Comments on: How We Bought Inexpensive, Awesome Glasses Online

By: Liz

Liz — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 20:37:16 +0000

My coworkers love Eye Buy Direct so I tried them out last year. The glasses are really nice and feel sturdier than the ones I got at the optician, but unfortunately my face is so small that even their “extra small” frames are too large for my face and slip down my nose. 🙁 works ok for sunglasses but not regular glasses. I exchanged my first pair of glasses to try to get a smaller size and the process was very easy, even though the frames were still too large. I think they’re a great option for people to try out though.

By: Rachel @ Money Hacking Mama

Rachel @ Money Hacking Mama — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 03:13:24 +0000

I bought glasses recently on Eye Buy Direct too and I love them. I think it was around $70 and I got 2 pairs of prescription glasses. What’s really cool is that I was able to use my FSA credit card to purchase them pre-tax for added savings. I had to print the card that they have to measure my own pupillary distance but I think I got it right because I can see just fine with my new glasses.

By: Cyan Magy

Cyan Magy — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 02:04:39 +0000

“He’d forgotten to get an eye exam. Maybe it is a brain tumor? “Or maybe it could have been Ocular/ Uveal Melanoma. A rare malignant tumor on the retina that can only be seen and diagnosed with a dilated eye exam. Usually no symptoms and there is no current cure. 50% die and you will live with diminished vision or enucleation. Yes it is rare, 2000 new cases a year in the USA, a chance mutation that has nothing to do with cell phones or tanning beds because the new cases have remained constant. I never heard of it until my 29 y.o.cousin was diagnosed. She had had a yearly dilated eye exams until her health insurance added a large deductible and raised the co-pays and premiums. The reality is that many people are no longer getting regular health care exams because they just can no longer afford it even with insurance. Most people have cut down on consumerism , they are frugal and the cost of basic health care just keeps going up. Get a yearly dilated eye exam.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 04 May 2018 23:40:15 +0000

I saw online some horror stories on Lasik. Regarding eyeglass frames, when I was in college and had limited funds – I purchased some nice reading glasses at the pharmacy. I removed the lenses and took to the optical place to have them put in the prescription lenses.

By: Howard

Howard — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 16:08:30 +0000

I’ve been using Eyebuydirect.com for years with good results. Most prescriptions will not include the pupillary distance and you will need that for the order to Eyebuydirect. Usually the store that fills the order will take that measurement. Ask the doctor to do so.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:28:07 +0000

I just got an eye exam and ordered new glasses yesterday. I went to a local technical college, where the exam was done by a 4th year optometry student (double checked by her professor), and hence free. There was a further 10% discount on new glasses if you bought them in-house, and an €85 public subsidy. The frame was only €65, actually, so it came within the subsidy. Still, after all discounts were applied (first the 10% discount, then the subtraction of the subsidy, i.e. the mathematically most favourable approach to me), the overall bill was still €343 ($407). The kicker were the lenses rather than the frame: thinned, progressive lenses with anti-glare coating which also correct my astigmatism. I felt terribly hard done by about the expense until a friend told me that his new glasses (also progressive lenses) were coming to €500! ($590) And that was before I read Denise’s story above – £600 for one pair comes to €670 ($796).

Given how much time and care the dispensing optician spent on finding the exact right focal point etc., I am not sure I would want to order over the internet. Furthermore, I am not sure whether an online purchase would qualify for the public subsidy. The dispensing optician phoned the relevant government office to make sure I qualified. So I guess I will keep paying the technical college prices. Given the price comparisons I gave above, I am not even sure they are making that much of a profit, to be honest, and I am supporting vocational education this way. But for people whose prescription is straightforward enough to make online ordering viable, it sounds like a great solution!

By: Beth

Beth — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 14:41:08 +0000

I’ve been considering something like this. I do wear glasses, but my vision is not completely terrible. I usually take them off when I am at home. I detest going to the eye doctor. Do optometrists just give you the prescription or do you have to ask for it? Are you met with resistance upon asking? Can you call and get your prescription from a previous exam? Are prescriptions only good for one year the way medication prescriptions are? Thanks for any input!

By: Little Miss Miser

Little Miss Miser — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 21:20:08 +0000

Another timely reminder to be frugal in all purchases. We’re not currently looking for glasses but are getting Mr Miser road safe for rainy cycling.

If anyone is in the UK I’ve had a good pair from Glasses Direct – still looking for somewhere that does decent prescription sunglasses that don’t make me look like an eighties throwback (alas, I am vain…)

By: Lauren

Lauren — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 00:34:55 +0000

In reply to shannon.

Thanks for this comment! I’d just gone through experimenting with putting glasses in the cart at EBD and couldn’t believe how much more expensive they were compared to Frugalwood’s experience: $100+ for one pair of sunglasses. I’ll check out Warby Parker and see if that changes it.
I do think it’s cool that they offer those blue-light filtering glasses, thought. Maybe we’ll eventually get some of those.

By: Kayla

Kayla — Sat, 27 May 2017 11:12:22 +0000

In reply to julie. Thank you Julie.

By: Mrs. Frugalwoods

Mrs. Frugalwoods — Thu, 25 May 2017 18:16:59 +0000

In reply to julie. Glad to hear the glasses will work out for you! And, glad that they have that free return policy for the sunglasses!

By: julie

julie — Thu, 25 May 2017 18:15:50 +0000

In reply to Kayla. Some stores will adjust your glasses for a $10 fee.