Buying prescription glasses online: What are the pros and cons?

There’s never been more choice when it comes to upgrading your eyewear. When I purchased my first pair, my local optometrist was the only option, and the experience set me back hundreds. But now, there are several online retailers offering affordable eyewear.

We asked people about their experiences buying glasses online and were surprised by the number of positive responses.

Linda has bought several pairs from the Clearly website and has been pleased with the quality, service and price. “I now have enough pairs to leave in all the rooms I use glasses”.

Retired pharmacist Neville sold sunglasses and reading glasses for many years but now prefers to buy his glasses online. “The websites can be a bit tricky to navigate and the sizing of the frames can be a bit obscure, but the huge savings makes even a false start worthwhile.”

Claire is also a fan of buying glasses online. After living in Asia, she realised how expensive it was to buy prescription glasses in New Zealand and has since bought pairs (including prescription sunglasses) online from Zenni. Her advice is to take your time to check the frame measurements and use the virtual try-on feature.

Ellie’s first experience online wasn’t great – bad service and the fit and prescription weren’t right. However, she now buys from Zenni and has no complaints. “I do feel awkward walking away from my optometrist with my prescription because I expect the companies are hoping to recoup the cheaper cost of an eye test with a glasses’ sale. However, I’d rather pay more for an eye test, while having the extra choice at an affordable price by shopping online.”

We decided to find out whether buying glasses online was a good option. Armed with my colleague Vanessa’s current prescription and her choice of frames, I ordered prescription glasses from six online retailers to check the process.

Once the glasses arrived, we sent them to a licensed New Zealand spectacle lens manufacturer to check the accuracy of the lenses against Vanessa’s prescription and give us an assessment of the quality of the lenses and frames.

Kristine Hammond, clinic supervisor at the University of Auckland’s Optometry and Vision Science department in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and immediate past chair of the New Zealand Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board, also gave us her advice about the risks of buying online.

The risks of buying glasses online

According to Hammond, buying prescription glasses online might seem like a convenient and cost-effective option, but it comes with risks, and the more complicated your prescription, the more likely you are to strike problems.

“Without the advice of a registered dispensing optician, who is trained to interpret prescriptions and fit eyewear, you may end up with glasses that don’t fit properly or provide the expected visual clarity and lenses that aren’t aligned properly.

“Poorly fitted glasses can lead to discomfort, headache and eye strain, especially if the lenses aren’t centred properly. In the case of multifocal lenses, inaccurate centration can leave you with unclear or double vision.”

Hammond said online retailers are also not able to verify the accuracy of your prescription, and issues such as an incorrect prescription or substandard lens quality can go unchecked.

A registered dispensing optician can also help you choose the best frame style and lens options based on your prescription and lifestyle.

“They can advise on the most appropriate lens for digital screen use, blue light protection or coatings to reduce glare. These personalised recommendations are difficult to get when buying eyewear online because fitting and frame selection are often generic and lack professional guidance. Another benefit is a dispensing optician will offer ongoing support if your glasses need further adjustments as it’s not uncommon for people to strike problems with the fit of new glasses.”

Before you buy, check the store’s refund policy. The online stores we shopped at had varying terms and conditions, and if you buy from an overseas website, New Zealand’s consumer laws can’t be enforced. Glasses you buy from a New Zealand store are covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act. That means, if they aren’t of acceptable quality, it’s the retailer’s responsibility to fix the problem.

The process for buying glasses online

First, you’ll need a copy of your current prescription. The Privacy Act 2020 gives you the right to ask for a copy of your eye test and prescription details.

Vanessa’s prescription didn’t include her pupillary distance (PD), which is the measurement between the pupils of your eyes, so she measured it herself. This measurement is needed to make sure the glasses correctly align with the centre of the eyes.

The ordering process is simple – the hardest part is deciding what to buy. There are hundreds of options, so it can be overwhelming, but the websites we visited all offered advice on frame size and glasses to suit different face shapes.

They also had a “try-on” function, which is a good way to check if the frames you’re eyeing up suit you.

Next, you’ll be stepped through the lens options. We chose the cheapest standard lenses, which were all scratch-resistant and some pairs came with an anti-reflection coating. You can expect to pay extra for added features, such as UV protection and tints, and such features can quickly add up.

There were no hiccups with the delivery process. All the companies kept us updated on manufacturing status and shipping dates. Despite ordering the glasses in the lead-up to Christmas, all arrived within the estimated delivery timeframe.

Glasses compared

About our survey

We purchased prescription glasses from six online retailers.

All orders came with a hard case and glasses cleaning cloth.

Some retailers charge in US dollars – the price published here is what we paid in New Zealand dollars.

What the expert said

The independent lens manufacturer said the accuracy of the lenses in all the glasses was within an acceptable tolerance for Vanessa’s prescription. In his opinion, the glasses wouldn’t cause any eye damage. However, all the glasses had slight inaccuracies, and Vanessa might not find it comfortable wearing them for long periods.

He noted that Vanessa’s prescription is relatively weak, and for higher prescriptions, the accuracy would need to be tighter, especially for the glasses we purchased from Clearly, Zenni and SmartBuyGlasses. These three pairs arrived with “vertical prism”, which means the optical centres were not matched vertically. Over time, Vanessa’s eyes would adapt to this imbalance, which might cause a problem when she got her next pair of glasses if that pair didn’t have the same vertical prism.

None of the PD measurements were exactly Vanessa’s measurement. Our expert said the eyes would adapt to this, but with stronger prescriptions, the inaccuracy might cause eye strain and headaches, and the wearer might not be able to use the glasses for long periods of time.

The curve of the lenses in all the glasses was quite flat, which would make it easier for the lenses to pop out over time. For people with a wide head or those who like to wear their frames on top of their head, this might be more of an issue.

The frames were all OK – although three pairs did not have the metal shank running the length of the arms to hold the glasses’ strength and shape. If these glasses needed adjusting, the adjustment would not hold.

Vanessa said she’d only wear two of the seven pairs we ordered online. “From an affordability perspective, buying glasses online is worth giving a go. But it can be hit or miss, so be prepared for a dud or two.

Clearly

clearly.co.nz

Price: $20.75 ($7.80 glasses, $12.95 delivery). Includes scratch-resistant lens.
Try-on feature: Virtual mirror by allowing camera access.

Expert's comment: Issues with vertical prism; arms contain metal shanks to improve fit.
Vanessa's verdict: I didn’t like these glasses at all. The frames felt flimsy, and because they were a wee bit wonky, the lenses didn’t sit right over my eyes. The effect? Instant headache and eye strain. This could potentially be improved with proper fitting, but it’s a no from me.

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Lensmart

lensmartonline.com

Price: $46.11 (US$14.95 tortoiseshell glasses, US$5 black glasses, US$6.95 delivery). Includes scratch-resistant lenses and anti-reflection coating.
Try-on feature: Upload your image to use this feature.

Expert's comment: Arms of both pairs contain metal shanks to improve fit.
Vanessa's verdict: The tortoiseshell pair is my favourite. The frame feels quite solid and durable. The only drawback is that the lenses seem a bit loose. They’re a wee bit rattly, which makes me nervous there’s a chance they’ll fall out at some point in the future – but it’s a risk I’ll definitely take.

It's a miss for the black pair though. The arms feel loose, like the hinges aren’t tight enough. But they feel reasonably solid, and unlike the tortoiseshell pair, the lenses are secure in the frame. Unfortunately, something is up with the way the lenses are sitting over my eye. The vision correction isn’t quite right, especially when I’m looking down. I wouldn’t wear these again.

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Optically

optically.co.nz

Price: $38.95 ($30 glasses, $8.95 delivery). Includes scratch-resistant lenses and anti-reflection coating.
Try-on feature: Upload your image to use this feature.

Expert's comment: Arms contains metal shanks to improve fit.
Vanessa's verdict: This pair didn’t suit me as much as I’d hoped, but the frame seems solid and well built. The case is really lovely. The lenses feel a bit off, which will put me off wearing them again.

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SmartBuyGlasses

smartbuyglasses.co.nz

Price: $38.99 ($24 glasses, $14.99 delivery). Includes scratch-resistant coating and anti-reflection coating.
Try-on feature: Virtual mirror by allowing camera access or uploading image.

Expert's comment: Issues with vertical prism; arms don’t contain metal shanks, so any adjustment may not hold.
Vanessa's verdict: This is the flimsiest pair of glasses. The plastic is quite flexible around the ears, and the entire frame bends quite easily. They’re quite light, so if you’re not into heavy glasses, these could be the ones for you. The lenses seemed fine and corrected my vision as expected with no eye strain. The shape isn’t really my cup of tea now that I see it in the flesh, and combined with the flimsiness, I probably wouldn’t wear these again.

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Tenda Glasses

tendaglasses.com

Price: $39.29 (US$22.92 glasses, free delivery). Includes scratch-resistant lenses and anti-reflection coating.
Try-on feature: Virtual mirror by allowing camera access.

Expert's comment: Arms don’t contain metal shanks, so any adjustment may not hold.
Vanessa's verdict: I took a risk with this frame shape, and I don’t think it paid off. Style aside, the arms are quite flexible without feeling flimsy, and the rest of the frame feels solid enough. The lenses sit firmly in the frame, and the vision correction is spot-on. Not bad, but not the style for me.

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Zenni

zennioptical.com

Price: $46.11 (US$15.95 glasses, $10.95 delivery). Includes scratch-resistant lenses.
Try-on feature: Virtual mirror by allowing camera access.

Expert's comment: Issues with vertical prism; arms don’t contain metal shanks, so any adjustment may not hold.
Vanessa's verdict: These are like the better, older sister to the SmartBuyGlasses pair. They have similar flexibility but don’t feel nearly as flimsy. The lenses work well and correct my vision normally, plus, I like the shape of the frame more. I would wear these again.

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Consumer’s glasses buying guide has information about eye exams and what to consider before you buy glasses.