I am interested in trying to buy online. I live in the Caribbean so I'll have to order from an American site! Would it work for someone who has astigmatism and one lens is thicker than the other, as I do? My last glasses cost almost $373 US (approximately converted) so it would be wonderful to get an entire glasses cheaper!!!!!
@Shivansh Shukla Thanks for the question and Yes, I know a lot about follicular conjunctivitis. Typically, follicular conjunctivitis comes from a virus and clears up over the course of several weeks. Depending on the type of virus, some doctors will prescribe anti-inflammatories or use topical betadine washes. But it largely depends on what is going on and what your doctor finds. Unfortunately, I am unable to help much more without a full in person exam. If you are still dealing with issues, best to see your local doctor again. Here is some more info about eye infections: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-qEg7sJKRhXI.html
No I haven't bought online but I did look around. After your video I think I will just go local because of ease and worry free. I kinda like progressive for my near sightedness. But I need modifications to my liking so I don't have to contort my body to read things near me.
Your arguments in favor of going to a store to buy glasses are very compelling. The only problem is most shops are a ripoff. I paid 1/5 of the price in an online store for good quality frames.
It’s all about probability. You can get an excellent deal from online shops and still get good quality lenses, but on average the online shops have a higher chance of sending you glasses that have ophthalmic issues. But for those of you who got good lenses online, more power to you!
But you come back to get them adjusted at the store, right? Send them back to the online place to get them fixed or adjusted instead of wasting the stores time. That's part of the price, but you don't care, you want free service when you say the store is to expensive.
@@nelson1525 lmao shut up hahah. The store still gets money when I pay for repairs, and even if I buy in store they will still charge me for repairs so what difference does it make? The store is ripping me off idk why you're trying so hard to be a slave for it
I've had every pair of Zenni glasses I've ever bought, put on the machine at my opthalmologists office. Every single pair was 100% correct. People must enter their prescription wrong. I have lots of friends that only buy Zenni now.
Been getting from Zenni for 20 yrs , never had a problem even with progressives. Years ago had several store bought glasses that I couldn't see out of , even after attempting to correct.
Never had a problem with Zenni lenses and been buying them for the last 12 years. Frames can be a bit of guesswork though, once I find one that fits I always reorder next time I change my prescription but I usually order another pair with slightly different dimensions to see if they fit better or not.
I'm on my second pair from Zenni and have been very pleased with both. My latest prescription on progressives would have cost me $375 at a national chain, but I paid $89 at Zenni. Because I am not a rich person, I took a chance on mail order and it paid off.
@@prestonnorris9822 - I used Zenni for the first time back in May of 2021. I bought 4 pair, 2 sun/2 regular bifocal glasses. Its been a great experience. All for under $300. You can't beat the deal.
I think it is also important to acknowledge that the accessibility of buying glasses online can be really essential for those who may be disabled, have busy work schedules, kids, language barrier, or other restrictions that don't make in person shopping a good option for them. Also, some people enjoy in person customer service, while others may feel anxious/overwhelmed or even pressured and would rather shop online, it's different for everyone, and it's great that we have different options and sources available to use in this day and age!
Yep, I have ADHD and it is nice only having to remember to get glasses for a few minutes and order them vs having to run an errand (usually several since I'll need to go in to order them and later to pick them up).
Indeed, you could end up with worse glasses if you went to a store, because the vendors will pressure you and try to make you choose what they want. I remember one pair I had to more or less fight with the store to get them to adjust it and that's before even leaving with the glasses. Another didn't even adjust them, just handled them to me. Besides all the ways they try to fool you, like saying polycarbonate is scratch proof, that you'll see better through it, etc.
If you’re able to make it to the optometrist’s office, why not stop in next door after your appointment to get your glasses? I get what your saying but how are people who aren’t mobile, or get anxious around others going to the eye doctor in the first place and not able to go next door to get their glasses?
@@ryanpatel6588 some places can come out to you to do the eye tests at home. Choosing glasses is a whole different set of stressors to the actual exam too, which some are not able to cope with. Doing both on the same day is even less likely, especially for those of us with limited energy.
My local optometrist/brick & mortar wanted nearly $900 for my glasses, that is AFTER what my optical insurance pays. The Zenni frame & progressive lenses I opted for this time are $750 cheaper and just fine. I worked as an optician so I know the ins and outs of the industry, and I was skeptical about online ordering but my first order from Zenni is 100% satisfactory.
What do you think about other options, like Costco? It is in-person service, not online, but still way cheaper than getting glasses directly at the doctor's office.
If you do know the ins and outs of optometry since you said you worked your copays are based on the type of plan you have your insurance depending on what it is dictates what you’re covered for or what’s the copay if they were that high you don’t have good insurance don’t blame it on the office that argument is so one sided
Most websites require you to also submit a copy to the actual prescription so they can double check. The real issue, I think, is pupillary distance. Those of us who get ours measured by an optometrist have much more success ordering online than those who don’t, in my experience. Correct me if I’m wrong, of course. I just bought glasses online and I made sure I included my pupillary distance as measured by my optometrist. They don’t usually write it on the script, but made mine do it anyway.
Okay I did both. My in-store experience, WITH PROGRESSIVE LENSES, was that it cost three times as much, and they got my prescription wrong. My online experience(I used Zenni), WITH PROGRESSIVE LENSES, was that I bought three pair of glasses, top of the line lenses with all the coatings and everything, with custom clip on sunglasses for each pair, the lenses were perfect, and those THREE pair cost less than the ONE pair I bought in store, AND the in store pair had no special coatings and the lenses were thick. However, if they would stop ripping us off in store, and gave us the same quality you can get online for the same price, then yeah I'd buy in store again. EDIT: Also, aren't most "in-store" glasses ACTUALLY SENT OFF TO BE MADE? Basically, you go "in store", you place your order, and then they send your prescription off to be made. Isn't that the same thing that happens when you order online? So really, what's the difference? As long as you have ALL OF YOUR MEASUREMENTS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT when you place your order, what's the difference? The person in store entered my information incorrectly and I got the wrong lenses. I entered my own information correctly, online, and got perfectly made glasses. However, this was just my experience. Everyone needs to make up their own mind.
Mine too. I bought glasses with lenses for $458 in store. Went home, and the same exact eyeglasses were being sold for $133. It wasn't accounting for the lenses, but even with the lenses, the cost was way under what I paid in store. I'm all for supporting businesses, but I'm not about to get ripped off while doing so. I cancelled my order so quick.
I’ve been wearing glasses for about 15 years and this is the first time I’ve seen someone review online versus “in-store” glasses. Very informative. Thanks for sharing.
@@tacheignaallen8920 me, too. no problems. just ordered another pair from them a year later. same type of frame, etc and a "store" wanted 400 bucks. my price? less than 80. huge difference.
I’ve been wearing glasses for the past 15 years and I love the glasses I’ve gotten online. I’ve used Zenni, Firmoo, and Zeelool. I order multiple pairs of glasses because I love having different styles and I also get prescription sunglasses for about $60. I’ve probably spent about $200 and have gotten 6 pairs of glasses 👓
@@nou8474 I love my Firmoo glasses and I have plastic framed glasses from them and they’re sturdy. I’ve fallen asleep on the couch and have rolled over on them and I haven’t broken them yet.
They quoted me $430 for just the lenses in store. Online, $39. I have no problem buying in-store with a little markup, but paying 10x is price gouging.
Through the years I’ve purchased about 20 glasses from Zenni and from Eye Buy Direct, and I am completely satisfied with them. I get prescriptive with blue light protection and anti-glare lenses. They’re usually less than $100 per pair compared to $600 for a comparable pair of glasses at the optometrist. Though I’ve never had my online glasses tested for accuracy, I’m really happy to hear from the many comments hear that people have tested and learned their Zenni glasses were 100% accurate.
How do you feel about warehouse stores (Costco, etc.) 12:15 who make glasses for less than a eyeglass store? Is accuracy an issue & do they take public insurance?
I brought my own frames with me when updating my prescription and my optometrist and his assistants were not happy. They were very against bringing my own frames and kept insisting on buying the ones they had available but I stood my ground. I no longer go there. If I can save 50% or more on frames online then I sure as hell am going to. I understand supporting local businesses but when you overcharge and are passive aggressive then no thanks.
Yea. I never had an ophthalmologist push anything on me (and they worked work the optics shop). I went to another and they've tried to push blue filter and polycarbonate for me to buy on the shop next door. At least they made clear I did not need it, but every where I went they took a look at it and tried to make me make the lenses that way.
The office I went into the eye doctor they purposely left out my frame size so that it can fit my face. I called they told me I need 25 dollars. Smh. I look at an old pair of glasses prescriptions and got them fit perfect. In store they get attitude if you go somewhere else but we still have to go to them for prescription smh. My money I spend where I want too. You getting that insurance money. Instead reduce the prices. I can get everything I need for my glasses on for way cheaper than in the store. So no thank you're
As a Medicaid patient, my options are fairly limited as to what's covered and where I can go. If I want exam and glasses from the same place, I'm pretty much stuck with the really low-end chain stores, where they make their money by basically railroading as many bodies through in a day as they can. The exams are very rushed, and since I have a RAGING astigmatism and focusing disorder, for me that means the prescription ends up being incorrect. (I had proof of this having just gotten glasses, and then getting insurance through a partner with really good vision coverage just a few months later, and the good optometrist was like "this is nowhere NEAR your actual prescription.") Plus, you are limited to what was charmingly called when I was a kid, the "welfare tray" of cheap, crappy generic plastic frames. Now, with the advent of online glasses, I can get my exam at a really good, independent optometrist who takes their time, pays attention to my actual eye health. I have a rare-ish genetic disorder that makes me extra prone to retinal detachment, for instance, and I didn't even have to school him on it like I do most doctors, he knew what to look for right away. And he takes my needs into account, as well. I'm mostly housebound and don't drive, so when age pushed me into "bifocal territory," instead of trying to strong-arm me into bifocals, he wrote separate prescriptions for regular vision and for distance (kind of the opposite of having regular glasses and readers), since I rarely need distance. With a good exam, I can go online and get (in my experience) better glasses than I ever got at chain stores. Even on my limited income, for instance, I got light, comfortable titanium frames for under $100. If I'm really broke, I can still get good glasses for about $45. So, on the lower-income end of things, online glasses have been a real boon.
I've been doing the hybrid version of buying frames online and taking them to a local shop. Mostly because of style, I live in a rural area and selection is very limited and costly. I can purchase identical or similar frames at half the cost. My lenses are bifocal and one eye is very strong so I do rely on the expertise in the shop to ensure my lenses line up with my eye. For six years it's been working AO - AoK
The glasses you have on are a poor fit. Your eyes are all the way at top of the lenses & there is too much lens below your eyes. Plus they are sliding down you nose. I have been fitting eyeglasses for over 50 years so I think I might know a little about fitting glasses.
I have a really high astigmatism in both eyes and was tired of paying $400- $700 for a new pair of glasses every couple of years. I had seen quite a few people swearing that there hot them way cheaper online. (Zenni in this case) I finally bit the bullet and got a pair and I love them. I felt like I was getting away with something! Lol I did use measurements from my old pair to order and had someone help me with my PD. This helped tremendously!
No, it was because of the type of lenses they had to put in my frames. The $400 side of things was if I went to an All About Eyes or a Stanton Optical type store and got the cheapest pair of frames I could find. Like on clearance for $10 kind of cheap. The most I ever paid for frames was probably around $179 and I wanted to puke but they were beautiful and my husband told me to get them. Our insurance has never helped with the cost of an actual pair of glasses, only the exams and such.
@@latischahuller oh ok. I forgot different locations means higher prices. I usally pay for frames and get free lenses. I could always upgrade to the anti glare lens which are 50 bucks more. I usally get 50 dollars off the frames
I was on the fence about buying glasses online but this video's comment section tipped me toward buying online. I feel reassured. I have been buying glasses in brick and mortar outlets and have been spending a fortune. Easily $700 on 2 complete pairs with all add ons. At Zenni it's like $80 per pair with add ons.
I ordered 2 pairs each from different online stores. Bifocal transitional and both have been excellent. The frames and shapes were en pointe. One cost $30, the other $133. I am definitely sticking with online. The brick and mortar stores wanted $500-$600 for exactly the same thing.
Then please don’t go in and ask an optician to adjust your glasses when they don’t fit properly. When you’re buying in the store, you’re also buying the expertise and experience of an optician who has the knowledge to style you properly, as well as custom fit your glasses when you pick them up. Your optician will always be there for you whenever you need a tweak now and again. That’s what you’re paying for. We opticians are not free.
@@alyssapenman6392 i can adjust my own glasses, I'm sorry if it offends you and I'm sure the elderly and the very young appreciate your service...for now.
@@alyssapenman6392 😂😂 so I’m paying 5-600 so you can adjust my glasses abs whatever else you said!? No thank you. You sound like those people that try to get you to buy expensive brands because “that last longer”.
I’m an optometrist in a speciality clinic (vision therapy and rehab) where we don’t have an optical. For my patients with straightforward prescriptions, I tell them they can get their glasses anywhere and they will probably be ok. I have several pairs of computer glasses (single vision) that I’ve bought online for myself, and only one was a dud as far as wearability. I do find the frames to be of poorer quality- less adjustable and less comfortable. I write a lot of unusual prescriptions (prism, flat top bifocals with unequal adds, etc) and have very sensitive patients (brain injury, special needs). For those folks, there are only a few places in town I will send them for glasses. I have seen a lot of poor quality glasses from Americas Best, Target, and Walmart opticals. Costco has been ok for accuracy, but use old lens designs for progressives so many can’t get used to them; and their frames are junk. Your best bet is a small optical shop, because each job is a bigger part of their income, so they have a bigger incentive to get it right and have your repeat business.
After going to over 10 different specialists and a total loss in quality of life, only a vision therapist saw my concussion. Thank you for all your work and please spread the message wider
I work at Costco. Costco does use the newer digital surface designed lenses. There is only one design option though which works for most but not all. Most of the frames are great and designer branded. I've also worked at Walmart optical which also has some great options. I think the poor glasses that you've seen may have been more who the optician was or frame and lens options chosen.
@@michaelrobinson9296 I used to work for costco and when I recommended varilux Progressive lenses for wide field of view vision. They wrote me up and suggested that I referred patient to private optical for that type of lenses. Now that got to tell you something about their business.
As much as I like knowing that I'm getting the most accurate prescription, cost is a huge factor. Plus, I don't like that I'm forced to choose what a store has--and, growing up, I had to make that decision AFTER my eye exam. Not only does buying online save me money, I can narrow down what I want. And, potentially, I could own a few different pairs [permitting my income] since shopping online saves me $100s.
Great video! I’d like to also add that smaller eye clinics tend to be better quality than the 1-hour chains, from my experience. You also tend to get more experienced employees. Not knocking the chains, but there is something to say for shops that truly care about you and your vision. Not just about meeting a quota each week.
As an optometrist in another country, I find fitting to be the biggest issue. Centration of the lenses are off, occasionally the lenses are of different prescription altogether. Not just online. In stores which don't have optometrist or opticians, this happens as well. Hopefully my country can have improved eyecare health system which controls who can prescribe glasses soon.
I've worn glasses from online ships for well over ten years. I've gone from single vision to progressive and honestly the only time I had a problem was when the EYE DOCTOR'S OFFICE gave me the wrong prescription. Quality has always been perfectly fine because I can afford to switch out glasses because I have to wear a $700 pair of glasses until they die. I think it's important when you are buying online that you know what styles you prefer (I hate wire arm frames), what size fits your face, and what kind of shapes look best on you. If you don't have a clue about what your preferences are then online probably isn't best for you. But, if you have a frame you like that fits well, etc., you can pretty easily start assessing what would work for you. Honestly having a "wardrobe" of glasses that you can switch out is worth the hassle. I'll never buy from my eye doctor again.
Exactly and if you know the size of your old frame and you like the way it fits and how it looks you just kind of go off with that and then you know what you had in the past on style and if you had enough glasses in your life you know what style of frame you like and shape. I'm the same way I'll never buy glasses in a eye doctor again when you can get the same exact glasses online for a third of the price and so what if you have no one to adjust them once they get there if anybody wears glasses long enough they know how to adjust their own glasses and most the time have to re adjust them completely anyway after you leave a eye doctor place because they are digging in all over.
I get my prescription from a store optometrist who is excellent! Then, I buy my frame online after trying them on in luxury frame store in NYC, the order my frames and lenses online! I’ve saved almost $700 and that is the honest truth. I’ve really liked what I’ve received online too. And my lenses were progressive lenses with bifocals of course.
Wow you are the perfect definition of someone who likes to waste peoples time! Trying glasses in store in person and then go home to buy the same glasses online? I wouldn’t even waste a second on you 🙄
Zenni lenses online are the greatest! Mine were accurate! $16, $39, and $68. 2 pairs of regular prescription with anti glare and blue block, and 1 pair of sunglasses with blue block and uv block…all 3 for a little over $100! I will never go anywhere else to get glasses!
@@MrPGD77 Get an exam from the clinic, buy a frame online and bring in said frame, sign the release of liability waiver, pay for the order, and hope it returns okay. Most of the time it does. A few times it doesn't, most often because they frames are really old and brittle as a result.
I bought my last pair at a shop, total cost of 1000$. The frame is clearly too small for my head, but I didn't realise it/know it at that time. I had two employees ''helping me'' the whole time, basically just handing me frames to try. They were pro at suggesting all the expensive upgrades, but total incompetents at correcting my frame size selection. They were probably too scared to lose a sale if I didn't love any of the frames of the right size for me.
I love my way cheaper and way more stylish glasses. My second year of purchasing them online and I am thoroughly satisfied, and I can afford to buy several different frame pairs at once!
@@zenss4269 You can buy a whole pair of glasses including frames and lenses from the website. If you just buy frames online, it is still expensive to buy lenses and processing in the store. Of course Amazon can only buy frames, but you can buy them on some professional websites like Acelool, including frames, lenses and fabrication, which usually add up to no more than $60
I was hoping you'd rate the online Warby-Parkers of the world, but you didn't 😢. If consumer watchdogs say 50% of online eyeglasses are wrong, then why not tell your loyal YT followers the inside scoop. You've got the experience and education to be a discerning judge. With your silence, you leave your audience with the unenviable choice of not buying online ever or winging it totally blind and hoping they are going to have a "lucky day" of online shopping. You don't want that.
Hey I appreciate your comment! I have done a review of Warby Parker in a dedicated video. I had intended to do more reviews on online glasses producers as I have purchased so many...but the feedback on those glasses reviews have been...a bit mixed. But ...we will have to see how things go into this next year. Instead of trying to please everyone (which is impossible), I am going to try and make videos I want to make and what I think would be helpful for people. Which includes reviews on eyewear.
My 600 dollar glasses have much higher clarity then my 100 dollar online Eyebuydirect glasses. The online glasses aren't bad but just not as good as the ones I get at my eyedoctor. I used the highest index and I found that the clarity in my expensive glasses is much better then online ones.
@@ideamaker I agree we shouldn't spend so much on glasses and we get ripped of at the optical. The point I was making however is that the quality of lenses from my optical is superior to the online glasses.
I bought mine of AliExpress which are better than store one. I'm not sure if they messed up the prescription or what. I store lenses that I got sucks when I try scrolling down on the comments section it causes eye strain and look distorted. The online doesn't do this. I did get mine directly from chine and quality was really good for the glasses and lenses.
I’m in the UK and get a NHS voucher towards the cost of glasses in store every 2 years or if my prescription changes in between eye tests. I’ve bought from various online retailers and in store. Online I was able to choose single vision Zeiss and Essilor lenses and I’ve tried different online retailers own brand lenses as well over the years. I usually get designer frames and the high quality lenses. Every pair I’ve gotten online has been much, much better than the in store frames and lenses. The lenses from my local in store optician, even with anti glare and all the additional coatings offered, were simply terrible by comparison especially factoring in the cost difference. I’d rather have designer high quality glasses and top of the range lenses for less than half the price of an in store pair. My prescription is for single vision distance/everyday and is still mild for now so I’ll order online for as long as possible
I always figured getting online frames and going to the doctor to get the lenses was the way to go. No one really needs Ferrari frames when they are the same to produce as the cheaper frames right next to it.
That isnt really the case. Many online marketers will push the notion that their cheap glasses are manufactured in the same way with the same quality. Some may be the case but most designer frames are made with better materials and hand made. Also, cheap ass frames dont last very long. High quality frames can be re-used for up to 10 years depending on how well you take care of them. Cheap frames will fall apart (even within 1 year) At least you go to your doctor for lenses and giving them some business
Really depends on what you prefer :) It is like cars... they all have 4 wheels, a steering wheel and an engine... But I would hardly call that "same". Even tho I understand that cars are more complex, there sure are advantages to picking a frame you can try on, and also get advice from the Eye Care Professional regarding the right lenses for the type of frame you are picking at the local store. When you buy glasses online, there are occasions where the online purchased frame simply may not fit well with the future prescription lenses. But then again this is only my personal experience as an optician/opthometrist :)
@@moomanchu608 “Handmade”? Do you really think Essilor has an army of ancient craftsmen turning out RayBans by hand at their factory in China? There would be much more variation in quality if that were the case. As for reusing frames, the shops I inquired at told me wanted a fee of at least $25 for the privilege of reusing my frames. My new frames only cost $21! Plus, I would be without my glasses for two weeks while the new lenses were being put in. How many ways can I say “not worth it”?
The difference in quality between a cheap pair and a quality pair can be massive. Some really budget frames size can vary between two of the same model (and I have seen different sizes between left and right eyes). The other end would be something like a Starck where the frame is cut curved from a block of acetate rather than just being heated and then curved. Guess which stays in shape in hot weather. More expensive frames often have more layers of 'paint' or made from more durable materials like stainless steel, beta titanium or precious metals
@@edwardwright8127 Handmade, these days, refers to a cellulose acetate frame that is milled from a block, polished for days in a barrel of wood chips and compound, and assembled. Non-handmade connotes a plastic frame that is injection molded, or stamped out of acetate, then shellacked for a shiny finish rather than polished. You can see the orange peel and rough finish on the bad ones.
I bought Ray Ban prescription glasses on line 1 X. What arrived in the mail was a nightmare. I returned them for a full refund within a few days. (Ray Ban has that policy which is a plus.) Went to my optometrist which has an optician at his office and re-order them, with a different style entirely. I learned my lesson. Do the fittings, and frame and lens selections in person with a trained professional NEVER EVER with a website.
Since I found Zenni I have never had a issue. Last year I bought my glasses and sport goggles for less then 100. At a store the goggles alone was 400-500. I'm good
I've been buying my glasses from Zenni for years, and have never been disappointed. I wear progressives, and prior to my cataract surgery had a very strong prescription. Glasses priced locally (from their 'budget' wall) were over $500, and about $150 from Zenni. Frames in eye clinics are ridiculously overpriced.
My store you get Gucci with progressive digital lenses, transition and A/R for around $500. You probably went to a corner store in the Hamptons for those prices.
@@CarlosHernandez-ki6tv You do understand that people have varying degrees of insurance? Some insurance will only cover like 25% of the cost of a hi-index lens, MAYBE give you $100 allowance for frames which then winds up sticking you with some of the ugliest and plain frames, and then if you are like me with really BAD eyes and severely near sighted and requiring progressives and a high index lens so i don't have coke bottle glasses, just ONE LENS costs me around $225 WITHOUT A FRAME. After my insurance covers it pittly amount. So to get a pair of progressives lenses in my prescription right out the door costs $450 JUST FOR THE LENSES. Then you factor in that i need frames and if I go cheap i get ugly frames for free or 20ish dollars since I get a $100 allowance for frames EVERY TWO YEARS. Well guess what, most people need new frames yearly because they don't hold up well. So then if i get better frames, they run $250-300.... So once you deduct my $100 allowance it comes out to $550-650 for a single pair of progressive glasses.... Or i can go to zenni.com and get the exact same thing for $200 TOTAL
He was biased...He said Most of his clients who buy progressives online complain....READ the comments here, they are not in line with his statement, and also all my friends and my sister are very happy with their online progressives.
Great video! I have been ordering my household glasses online for the past few years. While the cost is way cheaper, we would have issues that recently made us go back local! Our biggest issue is the screws in the glasses would become so loose, we would have to constantly go in to get the adjusted. I don’t know, I feel recently they have been terrible quality. Also I need a very thin lense as my vision Is bad and they would just toss the thickest lense in without shaving it down. I will use online as backup only now, I just wish the prices were more affordable in store!
@@DoctorEyeHealth firmoo, Zenni optical, and Warby Parker! Warby had the best ones, but as I stated, it’s always the screws and adjusting them is a pain
I’m an optician, so my job is to literally sell glasses to patients. The thing I’m seeing the most is the fit is almost always wrong. Everyone brings us their online glasses for adjustments and sometimes it’s impossible because they’re too big/too small.
@@philipdarnall787 you are charging for your services, if you are an optician. That's why a pair of glasses from the brick and mortar places cost so much more than an online pair. Once the customer figures out all the information, that they need to know, to order on their own, then they don't need your services, and they shouldn't pay for them. Unless they really want to. I have a friend who always buys local and she can afford it and I respect her for it, but I don't have the discretionary cash that she has. I've gotten really good at buying glasses online and I will never go back.
@@therealdeal3672 Take your own PD, figure out your seg ht, repair and adjust your own glasses and all is good. Don't ask me to do it while I have paying customers waiting in line for my services.
@@philipdarnall787 I got my PD's being a paying customer! Jealousy shows! Can't compete with online? Because your services aren't really worth all that? That's what I thought. That's why I'm not paying for people like you anymore. I don't need to pay your mortgage I need to pay mine.
@@philipdarnall787 holding out the PD is your only way to keep paying customers. As a matter of fact one of my online vendors sent me the measurement device for measuring PD's but I already earned my measurements by paying through the teeth for glasses for years. Get a clue! Some businesses just change when online becomes available. Yes your industry is one of them too!
A lot of frames at local shops that I really like are not available in my size. I believe most frame models are available in limited size configuration. I use dimension labeling from existing frames that I like when buying a new build on line.
the arguments are compelling, however I like a particular brand, and the last couple of stores i checked, they wanted to charge me close to $600+ for the pair that I liked with the lenses. I went online, with my prescription and got the same pair with the anti blue light and anti reflection for $200. I have ordered 2 pairs this way and they have been perfect. I think ill keep going to the store for the eye exam and keep buying my glasses online
Well, as an Optician, i unfortunately cannot disagree with this line of arguments. I see way too often that optical stores overcharge waay too much for their stuff. They can for instance give you a pretty mediocre lens that is made super accurately with latest technologies, which skyrockets the price, when in fact, you're still getting a mediocre lens. xD For instance, there is a store that is right next to ours, they sell stuff that is of worse quality than what we sell, while their prices are 3 times higher.
All Stores Please Lower the price of all Military and Local for all Brands of Vision Care Products and Accessories and Production Cost Now That's too much $$ Tha Whole World Now 🙏🙏🙏
The shops will always be better because they can advise what frames to go far. Especially if you have pretty bad eyesight and the actual lenses are going to be thick. Also they will measure to make sure the glasses will fit correctly on you. But if I want unique and quirky online is better
My brother recommended Zenni, describing them as having prices so cheap, "the glasses are practically disposable!" I wear progressives. When my first pair arrived, the mid-range and reading areas were absolutely perfect. It wasn't until I was driving to work that I discovered my distance vision was blurry. Sent the glasses back and they admitted they'd screwed it up and gave me a credit. I chose a different pair and it's on the way as I type this. Hopefully they'll have gotten it right this time. The total cost was about $300 less than I paid for my current glasses four years ago.
@@mrs.b.s.7212 I am wearing my new glasses as I type this and they are amazing. They are progressives. The frames were only $16, but because my prescription is so strong, I sprung for the $90 lenses, which are considerably thinner and lighter. They needed very little adjustment to fit me perfectly.
They probably didn't screw up. There is a measurement with progressives called the seg height that is dotted from the pupil to the bottom of the lens. It is impossible to know where that measurement needs to be when buying online so they make an educated guess. Your seg height was too high and that was likely your issue.
I get why, I think if insurance companies reimbursed for the medical care at a fair level, then clinics wouldn't have to rely on glasses sales as much and they wouldn't care about giving out the PD.
Thanks for the honest review. Rarely do i get that honesty from an optometrist here. I have bought glasses many times online. They work but vary on quality by price. They have worked well and saved me from added costs i dont have employer coverage. If cost is no issue i would recommend just going to the local optometrist as they can make all the adjustments to the frame to fit your face properly. Great video!
@@fortyfour6626 Obviously these online providers are cutting into their business so most of them are making up lies to discourage people from buying. Yes i was lied to till i tried buying for myself.
Man stop it. Ain’t nobody trying to pay you $1000 for something that cost $150/$250 that’s just stupid and if anything shows how much retail exploits their customers.
I have purchased my eyeglasses online. I did that as a backup pair since my insurance only covers one pair every two years. In most cases, the eyeglasses that I ordered online worked well. I have not ordered any eyeglasses online in a long time. Thanks for the video and the information. You are correct about the not being able to try the glasses on for comfort and feel and that was one thing I did find to be an issue a few times.
The optometrist wanted to charge me $300+ for the bare essential, discount frames, plain lenses, no scratch resistance, no anything. I am on a very tight budget and went online to Zenni. Not only did they scan my face using my web cam but they sent me a measuring tool to measure my pupil distance. I got a good set of metal frames in rectangle (which was recommended for my face shape), got progressive lenses, anti scratch, anti glare, blu block and oil/fingerprint resistant. I also got clip on sunglasses that were shaped to my frames, all for $80. They fit great and took some getting used to (never had glasses before, ever), but I am now used to them and so happy I went through them. The one thing I should mention that throws some people off, although I've found no problems so far, is that the lenses are a hardened, laser polished plastic lens. Some people prefer glass but plastic so far has been perfectly great for me and the fact that they are harder to break or crack is nice. The one downpoint is that you can only use warm water on them if they are caked with something or sticky and for smudges, you can only use a microfiber cloth that has not been washed or dried with fabric softener. If you wash the lenses with any kind of cleaner or solvent, it can remove the anti glare and blu block coating so they say to use only warm water. Same with using a cloth that's been laundered with fabric softener, they say it'll damage the coatings. I bought a couple dollar store microfiber cloths for smudges and run the lenses under water when I need to and have had zero problems with them so far. They don't even need to be adjusted. Of course, I may have just been that lucky 1/1000 that got perfect glasses but from the reviews, they seem to do very well and people are generally happy with the product.
I've bought locally from brick and mortar stores and online; I have a relatively high prescription, and my experience is that online has been just as good as the local stores, and sometimes even better. P.S. I love your cat... so cute... just a baby, too...
Please talk about the real reason why in store glasses are overpriced one name ... LUXOTTICA the company that has a monopoly on prescription and most sun glasses brands. They control LensCrafters, purlvision , Sears optical So on.
I've bought glasses online for several years. The only problem I had was when I made a mistake typing in the prescription. I take them to a local place for adjustments. I can usually buy 2-3 pairs for the price of one that way. And I need progressive lenses & a computer pair. But after the first big mistake, I did my homework & know the sizes & shapes. It's work 😆
I'm not sure, but I think a con of online glasses is that they don't take insurance for dual eligible patients on Medicare and Medicaid. If they do take insurance, they usually don't take them for same or next day manufacturing and there's shipping time and cost.
@@DoctorEyeHealth Oh, I bought them on Amazon. They are reading glasses, Computer Blue Light Blocking, Anti Glare/UV/Eye Strain. I am very happy with them!
I purchased glasses from a clinic and they still charged me $80 for a 3 second adjustment, on frames I hadn't decided on yet and didn't ask for adjustments on.
I can't imagine getting glasses online, I wouldn't even consider it no matter how much cheaper. You don't know how they're gonna fit, you don't know how they're gonna feel, how heavy they are, how they really look. I normally have to go through a lot of pairs at the store before I find something that I really like. My eyesight and my face are too important. I pay whatever it takes. This is just an issue I would never cut corners or compromise on.
I can’t tell you enough how appreciative I am of you to make your videos. As a licensed optician I am faced with a lot of questions especially when it comes to patients asking me about online retailers. I refer a lot of them to watch your videos.
yeah, sorry but in store is just too expensive. I only got polycarbonate transition lesnse with anti glare and they charged me $600 after insurance just for that and another $175 for the frames. plus, they wanted me to tip their worker and tried to upsell me insurance on the glasses. but atleast the eye exam was free(insurance). With online I can get all of this and more with the $175 for just the frames at in store. Why should I nearly have to take out a personal loan just for 1 pair of glasses with old technology lol.
I’m so thankful to have discovered you and this video. I’ve always bought in store and they’re always very expensive so getting them much less expensively online was a major draw for me. I’ve been shopping online for over a year and have had many try-on boxes sent to me during that time. I’ve liked the styles, colors, prices and quality of the frames I’ve tried but the uncertainty attached to getting the quality, accuracy, durability and features in lenses have held me back from ordering every time, especially because I use bifocals. I thought it was an either-or choice; it never occurred to me that I could buy the frames online and go in store for my lenses and fitting. That’s definitely the best if both worlds for me. Thank you so much.
There is no argument. Online is superior because of the quick turnaround. Doctors cannot offer same day so if you break your glasses, you are looking at 3 weeks if you are lucky. Whereas online you can get your glasses overnight. Even lenscrafters doesn't do same day anymore
Paying $600 at a chain store or $75 at an online shop. It's a no-brainer for me. Been buying online for several years now without issues. & if anything (& I mean anything) happens to them in the first year they send me a whole new pair for just the $5 shipping price. I can easily afford backup pairs now.
Online glasses? Zennioptical. Cost for TEST LENS SET? $40. Cost for -1 Diopter lens glasses, for temporary recovery from nearsightedness? $20. After getting back to 20/20? Priceless. Hi Doc, Thanks for your review and discussions.
Just to start, the glasses you are wearing looking very big for your face! That brings me to my next point, I had to buy Garrett Leight 45mm frames online because not one opticians near me sell glasses for smaller faces. The cheapest high street opticians specsavers want to reach in my pocket and charge me 3 times the amount online stores want to charge me for single vision glasses.
I’ve been buying my glasses online for about 15 years now. I’ve only had to send a couple pairs back - one pair was a poor frame choice, one they got my husbands prescription wrong. No issues with returns on either pair. I will say the biggest advantage for me is cost. I KNOW what size frames I need, I know what frame shapes work best, and I like variety. Each prescription change I generally get 2 pair sunglasses, 2 pair reading glasses, and then 3 or 4 pair of normal distance correction for less than ONE pair of glasses would be at the local optometrist. When I was paying $500+ for a single pair of glasse, I was insanely picky - they had to be perfect for everything - formal, casual, work, school, etc... Now that I can find glasses for under $40 each I’m not at all picky and have found way more styles, shapes and colours that before I’d never have gone for. Current frames include tortoiseshell pattern, green plastic, teal plastic, pink, polka dots, beach glass look, oval frames, rectangle frames, cat eyes, square... I really appreciate the honest review and the pros and cons of each. It echos my experience and I find having been ordering my own glasses for so long that I have learnt more about my prescription and feel like I can ask my optometrist better questions during the eye exam. Prescription - astigmatism in both eyes, distance correction in both as well need for reading glasses (I prefer to have reading glasses and distance glasses and switch between as needed as opposed to progressives or bifocals)
I prefer to pay the money, getting my optometrist to get me the correct glasses & adjusting them for me. My optometrist is very thorough & takes his time adjusting my glasses properly so I don't get headaches or sore eyes... The girls at the front desk couldn't adjust a bunch of bananas in a shopping kart, but my optometrist is very good.... Will be sad when he retires.
I wear multi focal progressive glasses, I tried buying a pair online, after a couple months I realized the reading portion was too small for me and I was struggling to make the glasses work. I called the online company, there’s nothing they could do. I agree wholeheartedly with the statement if you need progressive lenses, it’s way too tricky. I went back to my optometrist ate some crow and bought them there.
I use to shop at Cohens, 15 years. the always forced warrantys on the glasses than never use them. They always tried to add cleaning fees etc. the once told me I my glasses needed correction, what ever that means. Than told me if they break them there not responsible for it, I refused. I like using glassesusa, I have used them only once so far and I will 100% use them again may will be 1 year so I will need to visit my eye doctor for a new prescription.
There really is a craft to opticianry and it's a shame the industry being money hungry has made people unware of that. I think it's pretty neat to get a pair of glasses fitted specifically to your eyes and style. It's truly unique! I think more people would think so too if they werent forced to pay an arm and a leg to be able to see. I still go in person for my glasses, but i understand why a lot of people go online for theirs. I shop online for convenience or price too
In-store price brick-and-mortar is a rip-off. Five or six hundred dollars for a pair of glasses that I can buy online for less than $100 I got to go online
Dr. Could you please also talk about the eye test, I am always so stresses during the test cause I don't know what they want me to see, it is the out line or the actual alphabet. Yeah, I have fucked up eyes.
That is great request! I think that would be a helpful video for a lot of people. I think the important thing is to relax and not try to stress out about doing well. Your eye care professionals know what they are doing and want to help you. What seems to be the hardest parts for you? (they want you to be able to read the letters)
@@DoctorEyeHealth to be honest, I don't know. I think they do, then again I think they don't. I then panic because I think I am wasting their time and so I just give whatever answer I think they want to hear. I am also always told about my high astigmatism, all depressing to be honest.
@@thandie67 What do doctors want to hear? Which one is better. Even slightly better. It gives them an idea of what's going on and they can better reach the correct prescription you need. But since you have high astigmatism, get the best antireflective coating, aspheric lenses like Essilor's Eyezen, and definitely have them measure your PD and OC.
I just go to America's Best because I need to be able to try them on and have them adjusted. Buying online isn't worth the savings, especially when you end up paying more for thinner lenses, etc.
I'm on my 4th pair that I have bought on line. I've paid about 60 dollars a pair. I can see just fine and the sunglasses are great. That being said, the frame quality is not as good but pretty good. But they didn't cost 700.00 dollars either. The frames on line are yesterday s trends, not new trends. I like to have a really good pair from a real store, and extra pairs from on line
The 39 dollars glasses I got online make things look like the world is in hard core HD. Like everything is so clear it’s almost too clear. If that makes sense? The ones from the doctor office are not as clear, but kinda like looking through a window.
Before I went the online route, a pair of progressive glasses, with UV, scratch guard and transition lenses through a brick/mortar store would cost around $500 (plus frames and with VSP insurance). Through online, like eyebuy, I got the same glasses for around $200 (with online discount coupon). Although there is the drawback of PD accuracy (depending), it doesn’t make sense to pay more than double. My 3 cents.
The office I work for won't touch an online frame. The majority that I have seen have been flimsy and made out of the cheapest materials. I'm not saying all are... I just haven't seen a good quality frame out of them yet.
As an optician I have had a fair amount of people come in to see me with issues with their online glasses. It's usually due to them inputting the prescription incorrectly or guessing their PD or selecting with 'average' PD button. In theory if you get this all correct then you'll likely still find the vision particularly in the periphery of the lenses is not as good as they often don't use best-form lenses or if they do use aspheric lenses, the vertical centration hasn't been taken into account. You get what you pay for at the end of the day.
I recently bought glasses in-store. They steered me to progressives, but they didn't measure my PD or anything about how the frames would sit on my face, which I've since realized is important for a good optical result. They also wanted to charge $1000, *after* insurance. How could online be worse than that? It seems to me that the store was more concerned with a quick turn-around and up-selling the customer, than with educating the customer about the options and going through a sound process to produce a satisfying result. It seems to be all on the customer to be informed and advocate for themselves. In the end I bought a distance pair at the store and six pairs of cheap reading glasses from online. I'm very satisfied with the reading glasses. I somewhat regret the expense of the distance pair, even after getting them to apply coupons. I think there's something to be said for keeping them inexpensive. They are exposed on your face in all kinds of conditions and can be dropped or broken; I don't feel comfortable wearing something expensive.
Thank you for exploring online glasses shopping. I'm in a position where I'm between cataract surgeries and really need an option to help me out for 6 months. Hard to justify spending $800 for local glasses when I'm just going to have to purchase again in 6 months. Thanks for putting out the pros and cons!
This was me over the last year and it's how I discovered Zenni (and now EyeBuyDirect, too) and LOVE LOVE LOVE. I'm an evangelist for online glasses now. I feel like the store prices are basically a scam.
As my eye doctor can walk out for under 800 dollars or get a pair on zenni for less the 20. I could make a mistake 5 times and still come out for around 100.00
I have always used Zinni but my girlfriend and I decided to get them from our eye doctor for a change. Zinni cost me about $150 a pair from the Dr's office were over $700. I would like to mention that the $700 were not usable for me because the progressive line was too high. I just had cataract surgery so glasses are not an issue at the moment.
My problem with buying online is that the frame looks good until you try it on and it don’t fit and it’s uncomfortable. I prefer to try the frames in the store, it save me time.
Thank you. I’m about to make this decision myself. I’d love to support my local shop but I’m aware that a single company controls the price of almost all brand of frames. I’ve just come upon your channel so don’t yet know if you’ve offered a tutorial on adjusting glasses to fit. I grew up in a time/place where the local pharmacist routinely adjusted glasses. My father was that person. Once you know the basics you can adjust for comfort and fit if not for the very best possible vision. Hot water, a flat surface an instrument screwdriver, mini pliers and a pair of calipers will go a long way.
For over 5 years I have been purchasing my eye glasses online. I buy 3 pairs every 2 years; pair of reading, a pair of bifocals and a pair of sun glasses. I was Leary the very first time, but not any more. I get 3 pairs for the price on1 pair locally. I buy mine from ZENNI OPTICAL. 👍👍👍♥♥♥
I've gotten my last two or three pairs of glasses online, and the only time I had a problem was when I put in the average pupillary distance instead of my exact PD. Other than that, I've had few problems, and I've saved so much $$$. My last pair cost about $50-60 with clip ons, blue light blocking, 1.61 lens, and cool frames.
It’s also important to note that a lot of brand names in eyeglasses and in eye chains like lens crafters are all owned by one European company that has a near monopoly. So buying online is a way around the artificially high prices from Luxottica monopoly
Very professional explanation. I would like to have a spare low cost in addition to my eye doctor’s just to enjoy more options and looks. I got great insights on the specs from this video. Thank you!
Yes I have. In 2007 when I was overseas for a holiday I met an optometrist, she prepared a new set of glasses within one hour! For the same brand frame I had to wait for 5 weeks in Australia. One hour glasses were more comfortable even it was the same brand. Since that time when I need a new pair I send her a copy of my prescription, I get the same style frame. The new pair arrives within a week. I am happy with the service.
After spending $300 a pop every 6mnths (including having insurance) for our grandson;s glasses, we went with Zenni. $300 glasses from eye doctor office with scratch resistant coating always got scratched up within days. $30 glasses from Zenni and 3 months later not a scratch on them. He also wears them more/longer.
I just received the first glasses I bought online (after a lot of research) and they came out perfect, costing 1/5th of the store price. But I confess that until they arrived I was afraid hehehe
