8 Great Ways to Save on the Cost of Eyeglasses (2024)

FAQs

How can I reduce the cost of my glasses? ›

Buy your glasses online

You may find better pricing by bypassing stand-alone optometry stores or chains. More than half of consumers who bought their glasses online spent less than $100 on them, compared with a third of those who made the purchase in person, according to data from the Vision Council.

Many online and brick-and-mortar glasses retailers offer big seasonal sales several times a year. The best times to get deals on glasses include late summer and early fall for back-to-school, major holidays, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The best time to buy sunglasses is summer and winter.

Recap. Since Walmart is a discount retailer, they emphasize value-for-price over high quality. That's why many of their less popular brands and some of the lenses are lower in quality.

AARP® Vision Discounts provided by EyeMed

You save 50% on prescription lenses with the purchase of a frame at LensCrafters, 30% on complete pair of glasses (frames and lenses) at Glasses.com, and you save an additional $10 on a complete pair at Target Optical.

Receive 50% off additional complete pair purchases (frame + lenses) with your AARP membership. Requires complete pair purchase (frame + lenses) or annual supply of contact lenses to receive 50% off additional complete pairs (frame + lenses).

Your prescription glasses' pricing depends on a variety of variables. Because of this, glasses prices for corrective eyewear can cost anywhere from $50 to $1,000 or more. On average, prescription glasses cost around $200, though insurance can determine the final price.

Don't pay the sticker price

You may be leaving money on the table if you've never asked your eye doctor for a price break. A Consumer Reports survey found that most buyers don't negotiate, but more than 25% of those who requested a discount saved $100 or more on eyeglasses.

Glasses found online are often cheaper than those bought from an optical store. Glasses can vary widely in price from as low as $8 all the way up to over $1,000. When buying online, add-ons, such as scratch-resistant coating, can add up quickly.

Do you look older or younger with glasses? ›

Depending on the style of your glasses, they can make you look either older or younger. Formal spectacles with little colour or character can have an ageing effect on you.

Glasses should typically last between one to three years; however, the average lifespan of a pair of glasses can vary depending on the frame quality and how well you take care of them.

It may actually surprise you that there are many benefits to purchasing glasses from your optometrist. You may find warranty and after-sales service superior at your local optometrist versus an online provider, and there's no denying the customized service and expert knowledge you receive from an eye care professional.

Essilor is the world leader in eyeglass lenses. Essilor created the first and finest progressive lenses (Varilux lenses, Varilux Definity®, Varilux Comfort®, Varilux Physio®, Varilux Ellipse®), the finest lens coating (Crizal), and the finest single vision lenses on the market today (Orma, Thin&Lite, and Airwear).

Some, like Warby Parker, can start at $95 for a single-vision pair. However, if you order progressive lenses from WP, those prices jump to nearly $300—far more than most retailers. Furthermore, bifocal or trifocal glasses, as well as specialty glasses for specific eye conditions, may cost more than other glasses.

Designer labels aside, more expensive frames are more complex, made from better materials, and handcrafted in countries that pay fair labor rates. This translates into a better quality, longer lasting products.

Have you ever wondered why glasses cost so much? When you buy glasses from a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer, you're not just paying for the frame and lenses; you're also paying big money to cover the retailer's hefty outsourcing costs, which usually include manufacturing, licensing fees, warehousing, and more.