Tips for Buying Prescription Glasses Online

[Andrew Joiner]

I've been buying glasses from Zenni online for awhile. Here's some things I've learned.
1-It's easier than you'd think to be informed about your prescription and get what you want in eyewear.
2- Get an eye exam from an Ophthalmologist not an Optometrist. Around here the exam price is the same but Optometrists sell glasses and they may not want to help you get the same thing they sell WAY cheaper.
3- Most important, the tech person at my Ophthalmologists office was more than happy to answer my detailed questions about lenses for ordering online. With the tech's help I could sort out the sales and marketing from the facts.

I've been very happy with Zenni's quality. The first pair I ever ordered were bifocals and it was an aha moment. They fit my head just right and I could see better right away. As good or better than all the local shops I got glasses at over the years at a fraction of the cost. One pair of RX sunglasses from Zenni didn't work out, but they were only $22 so I didn't bother to return them.
Recently I went back to 2 local eyewear shops. I was going to try progressive lenses again after being very disappointed in the pair I got locally 18 years ago. I was thinking with progressives I may need the help of a local shop and was willing to pay more for them. One shop was very good at quoting prices, but couldn't tell me what exact brand or material the lenses would be. The other is good on details and OK on price. Most of my questions were unanswered by the local shops. So I went back to Zenni.
I just ordered a pair of digital free form progressive lenses and a pair of bifocals in the exact same frame from Zenni. It's the same frame I've worn for 2 years with my old RX so I can test them all side by side. The total for both pairs is 1/5 the cost of a pair of basic progressives locally and Zenni has a better refund policy.

I have no connection to Zenni other than being a satisfied customer. I'm happy to share my experience if anyone has questions.

[Ron Citerone]

Thanks for posting. I have considered it, but never did. Local shop I go to has prices that are getting ridiculous.

[Joyce Knights]

Thank you for sharing this with the community, I am actually planning to replace my glasses as I feel like my eyesight is not as clear as before. Last time slip on the floor as I haven't seen the water splashes from my dog's drinkwell (http://www.petstreetmall.com/Drinkwell/4224.html), but first I need to visit my ophthalmologist for consultation.

[Bill Dufour]

I have been happy with Zenni. I pay about $5.00 more to get the lens that are more refractive to save weight. They do not have much in safety glasses.
Bill D

[Jamie Buxton]

How does an online company fit bifocals or progressives? The key issue is where on the lens the transition is made from far correction to near. It seems to me that depends on how the glasses sit on my face, and how I hold my head. A hands-on optician can make that measurement. How does an online outfit do it?

[Greg R Bradley]

All this advise is pure crap if you want to see well. An Ophthalmologist that is prescribing glasses is one that couldn't cut it doing eye surgery so is doing the job of an Optometrist. He is poorly trained for that job but is stuck doing that. Don't you want someone prescribing glasses with extensive training to do that job? Why go to someone that has much less training for that job? An eye surgeon that can't do eye surgery so is doing a job for which they had a brief overview instead of intensive training?

And then, you want to go to some incompetent online supplier that is doing cut rate work and can't do the rest of the job to fit them? It is a guarantee of poor work.

Most people just can't tell the difference and get a "good deal" on crap work. No wonder most people are basically blind. Don't fall for this nonsense. Find a good Optometrist and get a proper exam and get them to fit proper glasses and actually see properly. Expensive? Yes and worth every penny.

[Yonak Hawkins]

My eye doctor is an MD and not a quack. Medicare pays for everything but the refraction exam to get a prescription, which is $65. He doesn't sell glasses.

I've been very happy with Zenni Optical. I've bought 9 pair there. All are for specialty applications .. everything from reading to magnifying to close work to computer screen distance to table saw distance to band saw distance to infinity. My glasses are stationed where I use them. $6.95 a pair makes this possible, more for sunglasses, bifocals or special frames for magnification. Others may find this confusing or cumbersome but I like glasses that are exact for the distance rather than progressives.

By the way, I also have an expensive pair of progressives, with all the bells and whistles, bought from Pearl Vision, for general use but I find myself using them only when I leave the house.

[Andrew Joiner]

How does an online company fit bifocals or progressives? The key issue is where on the lens the transition is made from far correction to near. It seems to me that depends on how the glasses sit on my face, and how I hold my head. A hands-on optician can make that measurement. How does an online outfit do it?
I had the same concern. I went to a local shop for many pairs of $300 bifocals over several years. They were made to the Rx of that shops Optometrist. I finally asked why is my desktop computer so blurry ? The optician whispered "I can make them for desktop focus, but don't tell the DR". It was like he was doing me a special favor and breaking some optometry rules. I got the computer bifocals and was happy.

A few years later I needed a new distance Rx. I went to a new shop with an Ophthalmologist who does surgery and does sell glasses. He and his tech person answered questions vaguely about lenses and frames, but geared to what they sell for $300.
Out of frustration, I went to Zenni as an experiment. If Zenni did a bad job I was willing to pay $26 for the experiment. They got it right for my eyes and needs the first time!

[Andrew Joiner]

All this advise is pure crap if you want to see well. An Ophthalmologist that is prescribing glasses is one that couldn't cut it doing eye surgery so is doing the job of an Optometrist. He is poorly trained for that job but is stuck doing that. Don't you want someone prescribing glasses with extensive training to do that job? Why go to someone that has much less training for that job? An eye surgeon that can't do eye surgery so is doing a job for which they had a brief overview instead of intensive training?

And then, you want to go to some incompetent online supplier that is doing cut rate work and can't do the rest of the job to fit them? It is a guarantee of poor work.

Most people just can't tell the difference and get a "good deal" on crap work. No wonder most people are basically blind. Don't fall for this nonsense. Find a good Optometrist and get a proper exam and get them to fit proper glasses and actually see properly. Expensive? Yes and worth every penny.
Greg I respect your experience. I value your posts on tools and lighting over the years.

In my area the 2 Ophthalmologists I've seen both do surgery. One doesn't sell glasses one does.

The 2 Optometrists I've seen don't do surgery just eye exams, they're in the shops that sell glasses.

[Wade Lippman]

My eye doctor is an MD and not a quack. Medicare pays for everything but the refraction exam to get a prescription, which is $65. He doesn't sell glasses.


Either you have the wrong medicare or the wrong MD. Mine does a refraction exam once a year and medicare pays for it.

[Yonak Hawkins]

Either you have the wrong medicare or the wrong MD.

Well, I'd certainly be interested to know which it is if there is a way to find out.

[Wade Lippman]

Well, I'd certainly be interested to know which it is if there is a way to find out.

I can't be sure, but 5 minutes of googling suggests that Medicare never pays for refraction tests. My doctor must not be charging for it.
I have no idea how common that practice is, or even if I am right.

[Andrew Joiner]

I can't be sure, but 5 minutes of googling suggests that Medicare never pays for refraction tests. My doctor must not be charging for it.
I have no idea how common that practice is, or even if I am right.

I had a torn retina laser repaired 8 years ago. I woke up with a bunch of black dot floaters that blinking didn't help. My local eye surgeon saw me within an hour. He said I needed surgery within 24 hours. He could do it, but the best DR was 2 hours away. Since I could go blind I went to the best DR. I paid cash because I had 5K deductible insurance.

For all my adult life I usually got new glasses when my frames broke. If I was really having less than clear vision I'd pay extra for the exam and a new RX. I had no idea back then of the difference of an Ophthalmologist and Optometrist. Many times the new RX and frames gave me worse or the same vision. "You'll get use to them", the high $ professional optical shop would say.

Because I had the torn retina laser repaired I now need to have yearly exams and paid cash. In my area Ophthalmologists charge $90 for an eye exam and the eyeglass RX. Optometrists are also $90. Why not get the more thorough and detailed exam from an Ophthalmologist who has no interest in selling me glasses.

That changed my view (literally) on eye exams. Since I had many friends getting great low cost eyeglasses at Zenni why not try it.

Now I'm on Medicare and my recent exam by an Ophthalmologist was paid by insurance. The office charged $50 for the copy of the RX according to the receptionist. I'm happy to pay that.

[Osvaldo Cristo]

Progressive glasses can be very complex need parameters far beyond the prescription you get from the doctor.

Look for serious shops as they will take lots of additional measurements that in their whole will make all difference of the world against "standard progressives" you can get from cheap flash shops or even Internet.

Just as an example my own progressive glass supplier took more than a dozen additional measurements besides the ones at my doctor's specs.

[Andrew Joiner]

Progressive glasses can be very complex need parameters far beyond the prescription you get from the doctor.

Look for serious shops as they will take lots of additional measurements that in their whole will make all difference of the world against "standard progressives" you can get from cheap flash shops or even Internet.

Just as an example my own progressive glass supplier took more than a dozen additional measurements besides the ones at my doctor's specs.

Hi Osvaldo,
Have you tried online glasses?

[Peter Christensen]

Ladies and gents I was wondering if the Ophthalmologists you go to just check your vision with an eye chart etc., or do they pressure test for Glaucoma, photograph/scan the eye to check the retina and optic nerve plus a new one for me this year was a laser which scans the cells below the retina surface for problems? My Optometrist does all of these exams in addition to what she can see with her loupe and blinding light. :eek: They are kept for comparisons when I come in for my exam every two years.

[Wade Lippman]

Now I'm on Medicare and my recent exam by an Ophthalmologist was paid by insurance. The office charged $50 for the copy of the RX according to the receptionist. I'm happy to pay that.

They charged Medicare or you $50? I sure hope it is Medicare.
Mine filled out the DMV paperwork for free.

[Andrew Joiner]

Ladies and gents I was wondering if the Ophthalmologists you go to just check your vision with an eye chart etc., or do they pressure test for Glaucoma, photograph/scan the eye to check the retina and optic nerve plus a new one for me this year was a laser which scans the cells below the retina surface for problems? My Optometrist does all of these exams in addition to what she can see with her loupe and blinding light. :eek: They are kept for comparisons when I come in for my exam every two years.
Peter,
In my area the optometrists do some of the tests you describe but they say "additional testing may be required to diagnose an eye disease".
The ophthalmologist is the medical doctor the optometrist would send you to. An ophthalmologist is an MD that does surgery, an optometrist is an OD that has a doctorate degree.
The last time I got an eye exam from an optometrist was 10 years ago. I had been having what I now know are ocular migraines. I wanted an expert to examine my eyes and get a new RX for glasses. The OD called his MD friend in the middle of my exam. The OD was reporting my "eye condition" to the MD by phone. I overheard "never seen anything like this" and "what is it" I was concerned but the OD said "The MD said your fine". I was happy to be fine and mostly wanted a new RX and glasses.

I later learned from my own research that an ophthalmologist was an MD and I had ocular migraines. There's no treatment for ocular migraine, but why not just go to real DR to get my eye exams from now on?

Still a mystery what the OD saw and was concerned about.

[Andrew Joiner]

They charged Medicare or you $50? I sure hope it is Medicare.
Mine filled out the DMV paperwork for free.
They charged me. What is the DMV paperwork? I don't think we have that in Oregon.

[Osvaldo Cristo]

Hi Osvaldo,
Have you tried online glasses?

No, I don't... but I already had purchased prescribed glasses in glass shops in Shopping Malls, I think they are closely related to Internet shopping - and again, they did not compared against specialist Optical shops. The first one I found was at Dusseldorf, Germany, but I discovered a couple of them also here, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Their prices are much higher than popular shops but the results are way better, IMHO.

Edited to add: also from my experience, specialized Optical shops makes difference only at progressive glasses. For fixed focus glasses, my own experience is the brand of the lenses is more important and the different providers using the same manufacturer for lenses with generate very close quality glasses (I have also two fixed focal pair of glasses, one for book reading and another to use at my desktop computer workstation with a 32-in monitor).

[Peter Christensen]

Peter,
In my area the optometrists do some of the tests you describe but they say "additional testing may be required to diagnose an eye disease".
The ophthalmologist is the medical doctor the optometrist would send you to. An ophthalmologist is an MD that does surgery, an optometrist is an OD that has a doctorate degree.
The last time I got an eye exam from an optometrist was 10 years ago. I had been having what I now know are ocular migraines. I wanted an expert to examine my eyes and get a new RX for glasses. The OD called his MD friend in the middle of my exam. The OD was reporting my "eye condition" to the MD by phone. I overheard "never seen anything like this" and "what is it" I was concerned but the OD said "The MD said your fine". I was happy to be fine and mostly wanted a new RX and glasses.

I later learned from my own research that an ophthalmologist was an MD and I had ocular migraines. There's no treatment for ocular migraine, but why not just go to real DR to get my eye exams from now on?

Still a mystery what the OD saw and was concerned about.

I see things are different here. Ophthalmologists here are by referral from an Optometrist only or run laser surgery places. They don't normally do eye exams for prescriptions. Maybe the difference between private and public medical systems. ;)

[Ronald Blue]

They charged me. What is the DMV paperwork? I don't think we have that in Oregon.

If you were actually charged you need to go get a refund. That is illegal. You have or will pay for the eye exam. The copy of your prescription is something you are entitled to. In fact if you want to go somewhere else to get your glasses they have to sign it to certify it too. If you go to an MD for whatever do the charge to issue a prescription? Check this link out.

consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0116-prescription-glasses-and-contact-lenses

[Andrew Joiner]

I've been very happy with Zenni Optical. I've bought 9 pair there. All are for specialty applications .. everything from reading to magnifying to close work to computer screen distance to table saw distance to band saw distance to infinity. My glasses are stationed where I use them. $6.95 a pair makes this possible, more for sunglasses, bifocals or special frames for magnification. Others may find this confusing or cumbersome but I like glasses that are exact for the distance rather than progressives.


Yonak,
Did Zenni sunglasses work for you? If so what tint?

I got the darkest grey and clear RX eyeglasses in the same frames 15 months ago. I had both pairs tested on a lensometer locally. They were exactly to the RX but the grey was a bit blurry. I only wear them windsurfing so the're covered in spray and I got use to them. Zenni said send em back, but local experts say that can happen with all dark RX sunglasses.

[Al Launier]

Ladies and gents I was wondering if the Ophthalmologists you go to just check your vision with an eye chart etc., or do they pressure test for Glaucoma, photograph/scan the eye to check the retina and optic nerve plus a new one for me this year was a laser which scans the cells below the retina surface for problems? My Optometrist does all of these exams in addition to what she can see with her loupe and blinding light. :eek: They are kept for comparisons when I come in for my exam every two years.

My opthalmologist does this. I never received previously that from an optometrist, just a glaucoma & eye test, nothing to check for any possible disease(s).

[Yonak Hawkins]

Yonak,
Did Zenni sunglasses work for you? If so what tint? .

Andrew, I got tinted bifocals. I keep them in the car and, to tell the truth, I always forget to wear them when it's sunny. I'm not a sunglasses-wearing type so it skips my mind. I just now went out and put them on so I could answer your question but, unfortunately, it's raining and kind of dark so, while my vision lessened with them on, I believe it's because of lack of light. Otherwise things seem sharp. The tinting is darker at the top and less so at the bottom where the close vision lens is. To find out the tint I went to the Zenni site but, unfortunatly, I guess they don't keep order history for that long ago. Foiled again ! I'm sorry I can't be much help.

[Greg R Bradley]

Here is the story but it only applies to the US. Not sure about the rest of the world.
An Ophthalmologist is an MD. They took Pre-Med and then went to Medical School. Then they picked a specialty. The very few that chose Ophthalmology received a little bit of training in Optics and associated areas regarding proscribing glasses. Then a VERY few of them were actually good at eye surgery. That tiny percentage hit the lottery and could charge stupid prices for doing eye surgery. It isn't so much they studied well and worked hard so much as the very few were talented at that skill. Lucky, genetically programmed for that skill, whatever. My father has the reputation for being the best Optometrist around here and he was working with one who was doing 8 $6500 surgeries every day - 20 years ago.
The vast majority couldn't do it well so could do some surgery and some eye exams and prescribing glasses. BUT they had received only months of training for that, NOT years. MOST of them are just doing exams, mostly to the naive people that think they know what they are doing because they have an MD.
An Optometrist spent a bit less total time, but still a LOT of years learning how to do exams and fit glasses. TONS of training in that narrow area compared to an Ophthalmologist.
So most Ophthalmologists end up doing the job of an Optometrist and doing it fairly poorly. It isn't fair to them but that is how it works.
The good Ophthalmologists are very rare and are referred surgery by Optometrists or have an Optometrist working with them full time.
As my father used to say "an expert is a person that knows more and more about less and less". Just because a person is an MD doesn't mean they know squat. I think 20% of my friends are MDs and they constantly are asking me for my expertise on something. Sure, they know their field but if you get out of their field, then it goes downhill, FAST.
Like everything it seems, DON'T buy into the marketing crap!
I go to the lady that bought the practice from the guy that bought it from my dad a long time ago. She is expensive and worth every penny no matter how much it hurts to pay the bill.

[Andrew Joiner]

Andrew, I got tinted bifocals. I keep them in the car and, to tell the truth, I always forget to wear them when it's sunny. I'm not a sunglasses-wearing type so it skips my mind. I just now went out and put them on so I could answer your question but, unfortunately, it's raining and kind of dark so, while my vision lessened with them on, I believe it's because of lack of light. Otherwise things seem sharp. The tinting is darker at the top and less so at the bottom where the close vision lens is. To find out the tint I went to the Zenni site but, unfortunatly, I guess they don't keep order history for that long ago. Foiled again ! I'm sorry I can't be much help.
That helps, thanks. I may try the gradient tint on my next pair. Yesterday it was really sunny and bright from snow cover. Rare for my area. In those conditions my dark grey Zenni RX sunglasses were sharper than my identical clear lenses.

[Tony Zona]

I will take an ophthamalogist every time,
for the same reason there are no bargains in parachutes.

[Doug Garson]

Getting back to the original question of buying glasses glasses on line, how do you get them adjusted to fit comfortably? I recall when I wore glasses it sometimes took one or two trips back to the store to get new glasses properly adjusted and sometimes additional trips back months later if they got knocked out of adjustment. I had a very strong prescription and thus my glasses were heavier than average even with high refractive index material. I'm now glasses free since cataract surgery 5 or 6 years ago.

[Andrew Joiner]

Getting back to the original question of buying glasses glasses on line, how do you get them adjusted to fit comfortably? I recall when I wore glasses it sometimes took one or two trips back to the store to get new glasses properly adjusted and sometimes additional trips back months later if they got knocked out of adjustment. I had a very strong prescription and thus my glasses were heavier than average even with high refractive index material. I'm now glasses free since cataract surgery 5 or 6 years ago.
In my case the frames from Zenni have all fit me fine right out of the box. It was a surprise to me. I'm fussy about fit. In the 57 years I've been wearing glasses I learned how bend them to fit. I heat the plastic with hot water. Some opticians did a good job, but usually I'd fine tune them.

[Wes Mitchell]

Thanks for the info. I wear contacts normally, but for the couple days a week I don't wear them I wear my glasses, which are now 8 years old and beginning to fall apart. I've been looking for an option that isn't going to cost me $400+ since I wear them so infrequently.

[Wade Lippman]

Either you have the wrong medicare or the wrong MD. Mine does a refraction exam once a year and medicare pays for it.

How embarrassing... I just got a bill from my ophthalmologist of $35 for a refraction exam that Medicare doesn't cover. Sorry for the misinformation. This is my first on Medicare; my old insurance used to cover it.

[Andrew Joiner]

How embarrassing... I just got a bill from my ophthalmologist of $35 for a refraction exam that Medicare doesn't cover. Sorry for the misinformation. This is my first on Medicare; my old insurance used to cover it.
Thanks Wade. Mine actually charged $40 not $50 as I posted before. The other ophthalmologist in my area didn't charge me for an RX copy my first year on Medicare but he sells eyewear. The unbiased info I got from my DR and his techs was worth $40.

[Ken Combs]

Thanks Wade. Mine actually charged $40 not $50 as I posted before. The other ophthalmologist in my area didn't charge me for an RX copy my first year on Medicare but he sells eyewear. The unbiased info I got from my DR and his techs was worth $40.

In my area, OK, the examiner is required to provide the patient with a copy of the RX at no additional charge. In my case, being on Medicare, that means the exam and RX are no charge to me.