The Best Eyeglass Stores

Wednesday, February 8th

2023 Eyeglass Store Reviews

39 Dollar Glasses

• Priced from $39 to $318.95
• 30-day full refund
• 90-day store credit refund
• Re-lens your existing frames
• Glasses, sunglasses, lenses, and contacts
• Full range of Rx lens options
• "A+" rating and accreditation by the BBB

A company that promises to sell you "affordable eyewear you can trust," 39 Dollar Glasses is a completely online retailer that's been in business for 22 years. The site offers a large variety of eyewear including glasses, sunglasses, just lenses, and contact lenses.

Really affordable pricing

Their prices range from $39 to $69 for regular eyeglasses and from $48.95 to $78.95 for sunglasses if you're just buying frames. If you'd like to see the prices with the lenses, you can search through their lens feature which will limit the search to frames that offer the lens types you're interested in. With prescription lenses, prices can reach up to $93.95 per pair for a standard lens for clear glasses and $138.90 for prescription polarized sunglasses. Also, some of the specialized clear lenses can reach up to $318.95 for super thin lenses with progressive and transition additions. While the price range seems wide for a company promising $39 glasses, they still come in under the average price of $100 to $150 for frames that you will get at a traditional eyewear store.

Full range of Rx merchandise

Across the site, 39 Dollar Glasses offers a full spectrum of eyewear options. They offer eyeglasses and sunglasses for men, women, and children, as well as a full range of lens types including:

• Transitions
• Anti-reflective
• Progressive
• Blue light blocking
• Polarized sunglasses
• Thin Polycarbonate
• Super thin

The thin and super-thin lenses both come in a variety of options. So, you can mix and match some of your needs with the lenses available. However, the more you add to those specialized lenses, the more expensive the final purchase will be. Contacts are available at a sister site accessible from 39 Dollar Glasses and with the same login as you use with the 39 Dollar Glasses site.

30-day returns for a refund, 90 days for credit/exchange

If you're not happy with your purchase, 39 Dollar Glasses promises a 30-day return policy for a full refund on your glasses. Other than the price of shipping, you get everything back that you paid on the glasses. The store also offers a second option if you're willing to return for store credit or exchange your glasses for a different pair. This policy is a 90-day return where you can get 100% back in store credit and free shipping.

Re-lens your existing rame

One of the standout features of 39 Dollar Glasses is the option to "re-lens" your existing frames. A lot of customers aren't interested in all-new glasses, especially if they like what they're already wearing. 39 Dollar Glasses offers options if you want to keep your existing frames. The process is super easy. You just need to describe your frames in the order, choose the lenses you'd like to add to your frames, and then place your order and mail in your frames. There is a $50 mounting fee if you have "floating" lenses (lenses that don't have a frame all the way around). Other than that you're only paying for the lenses, which can range from $39 to $318.95 depending on the type that you want. However, most standard clear eyeglass lenses are within the $39 to $138.95 range.

Repeat customers and numerous 5-star ratings

Across customer reviews, 39 Dollar Glasses has a 4.8-star average rating, and an "A+" with accreditation by the Better Business Bureau. Happy reviewers noted that they loved the speed and safety of the orders. They loved that the price was lower than a traditional eye doctor and that the quality of the items fit what they were looking for. One user mentioned exclusively buying their glasses from 39 Dollar Glasses for 12+ years. And, if you're worried about customer service, 30 Dollar Glasses is getting 5 stars in that department too. Customers who used the re-lens feature were thrilled with their results. Despite having to ship in their glasses, reviewers noted that the turnaround time was great.

Some critical reviews

Despite the overwhelming positive reviews, there were some critical ones as well. Some customers said that their glasses broke very quickly (which we view as more of a complaint with the eyeglass manufacturer rather than this company). A few felt that customer service was lacking for them when something went wrong.

Amazing value for money

If you're just looking for frames, the prices at 39 Dollar Glasses are close to unbeatable. Even when you start to add in lenses, the prices are lower than the industry standard, unless you start to get the specialized lenses that are already priced higher by the distributors. With the "re-lens-your-own-frame" options, you can take the purchase of frames completely out of the picture as long as you have your prescription.

Highest rating

With their wide range of options and prices, 39 Dollar Glasses has something on its site for everyone. Because of all these great features it earns the #1 spot in our rankings.

Eye Buy Direct

• Priced from $6 to $335
• 14-day free returns
• 24/7 customer service
• Accredited by the BBB
• Coupon codes on the front page
• User-friendly website

EyeBuyDirect has been in business for 17 years and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. The company offers regular clear glasses, sunglasses, and prescription sunglasses for competitive and premium prices.

Wide range of styles and prices

The company offers a range of styles from basic to designer and provides eyewear options for everyone's needs. The prices of their clear glasses selection ranges from $6 to $335, the prices of their regular sunglasses range from $16 to $359, and the prices for their prescription sunglasses range from $19 to $70. These prices do not include the cost of the lenses. Depending on your prescription and lens type you may be looking at between $7 and $150 for extras.

Options

EyeBuyDirect offers standard options for their glasses frames, including sizes and styles for men, women, and children as well as sports glasses. On top of the frame types, they offer a variety of lens types to suit your individual needs. These include:

• Blue light lenses
• Progressive
• Prism
• Bifocal
• Reading
• Nearsighted
• Farsighted
• Gaming
• Transitions

These lenses can be upgraded with different coatings which can improve your overall vision. These include:

• Polarized coating
• Anti-reflection coating
• Mirrored coating

Fantastic perks

EyeBuyDirect stands out from the competition in three exciting areas. First, they offer a 14-day free return where you can get a one-time replacement of your glasses or a full refund with no questions asked. Second, they offer 24/7 customer service. Whether you want an online chat or a phone call, someone will be available at all times to help you out with your order or your glasses. Third, they will work with your vision insurance to make sure that the cost of your eyewear is covered. And, on top of clearance discounts, they also offer a range of coupons on their landing page.

Reviews are very positive overall

Averaging a 4.4-star rating, EyeBuyDirect is popular with customers and is accredited with an "A+" rating by the Better Business Bureau. Positive reviews noted that the website is easy to navigate and that the high quality of the glasses keeps customers coming back. Many reviewers also agreed that the customer service at EyeBuyDirect is top-notch.

Just a few complaints

Some of the lower-rated reviews noted that customers were frustrated that the coupons don't apply to some of the premium frames, that they couldn't make purchases over the phone, and one reviewer noted that EyeBuyDirect attempted to charge them to return the glasses. However, 72% of all reviews for EyeBuyDirect are 5 stars, and only 12% of all reviews were 3 stars or lower, so most customers really enjoyed their experience with EyeBuyDirect.

Excellent choice for glasses

Like many other companies on this list, EyeBuyDirect offers a wide range of pricing options. However, the higher priced items include premium name-brand eyewear for customers who want to spend a little extra for something special. With over 75% 4- and 5-star reviews, free returns and refunds within 14 days, and 24-hour customer service, EyeBuyDirect easily stands out as one of the best options in this review.

Glasses USA

• Prices range from $58 to $628
• Coupon codes
• Regular offers for free shipping
• Brand-name glasses
• 100% money-back guarantee
• 14-day return policy
• Accredited by the BBB

GlassesUSA is an online eyewear retailer that specializes in "eyewear for everyone and every need" . To that end, they offer a range of glasses, sunglasses, prescription sunglasses, and contacts for sale.

Many glasses on sale

The offerings from GlassesUSA range from basic styles to popular and premium brand names. Their glasses cost from $58 to $628 for clear lens products. However, with sales, the prices go down as low as $43. For sunglasses, the prices range from $78 to $333 for full-price products. However, the majority of the sunglasses are often on sale, and you can get pairs for as low as $67.

Save on your first purchase

While GlassesUSA is more expensive than many of the other options in our review, they do offer a sale for first-time buyers. You can get 65% off your first pair of frames and free shipping if you're a new customer of GlassesUSA. And, if you're worried about your glasses' safety, you can add additional warranties and protection coverage at the time of your purchase (on top of the 365-day warranty already offered as standard).

Extra protection for your lenses

As one of the retailers that offers glasses, sunglasses, and contacts, GlassesUSA has a lot of options in stock. All the prescription glasses offer the following corrective lenses:

• Single vision, for distance
• Near vision, for reading
• Progressive lenses, for distance and reading
• Bifocal, for distance and reading
• Non-prescription, for fashion

Some lenses are included at no extra charge

At GlassesUSA only Progressive and Bifocal are an extra cost (+$104 for progressive and +$99 for bifocal). The other corrective types come included with the frames. There are four options for lens thickness:

• Silver (free with purchase) -1.5 index
• Gold ($49) - 1.5 index with anti-scratch, UV block, and anti-reflection
• Platinum ($89) - 1.61 index, thinner, and has the same benefits as gold
• Diamond ($129) - 1.67 index thinner, enhanced anti-reflection, free prescription card for 15% off your next purchase, and the same benefits as platinum.

All the extras to consider

After lens thickness, you can choose from clear, blue light, transitions, and sunglasses lenses. Clear comes free with your purchase, blue light and sunglasses are each $29 additional, and transitions cost $59 extra. And, if you're worried about your lenses getting wet, you can add a $14 coating for "super hydrophobic" lenses to help you keep your glasses clean. Finally, GlassesUSA provides a stock warranty of 365 days for your glasses, but if you want extra security you can add 1 or 2 years of enhanced coverage from $25 and $50 respectively.

The bottom price line

So, if you buy a pair of frames for $179 and add Distance lenses with the Gold package, the super hydrophobic coating, and 1 year of enhanced protection, the final price will be $296. And if this is your first purchase with GlassesUSA, the price will be $250 with 65% off.

Returns and warranties are limited

GlassesUSA has a 14-day return policy that promises a 100% money-back guarantee. If you return your glasses within 14 days, you get a full refund. However, if you exchange the glasses, you will not be eligible for a refund on the exchange pair. The same applies to glasses purchased with store credit.

365-day warranty included

GlassesUSA also offers a 365-day warranty from the manufacturer which provides protection if your frames or lenses break after the 14-day return period. If the lenses or frames do break, GlassesUSA offers 50% store credit (or 25% on buy-one-get-one-free orders) towards a replacement pair of glasses. You are required to provide a photo of the damage before the warranty will be processed.

Mostly happy customers with GlassesUSA

Across most reviews, GlassesUSA has a 4.5-star rating. They are accredited by the Better Business Bureau with a "B+" rating overall and won their 2021 Customer Choice award. Happy customers noted that they appreciated the pricing and the regular sales at GlassesUSA. Reviewers love the range of options, including premium brand names that are regularly on sale too. 5-star reviewers also described how the GlassesUSA customer service team really helped them out when something went wrong, and issues were quickly resolved.

A few grumbles

Unhappy customers complained about GlassesUSA mixing up orders, taking too long to ship products, and that the 50% back on the warranty felt unfair. So, if you're looking for a full money-back guarantee, this might not be ideal for you.

Great for name-brand eyewear

Across the board, GlassesUSA is well-reviewed by satisfied customers. While their prices aren't super low, with regular sales and deals offered to repeat customers, the company can offer high-end glasses for competitive prices. If you're looking for Gucci or Ray-Bans and don't want to pay top dollar, this is a safe place to browse. One of the things we found most impressive was how many of the lens options came included with the frames. If you don't have a crazy prescription, you won't pay much extra (unless you want to) to add Rx lenses to your purchase. Overall, this is a great option to check out for your next pair of glasses.

Abbe Glasses

• Priced from $6 to $80
• Glasses, sunglasses, and sports goggles offered
• Best value for money
• Regular sales and deals for multiple pairs
• 14-day returns

Only open for 4 years, Abbe Glasses is an online retailer that offers a staggering variety of eyewear ranging from standard glasses and sunglasses to prescription swimming goggles, along with three main types of lenses.

Lens pricing added at checkout

Their prices range from $6.00 to $79.49 for standard eyeglasses, $3.50 to $31.84 for sunglasses, and $15.45 to $49.49 for goggles. However, none of these prices include the lenses. Lens pricing is added during checkout and will change the cost depending on your individual prescription. As a bonus, Abbe Glasses also offers a variety of sales including 50% off your purchase if you buy 2 pairs of glasses through them.

Sports glasses or casual wear

Abbe Glasses offers a wide variety of options on the site including standard glasses, sunglasses, and goggles. The goggles include a few sub-categories like swimming, safety, basketball, and motorcycle goggles. With all of the eyewear on Abbe Glasses, you can add one of three lens types: reading, bi-focal, or progressive lenses which can be manufactured with different coatings to suit your needs, including:

• Anti-scratch
• Anti-reflective
• Color tint
• Light adjusting/transition
• Polarized
• Mirrored tint

So, whether you're looking for something for outdoor sports or an at-home reading session, or just everyday wear, Abbe has something for you.

14-day return policy

If you don't like what you get, they have a 14-day return policy. You can return the eyewear for any reason for either 100% store credit, or for a 50% refund through your original payment method. The refunds don't include shipping.

One-stop shop

On top of eyewear, Abbe Glasses also sells eyeglass accessories which include clip-on sunglasses, cases, eyeglass chains, cleaning tools, and even tools to repair your glasses should the need arise. With these accessories, Abbe provides a one-stop shop for all of your eyewear needs on one site.

Stellar reviews from repeat customers

While the low prices might seem too good to be true, the 4.5-star average given by reviewers says that Abbe's amazing deals are the real thing. The 5-star reviews agreed on aspects like high value for money, matching the customer's prescription perfectly, and excellent sales across the site. Many of the customers buy repeatedly from Abbe.

Some complaints too

We also saw some concerns about shipping speed, and the fact that the glasses are manufactured in China, not within the US. Other critical reviews noted that the customer service is impossible to get a hold of and that the prescription they received was not their correct prescription at all. Some customers noted that Abbe Glasses would not process their return or refund. While there are many more 4- and 5-star reviews than 1-star, it's worth noting that Abbe isn't accredited by the BBB and has a "C-" rating.

Worth trying for the low price

While there are some conflicting reviews about customer service and quality, the majority of customers are very happy with Abbe. And, if you need specialized equipment, like prescription swimming goggles, the Abbe prices are unbeatable. If anything, the low prices make it worth it to plug in your prescription and see how much the final price will be for your particular frames. However, if you have a problem with your order, you might find it difficult to get a hold of their customer service. Still, with prices this low ($^6.00 frames) you can get a pair of glasses in a pinch and give Abbe a try.

Frames Direct

• Priced from $40 to $913
• Customer service team is staffed by opticians
• Works with insurance
• 30-day money-back returns
• "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB

Frames Direct has been in business for 25 years, and is accredited with a 5-star "A+" rating from the BBB. Frames Direct promises that it buys directly from eyeglasses suppliers and never sells off-market or refurbished items.

1 year warranty on lenses

On top of that, they promise to provide a 12-month lens warranty for any manufacturer defects. The frames at Frames Direct run from $40 to $913 and are provided for men, women, and children. These prices are about average compared to the rest of the options in our evaluation. However, the listed price does not include the price of the lens or prescription.

Wide range of products

Frames Direct offers a range of eyeglasses, sunglasses, prescription sunglasses, and contacts for men and women. Like some of its competitors, Frames Direct does offer premium and name-brand frames along with correction for the following types:

• Single vision
• Progressive
• Bifocals
• Readers
• Non-prescription

Add-ons and options

Once you've selected an eyeglass frame and correction type, you can select lenses from the following options:

• Basic Plastic - $23.99 more
• Polycarbonate - $43.99 more
• 1.67 High Index - $83.99 more
• 1.74 High Index - $163.99 more

Then, before purchase you can select any extras you want to improve the lens for your particular needs from the following options:

• Basic - no additional cost
• Standard - anti-reflective coating, scratch resistance, and UV protection for $40 more
• Premium - blue light protection, and same features as standard for $60 more
• Transitions - light intelligent lenses and same features as premium for $87.99 more

Optical specialists ready to help

One of the standout features of Frames Direct is that it is supported by optical specialists. Frames Direct aims to provide the best customer service, so its team is staffed by certified opticians with 20+ years of experience. They will offer help for finding your perfect pair of eyewear or to help resolve any concerns you might have.

Some clarity could help

However, Frames Direct might need to update the graphics on their website. The slightly blurry photos of eyewear might be on purpose since you're buying new glasses, but they don't help customers see what they're buying as well as they could.

Happy customers at Frames Direct

With an average rating of 4.7 stars, 81% of the reviews for Frames Direct are 5 stars. Happy customers noted that Frames Direct worked well with their insurance providers even when Frames Direct was out of network. Other customers noted that the regular sales and deals on the site made it easy to buy the glasses they wanted and keep coming back for more. In general, the 5-star reviews regularly mention positive interactions with customer service, ease of returns and replacements, and high-quality products.

Some items out of stock

Some customers complained about products being out of stock, or items on backorder that took too long to ship. One customer noted that their frames broke and they ordered the same ones again, but in the second pair, the lenses cracked. Across the board, the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, but it might be helpful to check with the Frames Direct customer service to ensure the item you want is in stock before you purchase.

Great security, but a little pricey

While this isn't the cheapest option on the list, Frames Direct offers a lot of great security to help you feel sure about your purchase (or send it back if you're not happy). With 90% of customer reviews offering positive feedback and an "A+" rating with the BBB, Frames Direct should make you feel confident that you're making a purchase backed by other happy customers. A great place to look for premium or regular frames, Frames Direct is an above-average option for shopping for eyewear (we just wish they'd update their product photos).

Eyeglasses

• Priced from $17 to $1,020
• 30-day full return policy
• Free shipping
• Perfect lens guarantee
• Replace current lenses in your existing frames

Eyeglasses is a massive online retailer of high-quality frames. The website promises that the listed prices are 50% lower than the prices of brick-and-mortar eyeglasses locations.

Wide range of prices

Eyeglasses provides frames for eyeglasses, sunglasses, and reading glasses that range in price from $17 to $1,020 across all types of glasses. The listed price does not include your prescription or lenses which can increase the price by around $300. However, if you don't want to shell out for new frames, Eyeglasses also offers the option to send in your current frames and they will put new lenses in them for you. For this, you only pay the price of your lenses which will be based on your prescription.

Thousands of styles

While the basic options of eyeglasses, sunglasses, and reading glasses are on par with the competition, the volume of style options at Eyeglasses is impressive. With over 14,000 individual options for women's glasses and over 12,000 individual options for men's glasses, there are plenty of choices across all price ranges for customers to sift through.

Choose your lens type

Once you've chosen a set of frames, you can add your lenses to them with the following options available:

• Single vision
• Bifocal
• Trifocal
• Progressive
• Reading
• Computer
• Eyezen blue light blocker

After you've chosen your correction type, the following options are available for lens additions:

• Plastic lenses
• Ultra-Thin lenses
• Glass lenses
• Polycarbonate lenses
• Trivex lenses

Each update adds to the final price of the glasses. For example, a pair that costs $146 for just the frames can cost up to $552 after adding single-vision polycarbonate lenses.

Confusing user interface

While Eyeglasses has lots of stand-out features like free shipping and a 30-day return policy, and even helpful tips for finding the best glasses for your face shape, it can be hard to find some of that information on their site. The large volume of eyewear options isn't well-organized, and the busy user interface makes it difficult to scroll down and find exactly what you need. If you're looking for a website with a simple and easy-to-use interface, Eyeglasses isn't the best option for you.

Fast shipping, but damaged goods

With an average of 3.9 across shopper ratings, there's a decent balance of good and bad reviews of Eyeglasses. Some of the things happy customers agree on are that they paid a significant amount less than the same glasses would have cost them at the eye doctor. They also noted that they liked the customer service and that the shipping was fast for both receiving new glasses and sending in old frames for new lenses.

Some unhappy customers as well

However, unhappy customers note that their lenses cracked or came deformed after purchase. Some who sent in their frames said that the frames returned broken or "melted" in one case. One user noted that their lenses "clouded over" one month after the 30-day guarantee was over and that they were asked to pay over $450 to replace the glasses.

Great variety of frames, but hit-or-miss results

With thousands of eyewear options on Eyeglasses, it would be hard to find something they don't carry. With a 30-day full return policy and free shipping, it seems worth it to give this eyeglasses store a try. However, some customers noted that their glasses had defects and that using the new-lenses-same-frames service damaged their frames completely. So, with the mixed reviews, it gives us pause as to the quality of customer service. With a difficult-to-navigate website, and almost too much going on, it might be better to find a more streamlined service that offers comparable prices.

Glasses Shop

• Priced $12.95 to $59.95
• Free shipping for orders over $69
• 30-day returns
• Accepts insurance
• 365-Day Frame Guarantee
• Virtual try-on

GlassesShop is an online retailer that offers glasses, sunglasses, and prescription sunglasses for men, women, and children. GlassesShop offers more than 1,000 fashion styles and has a virtual try-on feature to allow you to see what you're buying before you pay.

Great prices, and they work with insurance

GlassesShop promises there are no "middlemen" that raise the price of products. Across the site, their eyeglasses cost from $12.95 to $59.95 regularly priced, and some of the sales provide frame options for under $1. For sunglasses, women's frames range from $26.95 to $34.95, and men's frames range from $19.95 to $45.95 with options for prescriptions and sales that provide sunglasses for under $10. With regular sales, GlassesShop is one of the most affordable in our review, and they work with vision insurance.

Options abound

Once you've selected a pair of frames, GlassesShop offers a competitive range of corrective lenses, lens sizes, and coatings to customize the glasses to your needs. The corrective lens types include:

• Distance
• Reading
• Multifocal
• Non-prescription

The types of lenses available at no extra cost to the customer include:

• Clear
• Blue light blocking
• Photochromic (transitions)
• Sunglasses
• Only Frames

Lens thickness options

The 6 lens thickness options each add an additional charge to the total cost. These range from $19.85 extra to $139.85 extra. The thickness options also include features like anti-scratch, anti-reflective, and UV protection coatings. These options include:

• Basic - 1.56 Mid-Index: $19.85
• Popular - 1.59 Polycarbonate: $30.85
• Standard - 1.61 High-Index: $34-85
• Advanced - 1.67 High-Index: $79.85
• Premium - 1.74 High-Index: $139.85
• Custom - Price varies

For example, if you purchase a pair of frames that are $26.95, and add the single vision and advanced options, your final total will be $106.80 for a single pair. However, if you would like to use a cheaper lens option, they will allow you to do that even if your prescription is usually best served by a higher index. They will charge a $9 processing fee instead to pay for the extra lab work required to make your prescription fit your chosen lens.

365-day frame replacement policy

GlassesShop has a lot of stand-out features, but their 365-Day Frame Guarantee is one of the best. Customers who buy from GlassesShop are eligible for a one-time frame replacement within 365 days of the date of purchase. They also have a 30-day return policy and a 30-day warranty on glasses. The GlassesShop return policy promises that if you want to return your glasses within 30 days you can get a free exchange for another pair (although you do have to pay for shipping). If you want a refund, they will only offer 50% of the total back. Every order is eligible for this return policy. Their 30-day warranty begins from the date you receive the glasses. If there is a defect in the material or workmanship they will completely remake the glasses for you or issue a 100% refund.

Reviews are positive overall

GlassesShop is ranked at 4 stars on average, with 83% of all reviews being 4 stars or higher. Overall, happy customers agreed that the shipping times were fast, the prices were amazing, and that customer service was very helpful with order mix-ups. Also, the service reps were proactive in contacting customers about prescription questions and ensuring all the data was correct before making the lenses.

Some complaints about quality

Some of the lower reviews include 11% 1-star ratings. The unhappy customers noted that they felt the products felt "cheap" and "flimsy" in person. Others noted that they had problems with the lenses after purchase and that they felt the overall quality was lower. One reviewer was frustrated that the products were not manufactured within the US. Since this site is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, it's important to weigh the good and bad. However, GlassesShop promises to refund or replace your glasses if there are manufacturer defects.

Best for bargain-hunters

Overall this is one of the lowest-priced options on our list. With better returns and warranties than some of the other low-cost options, this store might be worth your time if you're looking for a low-cost pair of glasses or sunglasses. However, if you need brand names or high-end options, GlassesShop isn't for you.

Eyeconic

• Prices range from $95 to $529
• Virtual try-on
• Free returns within 30 days
• Brand-name frame options
• Options to use your insurance

Eyeconic offers a range of eyewear on its site including clear eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses. They cater to customers who want their eyeglasses to be fashionable, rather than strict utilitarian.

Premium brands - and premium pricing

One of the selling points of Eyeconic is that they offer familiar and premium brands for their frames, and provide options that are trending in current fashion. With the premium-brand options front and center, the pricing for Eyeconic starts much higher than many of the options on this list. The standard clear glasses range from $95 to $514, the sunglasses range from $65 to $529, and the contact lenses aren't priced until you put in your prescription. Despite the prices being high, they do include the price of basic lenses. For example, a pair of glasses that costs $317 will include the frames, a single vision prescription (near- or far-sighted correction), and a scratch-resistant basic lens type.

Designer eyewear options

If you can think of a popular eyeglass brand, Eyeconic probably has it. Offering a list of designer names like Ray-Ban, Calvin Klein, Kate Spade, and Gucci, Eyeconic offers all of the top-notch brands you could want for eyewear. The frames can all be made with single vision, progressive, and non-prescription lenses. The listed price does include a basic single-vision correction in most frames, making the prices much more competitive; however, some of the sunglasses do not have the option for adding a prescription.

Lens choices

Once you select your frames you get to add lenses. There are a few options for these which include:

• Single Vision - this comes with the purchase price and includes correction for distance or reading.
• Progressive - this is an additional $80 and is a type of bifocal
• Non-prescription - this is just a blank lens and is the same price as single-vision

There are also three lens packages which include:

• Silver - comes standard for prescriptions up to -/+3.00
• Gold - +$101 which includes the anti-reflection for prescriptions higher than -/+3.00
• Platinum - +$145 which includes a thinner material and is for prescriptions higher than -/+6.00

And for a few extra add-ons, you can choose lens enhancements like anti-reflection (+$60), blue light (+$100), and transitions (+$100).

Try on virtually before purchase

One of the standout features of Eyeconic other than its name-brand frame options is the virtual try-on. You choose a pair of glasses that stand out to you, record a short video with the Eyeconic software, and then you are able to review how the glasses look on your face before you buy them. If you still don't like the eyewear after you've bought them, you have 30 days to return your purchase to Eyeconic for free (including return shipping).

Reviewers are split on Eyeconic

With a 3.9-star average, Eyeconic is split almost half and half between 44% 5-star and 44% 1-star reviews. The positive side of the reviews noted that it was easy to order with Eyeconic and that interfacing with their insurance companies was a breeze. Other positive reviews pointed out how helpful the virtual try-on feature was and that they liked the large selection of frame options. However, negative reviews agreed that the shipping times were too long with Eyeconic, that their customer service was unhelpful or took too long to resolve problems with orders, that their prescriptions were made incorrectly, or that the extra-cost coating caused problems with the lenses themselves.

Good option if you need designer glasses

Eyeconic is ideal for a customer who wants to make their glasses a statement piece. If you're determined to get a well-known designer brand, Eyeconic is a great place to look, especially if you want to see how the frames look on your face before you buy. However, with a 50/50 split between positive and negative customer reviews here, it's hard to say if the high-priced designer frames are worth the hassle (though those prices do include the price of the basic lens). At the end of the day, though, with free returns within 30 days, it might be worth the trouble to give Eyeconic a shot if Gucci glasses are part of your must-have list.

GlassesLit

• Priced from $1 to $50
• Limited return policy
• Best prices overall
• Regular sales and deals

GlassesLit is an online retailer that promises to help customers see clearly with their "top quality eyewear." They promise fast delivery and affordability to every customer, and while they nail the affordability, some reviewers feel like the shipping needs some help.

Low, low prices

GlassesLit offers some of the lowest prices in the industry, and consistent sales and deals on the site make it easy to find what you want at a reasonable price. GlassesLit sells eyeglasses, sunglasses, and accessories. The price for eyeglasses ranges from $1 to $50 per pair and the sunglasses range from $7.95- $9.95 per pair. This price does not include the cost of the lenses, and most sunglasses don't offer prescriptions.

A variety of low cost options

While the GlassesLit options are somewhat limited (only glasses and sunglasses), they do offer a few corrective lenses, index types, and coatings. The types of corrective lenses you can get are:

• Single Vision
• Multifocal
• Fashion

Once you've chosen your correction type, you are able to add an index type. Some of these are completely free with the purchase of your glasses, while some are an extra charge added to your total. These options include:

• Standard - Free
• Mid-High - Free
• High 1.59 - $8.95
• High 1.61 - $20.95
• Super High 1.67 - $35.95
• Ultra High 1.74 - $80

You can also add an anti-reflective coating for an additional $5 or a premium coating for an additional $15. For example, at GlassesLit a $28 frame would cost $43.85 after adding a single vision, high 1.59, and anti-reflective options.

Limited return policy

While GlassesLit has a lot going for them price-wise, they're not offering as good of a deal for their return policy. You have 30 days to return, which is a nice window to try out the glasses. However, you only can return one item for a full refund and that refund comes back to you as store credit. After that, you can only get 50% of your money back for returns. However, this 50% return will go back to you as your original form of payment. So, if you're thinking of trying out multiple pairs, just be aware that you can only return one for a full refund, and you can only use that store credit "refund" at GlassesLit.

Good style, slow shipping

While there aren't a lot of reviews out there for GlassesLit, the ones that are available show that customers are happy with the GlassesLit service. With 79% of reviews at a 5-star rating, the happy customers agree that GlassesLit offers a wide variety of styles, that the regular sales make it easy to find a fun pair of eyewear that they like, and that it's affordable to order multiple pairs of glasses at once.

Some shipping and refund issues

Customers who weren't as happy noted that orders took a long time to arrive. Some customers complained that their orders were completely lost and that they had difficulty getting a hold of customer service. Some also noted it was hard to get a refund for their orders when they didn't arrive.

Lowest price, but service is only okay

The prices here are some of the best in this review, hands down. If you're looking for the cheapest pair of glasses, GlassesLit is a decent option. While most reviewers were very happy with their experience with GlassesLit, many felt that shipping times were too long and customer service was hard to deal with. So, if customer service is important, you might want to look somewhere else. But for a basic pair of glasses or sunglasses, the GlassesLit prices are unbeatable. Just watch out for the return policy, if you order more than one pair.

Discount Glasses

• Priced from $8.95 to $149
• Offer free shipping
• 365-day returns
• Student ID discount
• Military Discount

Discount Glasses is an online retailer of eyewear that has been in business for 13 years. The site sells standard clear glasses, sunglasses, and reading glasses for children, women, and men.

Competitive pricing

The prices at Discount Glasses are competitive, with standard glasses ranging from $39.95 to $59.95, sunglasses ranging from $14.95 to $149, and pre-made reading glasses ranging from $8.95 to $44.95. Discount Glasses lives up to its name by offering a variety of sales and a clearance section where some of the standard clear glasses can be purchased at $8.95. However, these prices do not include the cost of your lenses, which can easily double the cost depending on your prescription and lens choices. But, Discount Glasses does offer a free shipping option which will have your purchase to you in 5-7 business days if you're buying sunglasses or accessories and within 9-14 business days if you're ordering a prescription.

Every extra adds a little more to the price

For prescriptions, Discount Glasses offers sunglasses and regular clear glasses. The site offers 3 lens types to choose from: Standard plastic lenses, Thin & Light polycarbonate lenses, and Ultra Thin & Light high-index lenses. Each lens type costs extra. The Standard is $9 in addition to your prescription, Thin & Light is $20 extra, and Ultra Thin & Light is $50 extra.

On top of lens types, Discount Glasses offers upgrades like:

• Blue Light: available only on some types of glasses
• Transitions: $79 extra
• Sun Tint: $5 extra
• Anti-Reflective: $20 extra

Additional discounts for specialized groups

In addition to regular discounts on the site, Discount Glasses also offers student and military discounts for eyewear. You'll get a 30% discount with a valid school ID or valid military ID. You can also get an additional 30% off if you buy a backup pair of glasses for a child.

One-year return policy

Another thing we liked about Discount Glasses is their impressive 365 Day Returns. The company promises that if you're unsatisfied, you can contact their customer service, provide your reason for returning, and they promise to make the return hassle-free.

Not so hot on customer service

When you look at the average of customer reviews, Discount Glasses has a 3.5-star rating. Since this is a full star lower than some of the competitors in this review, it stood out. Some of the higher reviews noted that their glasses have all worked perfectly and that when they had issues with shipping or prescriptions that weren't right, the problems were resolved quickly. However, the lower reviews noted that the glasses they received were scratched and that the replacements provided were also scratched on delivery.

Quite a few customer service issues

Others complained that when paying for expedited shipping, their order was late with no information as to why, and no refund. Some customers said that when their prescriptions came incorrect it took many back-and-forth emails before they were finally issued a refund. As more than half of the reviews had complaints about customer service, it's hard to claim Discount Glasses is doing right by shoppers.

Low prices aren't enough

While the prices sound good, there are better options in our review with more reliable customer service - for similar prices. With over 50% of customers complaining about some aspect of Discount Glasses, it just doesn't seem worth it to spend your money with them when there are other low-cost options out there. Plus, if you're adding your prescription, their prices skyrocket quickly. The discount isn't worth it this time.

Liingo

• Prices range from $49 to $129
• 60-day return policy
• Free shipping always
• Reimbursement for adjustments at other optical stores

Liingo is an eyewear company that was developed by 1 800 Contacts to provide online retail of eyeglasses and sunglasses. Liingo offers frames for men and women as well as a virtual try-on option to ensure that you like how the eyewear looks on your face before you purchase them.

Reasonable pricing

The prices for eyeglasses and sunglasses range from $49 to $129 across the entire site. This does not include the cost of your lenses or prescription, but many of the base options for Rx lenses are free with the cost of the frames.

Light on features

Liingo offers corrective lenses for single vision, bifocal, and no prescription. The single vision option is free with the purchase of your frames. The bifocal, however, is an additional $179. The company also offers standard lens types including clear, which is free with your purchase, blue light (+$59), and sunglasses or light responsive lenses which are both an additional $79. The only place where Liingo isn't competitive with options is that they only offer standard polycarbonate lenses (free) and a 1.67 high index ($49). But you can add water resistance for an additional $39 if you want to.

Free shipping all the time

For returns, Liingo promises a full 60 days to try out your new glasses. If you don't like them for whatever reason, you can return them free of charge. For shipping, well, you just don't have to pay for it. Ever. Lingo promises that all of its shipping costs are covered on every order. Finally, if you need to have your glasses adjusted for any reason, you can take them to a local optical store, and Lingo will reimburse you for the adjustment for up to $25.

Has anyone heard of them?

For reviews, Liingo is a little light. We only found a total of six across the internet. The few reviews are split almost dead even between 5 stars and 1 star. So, if you're looking for the most reliable and secure retailer, Liingo isn't going to be the one. The positive reviews mostly celebrate that the prices on Liingo are lower than buying directly from an eye doctor. The bad reviews note that their virtual fitting service isn't accurate to how the glasses will look on your face, and one reviewer said their glasses were scratched when they arrived.

There are better options in a similar price range

Liingo sounds like a great option, but once you look at the reviews (or lack thereof) it's clear that this isn't the best place to put your money. There are plenty of mid-range cost options on our list that have fantastic reviews. So, despite the promises for returns and free shipping, we'd recommend starting with those first before checking out Liingo for your next pair of glasses.

Yes Glasses

• Prices range from $29 to $158
• Student Discount
• 14-day returns

At Yes Glasses, you'll find basic eyeglasses, sunglasses, and kids' eyewear. The prices range from $29 to $89 across adult glasses on normally-priced products. However, many are on sale for as low as $19.50. For the children's glasses, the prices range from $29 to $158. Some of these prices do include upgrades for lenses. Any that include upgrades will say so on the listing. Yes Glasses offers free shipping and returns on standard shipping within the US.

Competitive options, but price stacks up fast

With options for sunglasses and regular glasses, Yes Glasses has three lens types: clear, sunglasses, and transitions. You can also get single-vision, progressive, and bifocals all in regular clear lenses or blue light-blocking lenses. Only the standard single vision comes with purchase. The others cost between $19.50 and $129 for the upgrades. Finally, you can choose the thickness of your lenses between four options:

• High Index, for an additional $19.50
• Polycarbonate, for an additional $54.50
• Super Thin, for an additional $44.50
• Ultra Thin, for an additional $84.50

So, the prices do start to stack up, but you can get 20% off your order if it's the first time you're ordering with Yes Glasses.

Discount for students

Yes Glasses provides a student discount right on the main page, so you don't have to go searching for it. In order to qualify for a student discount, you need to log in through your student organization. Then you will receive a student discount code for 30% off your order. However, you do have to register with Student Beans in order to get the code.

People who know about it, hate it

There are only about a dozen reviews of Yes Glasses and only 2 of those are above 2 stars. The customers aren't happy with the service or the products at Yes Glasses. Reviewers noted that they struggled to get refunds with customer service reps trying to force them to exchange instead of getting a refund. Some customers didn't get the add-ons, like transitions, that they paid for. The two good reviews were vague and only mentioned that the service was "good" without adding much detail.

Just say No

While it has some good features with student discounts and children's glasses, Yes Glasses doesn't offer the best variety or the best prices. With only 14 days to try out your glasses, and a difficult time working with customer service to actually get the refund they promise, Yes Glasses isn't worth the hassle. There are plenty of great options we evaluated that tick a lot more boxes. We suggest you just say No to Yes Glasses.