How to Save Money Buying Prescription Glasses Online!

Do you need new prescription glasses? Have you considered buying them online? Then you will want to learn How to Save Money Buying Eye Glasses Online! I will share how to save money and how to go through the process. Plus, I will share the best places to get your new glasses! This is the best way to save on your next pair!

How to Save Money Buying Prescription Glasses Online

Did you know that you can save money by Buying Your Prescription Glasses Online? The first time I found this out I was looking at around $250 to purchase Eye Glasses at my Eye Doctors office! I typically wear contacts so I don’t actually use my glasses very often and I use my insurance allotment on contacts since that’s my priority. At the time, my prescription was old and so I was considering new glasses, but I just didn’t want to spend $250 out of pocket to spend on glasses so I decided to wait.

You Can Get Cheap Glasses Online

About 2 weeks later I saw an advertisement for Buying Prescription Glasses Online so I decided to do a little research. This was several years ago and it wasn’t near as common back then to order things like Eye Glasses online but the price got me. I think I paid around $40 – $50  for a pair of Glasses including shipping and handling which was the most expensive part.

To my surprise, they showed up 2 days later and they fit perfectly (I followed all the directions online to get my measurements)! I really was impressed with the price, speed and quality of the glasses. I’ve actually ordered glasses online 3 times now! Every time I’ve had an awesome experience and I love that I can get a great deal on something that I need! I even have an extra pair to keep in my car which I never had before because I can afford 2 pairs and still pay less than what I would have paid for one pair at the Eye Doctor.

How to Order Glasses Online

I get a lot of questions on How to Order Glasses Online so I thought I would give you a few tips and tricks to help you get started!

1. See your Eye Doctor for a Prescription

You don’t want to mess around when it comes to your eyes so getting a Professional Eye Exam is still important. In my case, I get my eyes checked every year and since I typically wear contacts I just ask my Eye Doctor for a Prescription for Glasses, it’s actually a violation of Federal Law for them to not give you one if you ask for it so don’t feel pressured to buy directly from your Eye Doctor. You can just call and request your current prescription if you have had an eye exam in the last year.

2. Use your FSA or HSA Funds and Check with your Insurance

Eye Insurance isn’t really as common as health insurance but if you do have Eye Insurance make sure you check to see what’s covered under your plans and compare the prices. If you don’t have Eye Insurance look for sites that take FSA or HSA dollars! This is a great way to buy your glasses online using tax-free savings.

Warby Parker accepts FSA Dollars so if you have a Savings Plan make sure you look into all your options.

3. Use a Reputable Online Retailer

I have several that I have personally ordered from. GlassesUSA.com and Warby Parker are my favorites. Zenni Optical is also another great choice.

Right now, new customers can get 65% off Their First Pair of Frames + FREE Shipping from GlassesUSA.com – That’s an awesome deal!!! You may need to upgrade the lenses depending on your prescription but it’s a great way to save BIG on glasses and give Online Ordering a try.

4. Measure your Current Glasses for Width

This is important to me, I have a small face so finding narrow frames helps my glasses fit well. If they are too wide they don’t stay on your face. For me the easiest way to measure this is to measure an existing pair of glasses I know fit. While it might not seem like much difference between 55mm and 65mm the difference can be huge when you want a snug fit. Also, most online sites allow you to search for the Width of the Frames so it’s easier to find a pair that fits if you know your desired width.

GlassesUSA.com has an easy to use program that takes your measurements and helps you find the perfect pair! You can try it out here.

5. Measure the Pupillary Distance

This is the part most people complain about with online frames, You need to know the PD to be able to order your frames accurately. You don’t typically get this number on prescriptions so you will want to measure online. Most online companies have great resources where you can hold up a ruler and take a photo to measure your PD. 

6. Look for a Company with Free Returns

Since this is a custom product it’s important to read the return policy, you don’t want to get stuck with a pair of glasses that don’t fit or work for you. GlassesUSA.com offers free returns, they will even pay the shipping fees if you call them first. Warby Parker lets you try 5 pairs for 5 days to pick the pair you like the best! This is a great option if you’re really picky, or if you are going to wear your glasses every day and you want to get the most exact fit you can.

7. Be Careful of Upgrades

You may need to pay a little extra to upgrade your lenses if you have a strong prescription, but most online retailers often offer a lot of “Extras” so make sure you know exactly what you need and what you don’t. You don’t want to spend money on Non Essential upgrades.

Where to Buy Contact Lenses Online

It’s not just glasses that you can buy online, you can also get your contact lenses! If you or anyone you know wears contacts you need to check out all the online options! Check out places like Scout by Warby Parker that sometimes has 6 Day Trials for only $5 plus Free Shipping! 

Another great company to try is Hubble Contacts! They have a promo where you can get your first box of 15 pairs of contact lenses for just $1! To get started, you’ll fill out a short quiz about your contact lens usage, like where you put your contacts in, if you wear them to bed and how long you’ve been wearing them. Then, you’ll put in your prescription and your doctor’s information so your prescription can be verified. That’s it!

Time to Buy Your Glasses Online

Overall you can get some really great deals by shopping online, and honestly after I took the time to figure out the things mentioned above it really isn’t complicated at all! Plus I have been so pleased with the results that I’ve continued to order online when I needed a backup pair or I got a new prescription.

Have you ever ordered online? I’d love to know what your experience was and if you have any tips to share! Just leave a comment below!