Cheap Prescription Glasses Thread (as low as $19)

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pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
looks like i might need to use this thread now that i no longer have vision insurance.
 

rondor

Member
Apr 7, 2005
64
0
0
I ordered a pair of glasses from Zenni about 2 weeks ago. They came in 10 days. They are EXCELLENT. Good quality frames, ultra lightweight lenses, UV and scratch resistent included. Total cost: $8.00 plus $4.95 shipping!!!! None of my friends or family can believe it, but it's true! I will definitely do business with them again.
 

dkvamme

Member
Jul 15, 2001
174
0
76
WoW! Color me impressed with zenni optical.

I ordered 2 pair of glasses , one pair single vision normal and one pair of single vision reading . Both pair are spot on for the precription and are quality eyeglasses.

Highly recommend them.
 

FreddyG

Junior Member
Jan 26, 2008
2
0
0
i have bought glasses online a few times. I have been very happy with most of my purcheses. My last few pairs were from http://www.eyeglassfactoryonline.com . They have a large selection of frames. I like the flex titanium frames and they had a good selection of them for a really good price. I also sent them 2 frames i had gotten from another online optical (39dollar) in the past for new lenses. All and all very happy with there service.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
39,959
9,639
136
Is it possible to order glasses online made with glass instead of plastic? I hate the way plastic scratches so readily. Glasses are 100 times less problematic that way.
 

mortong

Member
Apr 14, 2006
117
0
76
I've ordered from Zenni as well. They're not the best pair of glasses I've ever owned, and I still prefer my contacts, but they make a good cheap backup pair. I've got one at home, and I'll be ordering two more soon for work and in the car. At this price it's nice to have spares around in case I lose a contact.
 

Brock123

Senior member
Nov 3, 2005
245
0
0
Just got 3 pair from Zenni in the mail today, I ordered on the 13. 2 for my wife and one for me. All of the frames are good better than expected and her 2 prescriptions are good but mine seem to be off just a little. It might be that I'm just use to my old glasses but I am very pleased over all and I am planning on ordering a few more pair. At 54 dollars for 3 sets the price can't be beat.
 

funboy6942

Lifer
Nov 13, 2001
15,340
404
126
Originally posted by: Muse
Is it possible to order glasses online made with glass instead of plastic? I hate the way plastic scratches so readily. Glasses are 100 times less problematic that way.

The plastic they use is the same kind used for safety glasses, infact if you can get the side pieces for these they can be used as safety glasses. Also spring for the $5 and get it coated for scratches, uv, and glare. Problems with glass is really it scratches easier, and 2 you get a rock thrown up at them kiss your eye goodbye when it shatters and glass shards going into your eye ball.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
39,959
9,639
136
Originally posted by: funboy42
Originally posted by: Muse
Is it possible to order glasses online made with glass instead of plastic? I hate the way plastic scratches so readily. Glasses are 100 times less problematic that way.

The plastic they use is the same kind used for safety glasses, infact if you can get the side pieces for these they can be used as safety glasses. Also spring for the $5 and get it coated for scratches, uv, and glare. Problems with glass is really it scratches easier, and 2 you get a rock thrown up at them kiss your eye goodbye when it shatters and glass shards going into your eye ball.
OK, thanks. You're actually telling me these coated plastic lenses will actually be less scratched than glass? I find that hard to believe. The plastic lenses I've had (ever since they started telling me glass isn't an option), have been very easily scratched indeed. I don't want to have to go to a sink and carefully wash with soap and water every time I want to clean my glasses. Currently (with my old glass lenses), I just fish a handkerchief out of my pocket, probably breath on the lenses and then rubadubdub, and presto... clean!

I do like anti UV, and as for shatterproof, well, I've been wearing glasses for 50 years and don't recall any of them breaking. Could happen, of course.

BTW, if they told me they'd lasik me for free I'd say, thanks but no deal.
 

msi1337

Diamond Member
Apr 16, 2003
7,817
67
101
I use ZenniOptical and they rock!

best service, support, price of any online glasses retailer!

Linked

I am in no way affiliated with them..just a happy customer
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
39,959
9,639
136
Originally posted by: msi1337
I use ZenniOptical and they rock!

best service, support, price of any online glasses retailer!

Linked

I am in no way affiliated with them..just a happy customer

Thanks, and you rock! I will check them out and likely order from them pretty soon. I'm way overdue for an eye exam (but they always say I'm doing great, so I'm not worried). I'm seeing fine, but they say I should get 'em checked, so I will. I've never bought online before so don't know what to expect. I always get my eyes checked at the local university by supervised students, but then take my prescription to the lowest priced shop on the street. Hasn't been so cheap last times.

I suppose they will need something to tell the online folks how big the frames need to be, so I'll have to measure the ones I have?
 

Gothgar

Lifer
Sep 1, 2004
13,429
1
0
Originally posted by: Muse
Originally posted by: msi1337
I use ZenniOptical and they rock!

best service, support, price of any online glasses retailer!

Linked

I am in no way affiliated with them..just a happy customer

Thanks, and you rock! I will check them out and likely order from them pretty soon. I'm way overdue for an eye exam (but they always say I'm doing great, so I'm not worried). I'm seeing fine, but they say I should get 'em checked, so I will. I've never bought online before so don't know what to expect. I always get my eyes checked at the local university by supervised students, but then take my prescription to the lowest priced shop on the street. Hasn't been so cheap last times.

I suppose they will need something to tell the online folks how big the frames need to be, so I'll have to measure the ones I have?

I am about to throw an order in, I work outside and I can get the polycarbonite tented lenses for almost free from zeni :p
 

rondor

Member
Apr 7, 2005
64
0
0
You need to measure the width of your current glasses, in milimeters (mm). When you look at the various frames on the website, they all have their width stated in the description. You will also have to have someone hold the mm ruler up to your eyes and measure the distance between the center of your pupils -- this measurement is asked for on the order form. This is the measurement they usually do at the optical place when they hold up a ruler to your eyses and quickly write down the numbers -- this is a very simple process! The optomitrist will do this measurement for you if you ask them to when you get your eyes examined.

I only use glasses for night driving. These glasses are so inexpensive I bought enough to have a pair in each vehicle as well as a pair in my boat.
 

Moffat Cafe

Senior member
Oct 18, 1999
450
0
0
I have found that any of my local glasses retailers will measure this "center of pupil distance" using a hand-held , look through device, just for the asking.
 

funboy6942

Lifer
Nov 13, 2001
15,340
404
126
Originally posted by: Muse
Originally posted by: funboy42
Originally posted by: Muse
Is it possible to order glasses online made with glass instead of plastic? I hate the way plastic scratches so readily. Glasses are 100 times less problematic that way.

The plastic they use is the same kind used for safety glasses, infact if you can get the side pieces for these they can be used as safety glasses. Also spring for the $5 and get it coated for scratches, uv, and glare. Problems with glass is really it scratches easier, and 2 you get a rock thrown up at them kiss your eye goodbye when it shatters and glass shards going into your eye ball.
OK, thanks. You're actually telling me these coated plastic lenses will actually be less scratched than glass? I find that hard to believe. The plastic lenses I've had (ever since they started telling me glass isn't an option), have been very easily scratched indeed. I don't want to have to go to a sink and carefully wash with soap and water every time I want to clean my glasses. Currently (with my old glass lenses), I just fish a handkerchief out of my pocket, probably breath on the lenses and then rubadubdub, and presto... clean!

I do like anti UV, and as for shatterproof, well, I've been wearing glasses for 50 years and don't recall any of them breaking. Could happen, of course.

BTW, if they told me they'd lasik me for free I'd say, thanks but no deal.

Let me just say, Ive had my set for almost 2 years now, and havent a scratch on them. Granted I dont clean them with a cloth, I wash mine with soap and hot water, but still, not even a slight scratch anywhere on them. My old glass ones, scratched all to hell, and I treated them the same as these. The plastic is called polycarbonate, its much less scratch resistant, and again same as what is used for safety glasses. All you need is side shields for them, any universal ones will do, and you have a kick ass pair of safety glasses.

Just be sure to never, NEVER use ANY cloth to clean them. Just a dab of dish washing liquid, smear it around, rinse with hot water, and they come out perfect, and will never have to worry about scratching while cleaning them.

The method you talk about with breathing on them, sure they look great, till you stick them to light and hold them slightly sideways and see a film of crap that gives you rainbows when you watch tv, or look into the light of on coming cars. My method is fool proof, gets all oils off them, and you cant scratch them using a cloth in your pocket that has collect fine dust and dirt particles.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
39,959
9,639
136
Bump to keep it alive... I finally need another pair of glasses!

Can I get glasses with actual glass lenses? I hate plastic lenses, they scratch so easy. The extra weight of glass doesn't bother me at all.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
39,959
9,639
136
Need a little help here. I'm working up an order for a pair of reading glasses (Rx) at bestpriceglasses.com and put in my Rx but it wants me to put in info for PD. I don't see that on my Rx. What is PD? :confused:
 

SirChadwick

Diamond Member
Jul 27, 2001
4,595
1
81
Just placed an order with zennioptical.com for some cool specs for around $35 shipped. Worth a shot after reading reviews!

I'm so sick of paying $450 for my Lenscrafters glasses only to have the anti-reflective coating come off after 6 months of normal use.

Then they want me to pay for new lenses, but offer me 50% off... woot, like it's worth it. No thanks.

Hopefully this will be a cheap solution for me and if I'm happy I'll most definitely be going back for a pair of Rx sunglasses.

Thx for the reviews guys!
 

Jjoshua2

Senior member
Mar 24, 2006
635
1
76
I bought two pairs from zennioptical forlike $45 shipped and I liked one pair and not the other, so I figured $45 for 1 pair isn't bad.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
39,959
9,639
136
Anyone have any knowledge about bestpriceglasses.com? I'm looking at a pair for $7.95, of course it probably has shipping and who knows what else extra charges. The site looks pretty professional.

They wanted a PD, and my Rx didn't include it, so I called one of my past glasses sources and was told 66mm. I said "these are for reading," and she said "then tell them 63mm." So, I guess it's that.
 

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
39,959
9,639
136
Got another question. For my OD specs (right eye), my Rx has Axis as blank. Is that the same as zero? I have to put in a value for the order to proceed. Thanks.

Also, I'm curious, my right eye Cyl is DS. What does that mean?
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
61,143
16,613
136
Originally posted by: Muse
Got another question. For my OD specs (right eye), my Rx has Axis as blank. Is that the same as zero? I have to put in a value for the order to proceed. Thanks.

Also, I'm curious, my right eye Cyl is DS. What does that mean?

My prescription was the same way, blank axis, so I put in zero, and my glasses have been fine.