People find affordable glasses on Zenni and similar sites
Many users in the poverty finance subreddit are sharing tips for affording prescription glasses, with a strong consensus around using online retailers like Zenni, Firmoo, Sam's Club, GlassesUSA, and Zeelool. Some mention deals as low as $10-$50.
SOURCES (60)
“use Zenni or Payne Glasss. You can get a pair for $15-$30 [re: Helping my mom figure out how to pay for glasses next year]”
“Zenni.com has great deals on glasses. [re: Helping my mom figure out how to pay for glasses next year]”
“Spend less than $50 on zenni [re: Helping my mom figure out how to pay for glasses next year]”
“Also good to know re: Zenni, a new prescription is not required*. If you don’t need the exam (vision is unchanged or whatever) you just need your existing OD, OS numbers and Zenni has tools for measuring PD. *for single vision lenses anyway. Not sure about bifocals or more complex situations. [re: Helping my mom figure out how to pay for glasses next year]”
“Glasses are cheaper at Sam's club [re: Has anyone had experience with vision care on the cheap?]”
“I've been developing nearsightedness for I don't even know how long. Driving at night sucks because I also have astigmatism so I'm essentially driving blind (when I have no other option not to drive). I've heard Walmart has an eye center and they take insurance, has anyone had experience with this? Edit: Vision isnt covered by insurance, fantastic. submitted by /u/Outrageous-Chain8714 [link] [comments]”
“I get my prescription from my eye doctor and I order my glasses on Zenni. I have single vision transitionals and a frame, I think I paid under $100.”
“It doesn’t matter much for distance, but for reading/computer the PD needs to be correct”
“Eyemed has an individual vision plan called "Healthy" that costs $5/month and you get an exam once per year for a small copay (typically around $10, depends on the state). Plus it gives discounts off of glasses and contacts. Or you can buy glasses online. It is a way to get an exam cheaply and a pretty broad network of optometrists. But it's not worth buying the plan if you go to the optometrists at Costco or Walmart.”
“I have been happy with Zenni for anything that is single vision, but I don't like having my bifocal line in the center of my visual field so I have to have those made where I can get the line drawn on the sample lenses. For me, that's Costco. I also pay extra for high index lenses because my prescription is high enough they'd be too thick in CR39, and also I want shatterproof lenses. Not only do I work with power tools and other hazards, but I read a while back that airbags will brea”
“Get a new prescription from a doctor and tell them you want to take the presc with you. That’s yours, not theirs. Then then look thru zenni and others and get the best you can get.”
“I fill my prescription at zenni optical. It’s an online site. My last order was 4 pairs of glasses and the average price was 12$ a pair. Yes, they are plastic. I loose my glasses so frequently then find them months later. That’s why I got 4 pairs. They do have metal frames if you prefer them, they just cost more. You need to get the measurements for the distance between the glasses and your ear. Read the instructions on how to fill in your order form your prescription or it won’t be correct ( if”
Zenni and glassesusa You can get glasses for like $25-30
“I have been buying my glasses from Zenni optical for close to fifteen years and they are awesome. Good value and the product is excellent as well.”
“And there's an at home ruler you can use. I got it for free from one of the glasses companies.”
“I need to update my prescription and I'm trying to figure out the most affordable way to do it without ending up with glasses that need replacing again in a year. The prices I've been seeing locally are a lot more than I expected once the frames and prescription lenses are added together. Do you usually order prescription glasses online, reuse your old frames and replace the lenses, or wait for sales somewhere local? I'd rather spend a reasonable amount on something decent than pay s”
“I figure this might be within the realm of the Daddit community. I am having to buy new glasses for myself, and I'm a heavy computer user. I typically go through Zenni and have gotten their blue blockers in the past. I just noticed a new lens called the EyeQ, has anyone used those and do you like them? submitted by /u/IceManYurt [link] [comments]”
“Got two pairs for around 190 a pair but that’s cause I get all the bells and whistles on there like the darker transitions and oil and scratch resistance fast shipping too def worth it”
“Hey- I have a free code for Zenni, up to $100, including shipping cost, please DM. This is NOT a scam, it’s a genuine offer, I’m grateful that I have the chance to do something for you, and, have a great connection to the company and in return am able to send you a discount code. Like I said, it covers for glasses up to $100, including shipping.”
“Go have the eye exam done then go to Costco. My wife’s glasses including all the lens upgrades were only $230 and that wasn’t with the cheapest frames either”
“Zenni doesn't/hasn't verified for me at least, but contacts are more of a luxury than glasses so duh you're gonna be paying for said luxury?”
“While you can't try them on, what you can do (I do) is get the meaurments of some frames that do fit your face and that you like. Most frames should have a tiny model number on the inside of one arm and the specs can be looked up online. If that isn't there/worn off, you can measure yours and convert to mm. You'll need: temple arm length, frame width, lens width, lens height, and bridge width in mm. All frames on zenni have these specs on the product page! Filtering frames by pupil d”
“I’ve needed a new glasses for about three years now. It is what it is I guess.”
“i have gotten all my clsses off zenni.com lenses and everything, as long as you have a prescription to put in, shipping is decent considering it's overseas, and i have never had an issue with the quality of the lenses or frames. even getting things like UV coating and transition coating on my lenses.”
“I go to Costco to get an exam and it’s like $200. Then I buy glasses at Zennioptical online, those are less than $100. I’ve been buying glasses for years online and I have never had an issue.”
“Be careful if you don’t have a very simple, straightforward prescription. I have tried both Warby Parker and Zenni and had to return them. I have astigmatism in one eye, the other lens is plano, and I need bifocals/progressives for reading. The Warby Parker pair had the progressive area of the lens way too low, which caused me to need to tip my head back really far to be able to see smaller print. With the Zenni pair, I think the pupillary distance was off and they made me feel really disoriente”
“I've been preaching Zenni for over a decade. The glasses definitely don't last more than a couple years, but for $30-80... I don't care.”
“I have a strong rx (double digit myopia) but no multifocal need. Was able to get glasses of surprisingly good quality from Zenni for under $100. I did pay for the highest index lens.”
“same here honestly. paid like 15 bucks for my backup pair a while ago and they held up way better than the $300 ones from the optometrist”
“I haven't paid more than $70 for glasses in over a decade. And that's for the ones with nice features like oleophobic coating and compressed lenses, sometimes with rush shipping. Thanks Zenni.”
“When my prescription got complicated I began taking frames in to Costco optical. By far the best price. Zenni was great when my prescription was simple. Then it got more and more expensive. I’m picky about frames so I buy them elsewhere and then get them made.”
“Another vote for Zenni. I've tried other online eyeglass places, but Zenni is the only one I can count on.”
“I second this! I used them last year for the first time. Got 3 pairs of regular glasses and 1 pair of sunglasses all for $200!”
“Firmoo is great, I’ve ordered from them for about 10 years now and they also have really good promos going on”
“I used Zenni for blue light blocking and it was a fucking life saver. I used firmoo for a newer blue light blocking pair and they aren't as good. I'm gonna buy another from zenni.”
“I agree that zenni is the way to go! I haven’t purchased from them since before covid but I’m tempted to order a spare pair!”
“Zenni FTW! My BFF turned me on to them almost 20 years ago, between our families, we have 75+ pairs, not a single problem!”
“Yes absolutely. I hate all the frames on Zenni so I use Payne glasses but even there I can get in and out for $70.”
“My rx is -6.5 so I also need the extra thin lenses. I was able to get a pair from Zenni for around $100. So not dirt cheap but not $600 which is what they would usually be. Wish I could get $20 glasses but my eyes say no :(”
“I usually stay under $40 for two pairs of prescription sunglasses on glassesUSA.com or cheapglasses.com 🤷🏻♂️”
“My kids n I don’t have vision insurance. It’s cheaper for me to take everyone one day to some eye store for a sale exam, last year was like $69 for the exam and some glasses there. But usually under $100 per person per exam. We get measured in person and I take that info online. We used zenni with the most success. Cheaper for the whole family to get multiple pairs than one non sale eye doctor selling frames”
“YES! I’ve been using Zenni for years and usually get 3-4 pairs at a time in different styles, including sunglasses, for less than one pair costs at the optician”
“I like my Zenni glasses. But they make me buy an upgraded lense (like $30 more) because I'm blind AF in one eye.”
“yes. I wait until black friday sales on eye bye direct and get bogo on frames with like a additional 30-40% off. I have gotten 4 pairs from anywhere between 112- 240 total. that makes even slurge choices and sunglasses under 50$ per during this.”
“I’ve used Zenni and had mixed results. First two pair worked great. Had no issues. A few months ago I ordered a pair using my latest prescription and couldn’t wear them. Something was off. They gave a store credit and I eventually ordered a different set. Had same issues of things being clear mid range but unable to drive. Reluctantly went to my normal optometrist and ordered through them. Glasses were perfect from the first moment. I still recommend Zinni to people but, as the old saying goes,”
“Online is the way. I used to use zenni but them y rx changed to include bifocals and prisms. The only online retailer I found that could do both was eyebuydirect”
“The next time you need to update take a look at muukal.com. They have a lot of options and they often have a sale going on. My last order was 3 pairs with progressive bifocals including blue light blocking and 1 pair with specialty tint for $170.”
“I've purchased progressive lenses at least 3 times with Zenni and have had no issue.”
“Any optical shop will help you adjust your glasses or with simple repairs like pads screws. I've done this several times and have never been charged a cent. It's one of the most customer friendly fields out there.”
“I buy my frames cheap, then have my glasses dog fit the lenses. Since then I only update the lense prescription.”
“Just get my script and get them through Zenni. I get like 2 pair and a pair of sunglasses for like 60 shipped.”
“Zenni all day long. I always buy multiple pairs and extra ones to stash for a forgetful hubby. Delivery in 7 days 😍”
“If you have frames that fit you, you should be able to have an optician just put new lenses in them. You don't have to get new frames every time.”
“America's Best Eyewear Exam and two pairs of glasses $95 My husband and I both used this place”
“Zenni and eyebuydirect. I make sure to get my pupillary distance measured whenever I have an exam instead of trying to measure it myself. Even with my -5.75 in both eyes and getting the thinning for the high index lenses and anti-glare, my last pair of glasses came to well under $100. I think to add transition it was only an extra $30 or so.”