The Best Prescription Glasses Online: Find Your Perfect Pair (2023)

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. 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.

Best for

• Variety of 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

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 and Ray-Ban. Frames start at $6 and standard lenses at $7 or you can opt for upgrades like advanced lenses and premium lenses, which go for $49 and $80, respectively.

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

• Lots of brands across all price points
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses and sunglasses

Keep in mind

• You can only receive a refund or replacement once, per the return policy.

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 try on virtually, but one of its biggest claims to fame is its at home try-on program. Pick up to five frames to receive, for free, to physically try on before you buy.

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. And if your lenses get scratched in the first 365 days, you can get new lenses made for free.

Best for

• Men and women
• Peace of mind, thanks to a 365-day 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

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: There are almost 5,000 frames from high-end brands like Gucci and Prada, as well as Oakley and Ray-Ban—in a wide variety of colors, too. 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

• 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

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: Only for eyeglasses | 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. You can add upgrades, like polarization, that start at $33.

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.

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

Turnaround time:6 to 10 business days |Return policy:30 days for returns; one-year warranty against manufacturing defects |Insurance accepted:No, but HSA/FSA accepted |Virtual try-on:Yes |Virtual Rx renewal:No

Felix Gray is an eye-care leader known for their blue light glasses, which protect your eyes better than the average options. Each pair utilizes a proprietary technology that filters out 15 times more blue light than other lenses, which helps reduce blurry vision and tired eyes when staring at a screen for hours. You can purchase with or without a prescription, and request magnification as well—a good option for anyone fixated on spreadsheets all day.

Pros:

• Unisex models for adults and children
• Proprietary technology with higher blue-light filtering than average
• Prescription and magnification options

Cons:

• On the expensive end

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 the whole family 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 adults and kids will actually want to wear. Every frame has the option to be turned in readers.

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.

Each frame starts at $60, including the standard reader 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

• Stylish readers in classic and modern frames
• Ability to switch up colors without purchasing new frames
• Prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses and blue light glasses also available

Keep in mind

• Pair Eyewear only offers its house brand frames

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, carries hundreds of original frames, all falling between $79 and $129. You’ll find everything from classic low-profile styles to bold, standout picks that make a fashion statement. 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. If you don’t love your new specs, you can return them for free within 60 days—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

• 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

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

Kids and tweens and picky. Real picky. GlassesUSA offers plenty of choice to satisfy different styles, at prices that won’t make you cringe if they drop or lose their glasses. Still, if sifting through hundreds of kids’ frames sounds overwhelming, there are easy-to-use filters—to sort by age, frame shape, brand, color, price and more. Most frames come with free single-vision prescription, with optional add-ons like blue light blocking and light transitioning.In our experience, you can regularly find discounts and clearance sales, which means you could spring for two pairs if you wanted. For added reassurance, GlassesUSA offers a 14-day, full money-back guarantee return policy, plus free shipping and returns.

Best for

• Convenience—shop for kids as well as the whole family
• Variety of 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

Turnaround time:7 to 10 business days |Return policy:Free exchanges and returns—with no time limit |Insurance accepted:Yes, as well as FSAandHSA

One of the most well-known retailers, 1-800 Contacts makes ordering lenses online convenient and easy. Simply search for the brand you normally wear, digital email or text your prescription, and the retailer will contact your doctor to sort out the rest. If you have an expired prescription, you can take an eye exam through the app for a $20 fee—and in just ten minutes update your prescription without having to take a trip to the optometrist. Also great: The company price matches and offers free shipping, exchanges and returns, plus they take vision insurance. In our review of the site, we even found that you can return opened boxes of contacts or return ones that are a decade old or older, which is stellar customer service. For convenience, you can also subscribe and save 5% on orders, which ensures you won’t run out.

Turnaround time:4 to 15 business days| Return policy:Returns within 30 days with a $20 restocking fee| Insurance accepted:No, but HSA/FSA accepted| Virtual try-on:No| Virtual Rx renewal:Yes

Austin, Texas-based Roka specializes in high-performance eyewear, and on that front, the sunglasses are durable, lightweight and made to last. You can can opt for polarized lenses to help filter out harsh light so you can see better in bright conditions and reduce eye-strain. The frames, meanwhile, are constructed with patented grips to ensure they stay in place as you move.

Turnaround time:7 to 9 business days| Return policy:30 days for full refund, minus $6 return fee| Insurance accepted:No, but HSA/FSA accepted| Virtual try-on:No | Virtual Rx renewal:No

If you spend time outside near highly-reflective surfaces like water, sand and snow, Smith offers sports prescription sunglasses for active folks. Lenses comes in six different color options: gray-green, black, brown, blue mirror, green mirror and bronze mirror. Their trademarked polarization technology (ChromaPop) is designed to enhance the contrast and natural color you see so that the details in your surrounding environment stand out. Frames are outfitted with nose pads that provide nonslip grip so your sunglasses stay put and there’s a generous 30-day return policy if you’re not completely satisfied.

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

Transition, or photochromic, lenses darken when exposed to sunlight, and then return to clear in normal settings. DIFF offers an excellent selection of frames, all of which can be outfitted with transition lense—you won’t find name brand specs, but the frames are designer-inspired and you can shop fun collabs. You can also add upgrades like thinner lenses or blue light blocking technology for an additional fee.

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.