on virtually, but one of the brand’s biggest claims to fame is its . Pick up to five frames to receive, for free, to physically try on before you buy. “The size accuracy, feel and fit are always excellent in my experience,” says our panel tester. “The frames I wear regularly are blue light-blocking, which seem to do their job (as far as I can tell) to help prevent eye fatigue.”
Wide Selection Of Upgrades And Free Returns
Once you have your frames picked out, you can add basic prescription lenses, which another tester describes as “perfectly accurate” and “not too thick” despite his strong prescription. You can also choose from various upgrade options, like progressive lenses, blue light filtering or light-responsive lenses, which add up to $230 to the total price. If you don’t like your new glasses, you can return them for a full refund or exchange within 30 days of receipt. And if your lenses get scratched in the first 365 days, you can get new lenses made for free.
You can customize Eyebuydirect’s wide selection of frames with tinted prescription lenses, so you have thousands of sunglasses styles to choose from. If you’re not sure where to start, the company also has its own line of , and everything from concept to design to manufacturing is done in house to keep prices down. It’s also one of our editors’ top sources for ; it has four types to choose from.
Advanced Filters To Find Exactly What You’re Looking For
Since one tester only wears large, rectangular frames, he mentions that the ability to filter on these preferences was very helpful during testing. Shades with prescription lenses start at $19 and cap at under $100, which is reasonable for the high quality you’re getting. When you find a frame you like, you can click “try on” to upload a photo and see what it looks like on your face. The photo stays uploaded as you navigate the site, so you can quickly see what other options look like.
Defects Are Covered For One Year After Purchase
Our testers note that their eyeglasses arrived promptly and safely in a compact cardboard box. If your glasses don’t work out, Eyebuydirect offers a 14-day “no questions asked” return policy for a one-time replacement or refund, but its 365-Day Product Guarantee covers defects for a full year.
Kids and tweens are picky—really picky. Zenni offers a wide selection of children’s frames at affordable prices, which is why it also topped our parenting editors’ list of the best kids’ glasses online.
Low-Cost Options That Won’t Hurt To Replace
Frames start as low as $6.95 for basic prescription lenses, with a majority of frames costing between $16 to $30. This is great news for parents: If your child happens to misplace or damage their frames, a replacement isn’t super costly. Like its adult offerings, you can customize Zenni’s glasses for kids with add-ons like specialty coatings, extra accessories or engraving.
Kid-Friendly Features And Tween-Focused Styles
There are flexible frames for toddlers, options with kid-friendly straps and cool-looking styles to win tweens over. Using the website’s virtual try-on feature, your kiddo can see what the glasses will look like on their face, so you can make sure they’re happy before purchasing.
How We Tested The Best Prescription Glasses Online
Our testing process began with extensive research, followed by real-world evaluation by a four-person panel.
Research
We researched over a dozen popular eyewear companies and what they offer. The key factors we researched were:
- Selection: We investigated whether or not each site offers a wide range of glasses styles to suit every face shape and preference.
- Value: Based on our personal experience shopping for prescription glasses in the past, we gauged whether or not each site offers good value for your money.
- Insurance eligibility: We determined which retailers accept insurance plans and which ones accept HSA/FSA funds.
- Return policy: Some sites offer more generous return policies than others; we kept these details in mind when making our final selections.
- Turnaround time: We took note of each site’s estimated order turnaround time; we kept this information on hand during testing to see if the orders we received fell within this given time frame.
Panel Tester Recruitment
We recruited four glasses-wearing members of the Forbes Vetted team to thoroughly browse, order from and test prescription glasses from each site. The panel represents various vision needs:
- Dana Holmes: Wears progressive lenses.
- Emmy Favilla: A nearsighted, daily glasses-wearer.
- Shan Newton: Requires a strong prescription.
- Becky Eaton: Spends most of her workday at a computer screen.
Testing Procedure
Our four panel testers went through the online process, paying attention to the user-friendliness of the glasses buying process. They highlighted special features like virtual or at-home try-ons and prescription renewals. Once products were received, our testers wore each pair for hours to see how they felt and performed.
How Do I Buy Prescription Glasses Online?
While Ferri recommends buying prescription eyeglasses through an optometrist rather than purchasing them online, she has a few tips for those who are set on shopping from home.
Make Sure Your Prescription Is Current
If your prescription has expired, you’ll need to renew it before moving forward. “Upload a copy of your prescription directly from your eye doctor when possible,” says Ferri. If you can’t make an in-office appointment, sites like allow online prescription renewals using a virtual vision test for an added fee.
Know Your Pupillary Distance
Your pupillary distance, which is the measurement of distance between your pupils, “helps providers correctly align the light-bending properties of prescription lenses with the pupils of your eyes,” according to the Cleveland Clinic. Your eye doctor can most accurately measure your pupillary distance, but you can also use online tools at home, like Zenni’s or .
Choose The Right Lens Type And Material
The two main types of lenses for prescription glasses are single-vision and multifocal. According to the :
- Single-vision lenses consist of a single prescription to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.
- Multifocal lenses contain two or more prescriptions to make multiple vision corrections. Specifically, bifocal lenses are split into two sections (the upper part for distance vision and the lower part for near vision), while progressive lenses include three variations for near, intermediate and distance vision.
Lens material is also an important factor to consider. Here are two popular types:
- High-index lenses are lightweight and designed to bend light efficiently. “The stronger your prescription, the more critical it becomes to select high-index lenses to avoid heavy, thick lenses that can cause discomfort,” says Ferri.
- Polycarbonate lenses are made of a lightweight, impact-resistant plastic, so they’re “ideal for both children and active adults,” says Ferri.
Consider A Lens Coating
For an additional fee, you can improve the performance of your glasses with a lens coating. Here are four common ones to consider:
- Anti-reflective coatings reduce glare. Consider this if you drive frequently (especially at night), have a strong prescription or thicker lenses, or spend a lot of time in fluorescent lighting or on screens.
- Anti-scratch coatings make lenses more durable, so they’re ideal for children and adults who are rough on their glasses. Wearing scratch-free lenses is important for eye health, as detailed in our guide on how to safely get scratches out of your glasses.
- Anti-fog coatings are especially beneficial for those who frequently wear face masks.
- Blue light-filtering coatings can help reduce eye strain, especially for anyone who logs long hours on the computer. (See our guide to the best blue light blocking glasses for more picks.)
Check The Return Policy And Warranty
Finally, Ferri recommends ensuring that the company offers a generous return policy and warranty “in case the fit or lens quality isn’t what you expected.”
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted fashion library includes several eyewear stories. We tapped into our subject knowledge and personal experience to highlight retailers that offer the best prescription glasses online.
- Lindsay Boyers, the coauthor of this piece, is the director of commerce strategy at Forbes Vetted. She’s worn glasses since she was 3 years old and has an advanced prescription that requires her lenses to be precise.
- Claire Epting, the coauthor of this piece, is the fashion updates writer at Forbes Vetted. She has conducted hours of research on purchasing prescription eyewear online, and also gathered research from the and websites.
- This story has been reviewed by deputy editor Jane Sung, who has covered eyewear and accessories for decades.
Our Experts
- , O.D., owner of Homer Rich Eye Care in Yorktown Heights, New York