Best Places To Buy Prescription Glasses Online 2023: A Comprehensive Guide

Buying prescription glasses online may seem novel, but in today’s digital-shopping age, getting your eyewear on the internet—including contact lenses, blue light blockers, sunglasses and the like—has become the norm. Thanks to modern technology and some ingenious entrepreneurs, you can easily browse, customize and try on your new eyeglasses without setting foot in the optometrist’s office. You’ll need a current prescription, of course, but retailers like GlassesUSA (one of the best places to buy glasses online, in our opinion) let you renew expired prescriptions with a virtual vision test.

You can save time and money by buying prescription glasses online from brands like GlassesUSA.

Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers

Shopping for glasses from home can save you cash, too. Since having digital storefronts allows retailers to cut out the middlemen (like brick-and-mortar shops and third-party manufacturers) those savings are passed on to you. Furthermore, many online glasses companies also accept HSA and FSA funds, meaning no out-of-pocket costs for you.

As someone who has worn glasses since I was three years old (and contacts since I was eight), I know the struggle of getting a new eyewear all too well. From the lengthy process to the jaw-dropping—and not in a good way—price tag, it’s all too much. So to help our fellow bespectacled buyers, we’ve gathered the best places to buy prescription glasses online from trusted, reputable retailers, some of which Forbes Vetted staffers swear by themselves.

For more help, you’ll find a step-by-step guide at the bottom of this story including technical advice from Dr. Sandra Young, OD, an eye health expert at GlassesUSA, and style tips from Kari Molvar, senior fashion editor at Forbes Vetted. And while we’re on the subject of buying prescription eyewear, don’t forget about the kids’ glasses, as well.

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Best Variety Of Prescription Glasses Online

Offering a mix of name brand, designer and house-designed frames, these retailers have specs for every style and budget.

GlassesUSA: Unbeatable Selection

Editor’s Pick

GlassesUSA

Ray-Ban RX7046 Glasses

Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 14 days, no questions asked | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA/FSA | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: Yes

GlassesUSA is one of the largest online prescription glasses retailers, offering hundreds of designer frames, like Ray-Ban, Gucci and Oakley, along with less expensive house brands in every frame style and color you could imagine. Prices run the gamut from $39 all the way up to $700, depending on which brand you choose. With its virtual try-on feature, you can upload a photo directly to the website and see what each frame would look like on your face before you commit. GlassesUSA also has an app that scans your prescription through your current lenses, and those with expired prescriptions can get a renewal via the company’s virtual vision test.

All lenses are made to order in-house and then put through a series of inspections to check for quality, clarity and proper alignment. The prices you see on the website’s landing pages reflect basic, single-focus lenses, but you also have the option for upgrades like progressive lenses, anti-reflective coatings and transition lenses for up to $169 more.

If you’re unhappy with your new glasses for any reason, GlassesUSA has a 14-day, no questions asked return policy—but you can only take advantage of this for your first pair. There are no returns on orders placed with store credit.

What the editors say: Alexis Caldwell, our executive director of commerce business development and partnerships, is a fan of this retailer. “It’s very easy to upload your prescription information and save it for future purchases,” she says. “The prices are all so reasonable, I don’t feel guilty when I accidentally leave them on the plane. In particular there’s an in-house line, Muse, that has really cute styles.”

Best for

Men, women, kids
Offering variety across styles, price points and brands, including designer
Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses, sunglasses, safety glasses and sports glasses; contact lenses

Keep in mind

The variety may be overwhelming for some
Only your first pair is eligible for the return policy

Frames Direct: A Vast Selection Of Designer And Name Brand Frames

Burberry BE2325 Eyeglasses

Turnaround time: 11 to 14 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: No | Virtual Rx renewal: No

Frames Direct claims to have the largest selection of designer eyewear online. While we can’t confirm whether that’s true or not, we can say there are almost 5,000 frames from high-end brands like Gucci, Prada, Versace and Kate Spade, as well as big names in the glasses industry, like Oakley and Ray-Ban—in a wide variety of colors, too. And you won’t have to pay full price for them. Most brands sell for 20% to 80% off the retail price, and you can often score prescription lenses at a discount, too (check for promo codes before you submit your order).

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.

Best for

Men, women, kids
High-end designer styles
Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses and blue light glasses (lenses with “digital light protection”); contact lenses

Keep in mind

Lenses are an extra charge, including non-prescription
For refunded returns, you’ll have to pay shipping

Best Affordable Prescription Glasses Online

Looking for a bargain? In-house brands are especially affordable for budget shoppers or those prone to losing (or breaking) their specs.

Eyebuydirect: Affordable Name Brands And House Designs

Eyebuydirect

Intense Eyeglasses

Turnaround time: 7 to 14 business days | Return policy: 14 days for a one-time replacement or refund | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: No

Eyebuydirect was founded with one priority in mind: to make clear vision affordable and accessible to everyone. To keep prices down on Eyebuydirect’s own styles, everything from concept to design to manufacturing is done in-house. You can also choose from name brand frames from Oakley, Ray-Ban and RFLKT. Frames start at $6 and go up to $300-plus, but that price doesn’t include prescription lenses.

Once you’ve chosen your frame, you add standard lenses for $7 or opt for upgrades like advanced lenses and premium lenses, which go for $49 and $80, respectively. These upgraded lenses include things like anti-scratch, anti-reflective and water-repellant coatings.

To help you narrow things down, you can take Eyebuydirect’s style quiz, which asks about your style, frame material and color preferences, as well as your face shape and head size. 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.

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.

Special savings: Take 30% off orders of $65 or more with code FORBES30.

Best for

Men, women, kids
Offering lots of brands across all price points
Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses and sunglasses

Keep in mind

As per the return policy, you can only receive a refund or replacement one time; any replacement pairs cannot be refunded or returned

Zenni Optical: Get A Prescription Pair For Under $50

Editor’s Pick

Zenni Optical

Square Glasses 4442315

Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a one-time store credit or 50% refund | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: No

Zenni Optical is all about making prescription glasses affordable, with frames starting at just $7 and capping at $50—and that price includes standard prescription lenses. While you won’t find any designer names among the selections, there are hundreds of designer-inspired frames in different shapes, sizes and colors. Zenni also offers low-bridge options and ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses with prescription single vision and progressive lenses.

Instead of using a still photo, the virtual try-on feature allows you to upload a video, so you can get an accurate 180-degree assessment of how each frame—you can virtually try on up to 50—would look on your face. As you checkout, you can add upgrades, like polarization, transition lenses or anti-reflective and anti-fog coatings. These upgrades start at $5 and go up to $69, depending on which ones you choose.

One negative worth noting: Zenni’s return policy is a bit limited, allowing you to receive 100% store credit or a 50% refund one time; successive purchases made with store credit and returned are only eligible for a 50% refund. However, if your glasses were made incorrectly, the company will remake them at no cost to you.

What the editors say: “Zenni was awesome for last-minute backup pairs to wear on a beach vacation,” says our branded content editor, Dana Holmes. “I ordered at 11 p.m. on a Sunday night and received them at 10 a.m. Thursday morning.”

Best for

Men, women, kids
Budget shoppers
Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses, sunglasses and kids’ sports glasses

Keep in mind

Zenni only offers its house brand frames
Limited return policy

Best Specialty Prescription Glasses Online

From cool, unique style to special-fit designs, these brands offer frames you won’t find anywhere else.

Pair Eyewear: Clip-On Toppers Change The Look Of Your Frames

Pair Eyewear

The Wanda Eyeglasses

Turnaround time: 10 to 14 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: No | Virtual Rx renewal: No, but expired prescriptions accepted

Pair was created with kids in mind. The founders—Nathan and Sophia—teamed up with the former head of product from Warby Parker to come up with an affordable and fun line of eyewear that kids will actually want to wear. From there, things took off and an equally eye-catching adult line of frames was born.

There are only a handful of frame styles, but there are hundreds of colors and patterns of “tops,” pieces that go on top of the frame base to change the color, from solid pink to rainbow tie-dye to NBA logos. Pair also creates limited edition tops and collabs with big names like Marvel and Harry Potter to design themed styles that allow you—and your kids—to showcase your personality.

Each frame starts at $60, including the standard prescription lenses, and the tops go for $25 to $30 each—creating an affordable and easy way to regularly change your look. During checkout, you can choose optional add-ons, like light-responsive lenses or blue light filtering, that add $49 to $199 to the final cost. For peace of mind, Pair offers a 30-day, no questions asked return policy on frames and tops.

Best for

Men, women, kids
Anyone who likes to switch up their style
Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses and blue light glasses

Keep in mind

Pair Eyewear only offers its house brand frames

DIFF Eyewear: Designer-Inspired Frames That Give Back

Gives Back

DIFF Eyewear

Reese Eyeglasses

Turnaround time: 4 to 9 business days | Return policy: 14 days | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: No | Virtual Rx renewal: No

While DIFF doesn’t carry any name brand specs, the frames are designer-inspired—you’ll also find fun collabs à la Marilyn Monroe, Harry Potter, Star Wars and more. The price you see includes premium prescription lenses, adding to their affordability. You can also add upgrades like thinner lenses or blue light blocking technology for an additional fee of $35, or swap out your lenses for photochromic glasses that darken when exposed to sunlight.

To make you feel even better about your purchase, DIFF Eyewear prioritizes giving back and is partnered with Sightsavers, an international organization that helps provide vision to billions of people throughout the world. For every pair of glasses sold, DIFF offers eye exams, surgeries, glasses, medicine and more to someone who wouldn’t be able to get the proper eye care otherwise.

You can make a prescription eyewear return within 14 days for prescription eyewear, 30 days for non-prescription eyewear, and you will be charged a $9 restocking fee. Exchanges are free, and you can make up to two swaps of equal or lesser value; after that, you’ll be refunded.

Best for

Men and women
Affordable, designer-inspired frames
Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses and sunglasses

Keep in mind

No kids’ styles
For returns, you’ll be charged a $9 restocking fee
DIFF Eyewear only offers its house brand frames

Jins Eyewear: Low-Bridge And Adjustable Fits For All Noses

Jins Eyewear

Airframe Slim Hingeless 030

Turnaround time: Within a week but up to 3 weeks for special order lenses | Return policy: 30 days | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes |Virtual Rx renewal: No

For glasses-wearers who are always frustrated with frames slipping down their noses, this Tokyo-based offers low-bridge and adjustable fits (as well as standard fits) to suit all nose shapes.

“Traditionally, the eyewear industry has catered to faces with higher and narrower nose bridges,” explains a Jins Eyewear representative. “Our low bridge fit frames are designed for the spectrum of nose bridges that are lower, wider or flatter than this standard. They’re made to fit more securely without slipping down your nose or resting on your cheekbones.”

Frames with non-prescription lenses are $50 while the rest range from $90 to $290 with single-vision (or reader or non-prescriptive) lenses included. Progressives tack on an extra $120 and special tints and transitional lenses are also an extra $120. For those wanting blue light blocking lenses, they cost either $30 or $60, depending on the type: Screen Daily Use lenses block 25% of blue light and Screen Heavy Use block 40%. And a final heads up for ordering: Unlike some other online glasses retailers, the field to add your prescription pops up after you place your order.

Best for:

Men and women
People with low-bridge or hard-to-fit noses
Heavy screen users, thanks to a lens option that blocks 40% of blue light

Keep in mind:

Kids glasses are not available
You have to add your prescription after placing your order

Try-Before-You-Buy Prescription Glasses Online

A great option for hesitant first-timers, these retailers will send you five frames of your choosing to try on at home before making a commitment.

Liingo Eyewear: A 60-Day Return Policy Offers Peace Of Mind

Liingo Eyewear

Adele Glasses

Turnaround time: About 14 days | Return policy: 60 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes, as well as in-home try on for some styles | Virtual Rx renewal: No

Liingo Eyewear, a 1-800 Contacts company, aims to make prescription eyewear more accessible. And with hundreds of original frames, all falling between $79 and $129, that mission is accomplished. You can find everything from classic low-profile styles to bold, standout picks that make a fashion statement while improving your vision. In addition to a virtual try-on feature, you can also choose up to five different frames to try at home, absolutely free.

All frames, including the best-selling Adele frame pictured here, come with free standard prescription lenses; alternatively, you can add optional upgrades like progressives, high-index and DuraSeal HD (to prevent scratching and smudging and help reduce glare) that tack on anywhere from $39 to $149, depending on which ones you choose. If you’re not sure what kind of lenses work best for your prescription, you can connect with trained opticians who will evaluate your needs and make specific recommendations just for you.

Liingo offers a 60-day money back guarantee, so if you don’t love your new specs, you can return them for free—no questions asked. The retailer also backs up any adjustments you need: If you need the ear pieces tweaked, you can take them into any optical shop and Liingo will reimburse you up to $25 for the service.

Special savings: Save an extra 15% plus free shipping with code FORBES15.

Best for

Men and women
Wary purchasers, thanks to a generous return policy and adjustment reimbursement
Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses and sunglasses

Keep in mind

There are no kids-specific frames but you can shop by size from extra small to large
Liingo only offers its house brand frames

Warby Parker: An Online Retailer That Offers At-Home Try-Ons

Editor’s Pick

Warby Parker

Yoojin Eyeglasses

Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA/FSA | Virtual try-on: Yes, as well as in-home try-on | Virtual Rx renewal: Yes

Warby Parker was born from a mission to offer designer-style frames at affordable prices. All frames start at just $95, an impressive price that includes basic prescription lenses. You can download Warby Parker’s app to access a virtual try-on feature, but one of its biggest claims to fame is its at home try-on program. You can pick up to five frames that Warby Parker will send to you, for free, to physically try on before you buy. You can sort through the entire collection of frames, or you can take a short online quiz to help you zero in on favorite styles.

Once you have your frames picked out, you can add basic prescription lenses or choose from various upgrade options, like progressive lenses, blue-light filtering or light-responsive lenses that add up to $200 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. Warby Parker also offers a six-month, no-scratch guarantee. If your lenses get scratched in the first 365 days, you can get new lenses made for free.

What the editors say: Shares Dana Holmes, our branded content editor, “Warby Parker consistently has a not-overwhelming selection of stylish (but not too trendy) frames that work with a lot of different facial structures. But the real reason I love Warby Parker is that they allow at-home try-ons. Nothing compares to trying glasses on my actual face without needing to make an appointment.”

Best for

Men and women
Peace of mind, thanks to a six-month scratch-free guarantee
Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses and sunglasses; contact lenses

Keep in mind

Kids glasses are not available
Warby Parker only offers its house brand frames and contact lenses

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

As glasses-wearers ourselves, the Forbes Vetted team members who assembled, edited and continue to update this list know what it takes to find the right pair of glasses. Having written several stories on eyewear (including contact lenses, blue light blocking glasses and kids’ glasses), we also tapped into our subject knowledge to highlight retailers that offer the best products and the best online shopping experience.

We also enlisted the help of two experts whose tips you’ll find below. Dr. Sandra Young, OD, advises on the technical aspects of ordering the right prescription by detailing with how to measure pupillary distance, explaining lens and coating options and more. Kari Molvar, senior fashion editor at Forbes Vetted, shares her tips on finding the best frames for each face shape (below).

How We Chose The Best Prescription Glasses Online

We spent hours researching popular eyewear companies and what they offer in terms of selection, value, insurance eligibility, return policy and turnaround time. We also thoroughly browsed each site to test out the user-friendliness of the glasses-buying process and discover special features like virtual or at-home try-ons and prescription renewals. Finally, we included firsthand recommendations from Forbes Vetted staffers like GlassesUSA, Zenni Optical and Warby Parker.

To help you pinpoint the best eyewear retailer for your needs, we indicated the estimated turnaround times, return policies, availability of a virtual try-on features and vision renewal tests, and whether insurance and HSA/FSA funds are accepted. We also noted key points about the eyewear options offered as well as reasons one might prefer shopping somewhere else.

This story is regularly updated and was last edited in January 2023.

How To Purchase Prescription Glasses Online

If you’re new to buying prescription glasses online, it may seem a bit complicated, but that doesn’t have to be the case. As long as you have the correct information handy—and you purchase from a trustworthy retailer that offers a fair return policy—you can shop with confidence at your convenience, and save money, too.

1. Get A Current Prescription

For new prescriptions: No matter which online prescription glasses store you choose, you’ll need a current prescription. In most cases, this means you’ll have to make an appointment with your regular eye doctor first. Some stores, like Warby Parker, allow you to schedule an eye exam right through the website, but the actual exams are still done in person. It’s important for your eye doctor to get a close look at your eyes to make sure everything is healthy and functioning as it should.

For renewing prescriptions: That said, there is an exception when it comes to renewing prescriptions. Some sites, including Warby Parker, let you renew your prescription via a virtual vision test, but only if your health qualifies and your current prescription is still working for you. It’ll likely cost you, but not much (Warby Parker’s exam is $15, and only if your prescription is renewed).

2. Measure Your Pupillary Distance

In addition to a current prescription, you’ll also need your pupillary distance (or PD), which is the distance, measured in millimeters, between the centers of your pupils. This number is essential because it represents the spot on the lens that you’ll actually be looking through. If it’s off, you may be left with blurry or distorted lenses.

For the most accurate results, your best bet is to have your eye doctor measure pupillary distance during your eye exam and give you that number with your prescription. There’s also the option of using apps, like EyeMeasure, or online tools, like Warby Parker’s PD measuring tool.

3. Choose Your Lens Type

Dr. Young explains the three major type of lenses:

Single vision: “A single-vision lens has one optical prescription correction for the entire lens. These lenses include prescriptions for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.”
Multifocal: “Multifocal lenses are lenses that have two or more optical power zones combined into one lens. A bifocal lens is designed for two different distances to be clear; a trifocal has three distances. Typically the two zones of clear vision in a bifocal lens are close up and across the room. Trifocals have the addition of an intermediate zone of clear vision between distance and near vision.”
Progressives: ”These gradually change zones from distance to near, providing clear vision near, far and all points in between.”

4. Choose Your Lens Coating

Most retailers also give you the option to add different coatings. Dr. Young details some popular types:

Anti-reflective: “Anti-reflecting (AR) coatings are recommended for lenses that reflect more light, such as high index and polycarbonate lenses. AR coatings decrease halos around lights, which is especially helpful for night driving.” These may also be helpful for anyone who frequently uses a computer screen.
Anti-scratch: “Currently, many plastic lenses have built in anti-scratch resistance. But if it doesn’t have scratch protection, plastic is soft and needs an anti-scratch coating.” If you have kids or tend to be rough on your glasses, consider getting durable lenses or ones with an anti-scratch coating.
Anti-fog: “These coatings help to minimize moisture condensation that occurs [when] going from an indoor environment to outdoors, especially during winter months.”
Blue light blocking: Perhaps one of the most popular add-ons, these coatings help block the blue light emitted from screens to help reduce eye strain. This is a great option for anyone who wears prescription glasses regularly and works at a computer.
Transitional: Another common add-on, this coating allows your lenses to automatically transition to sunglasses in the sunlight, then return to clear once you’re out of the rays.

A Few More Tips For Buying Prescription Glasses Online

Look for HSA or FSA eligibility: The best online prescription glasses stores also accept vision insurance or funds from flexible spending or health savings accounts. If you have these benefits, pick an eyewear retailer where you can apply these plans to keep more money in your pocket.
Try them on ASAP: Most online glasses stores offer an accuracy guarantee—if the glasses aren’t right, they’ll replace them or send you a new pair—but you’ll have to let them know quickly, usually within two weeks to 30 days of receiving them.
Expect an adjustment period: Keep in mind that it can take some time for your eyes to adjust to new glasses, especially if the prescription has changed significantly. Give yourself up to a week to get used to your new pair, and if you’re still having problems, reach out for troubleshooting tips and possibly a replacement.

How To Find The Best Frames For Your Face Shape

“The rule of thumb is essentially to create contrast between your face shape and frames,” explains Kari Molvar, Forbes Vetted’s senior fashion editor. “Note that you can also be a blend of two types of face shapes.”

Round: Round faces are characterized by symmetry all around, with equal fullness above and below the cheekbones. The best frames for round faces include square and rectangular shapes.
Square: Square faces are defined by a straight jawline and forehead line, with narrowness at the sides of the face. Look for round or cat-eye frames that are extend slightly beyond your cheekbones or temples in width.
Oval: Oval faces are longer than they are wide, with a jaw that’s narrower than the width of your cheekbones. Since this face shape is proportional, it looks good with most frames, from round to square and everything in between.
Diamond: Diamond faces are described as having a narrow chin and forehead with wide cheekbones. Frames that work best for this face shape have narrower sides and fullness at the bottom—such as aviators and cat-eye styles.
Heart: Heart faces are characterized by a wider forehead and narrower chin. Consider round frames and low-bridge options that tend to sit a bit lower on the face, which brings fullness to the lower half of your features.