I swear I don’t remember glasses being this expensive. I went to a local optical store this weekend because my old frames literally snapped in half cause I sat on them. These were my first pair of glasses. The guy shows me a few basic frames and I’m thinking okay maybe its gonna cost $60-80. But boy i got a reality check. Tell me why the total was almost $350 with lenses??
Like I get it, inflation and all but it felt kinda insane for something that is basically a medical necessity but is sold like a luxury item. I left the store without buying anything and have just been wearing my old bent pair for now.
My cousin told me to buy online as she usually buys from there from sites like firmoo and since I had never bought the prescription glasses online so I didn't even know about it. I ended up browsing such sites and the prices look suspiciously affordable? Like under $50 with lenses affordable. Has anyone actually ordered from there? My cousin never faced any issues and found the quality always good but I’m still lowkey scared the quality will be super cheap or the prescription will be off.
I just want normal looking glasses that don’t cost half my salary. Is that too much to ask.
Why are prescription glasses suddenly soo expensive??
byu/Equivalent-Fortune88 inFrugal
Posted by Equivalent-Fortune88
39 Comments
Luxodica. 60 minutes did a story on them – They own it all.
Zenni. And a few other online retailers. That’s your move.
We’ve been buying glasses from Zenni for a few years now, no issues.
If you shop online, it’s significantly less expensive.
I get my exam at whatever eye doctor my insurance covers and then take it to Costco. I believe I paid $100 for my last pair and that was with upgraded lenses.
My wife uses Zenni Optical, it’s fairly cheap. I used to pay $300 for glasses back in the 90’s and early 2000’s, it definitely used to be expensive back in the day.
At $350 you got off easy. Mine are usually about $800 before insurance.
Luxottica is evil basically.
They are a hyper-vertically-integrated machine and control almost every step of the industry, down to schooling new optometry student.
They have their hand in every basket and you’ll have to go out of your way to avoid them.
This is a covert ad for the online store mentioned.
I use trifold, so no Zenni for me. I tried but no joy.
my wife works at a kindergarten and buys work glasses from a bookstore. They’re not a perfect match but they’re good enough and it’s not a tragedy if the kids break them.
I’ve bought 5 pairs of glasses over the last 5 years from Zenni and have been more than happy. Just get a prescription from an optometrist, do the eye measure thing on the site correctly and you’re gold. I haven’t seen $50 glasses, but I’ve never paid over $150.
ask for the prescription, then buy glasses online. i did it recently and spent like 15 bucks. it’s great. but you do get what you pay for. maybe spring for not the cheapest ones if you want it to be more comfortable and stylish.
I’ve been buying from the cheap sites for years. Vooglam, Zeelool, Firmoo. No problems. There are only so many manufacturers of eyeglass frames in the world. They are basically all the same, regardless of what designer’s name is or isn’t on the side. Get your prescription, and your pupillary distance, and order a pair you can afford. I just got progressives from Firmoo under $90. You got this!!
Zenni
Go to Costco.
Zenni is awesome Ive been ordering from Zenni for 20 years. The most I ever paid for a pair of glasses was $70, and those were super fancy lenses. They have plenty of options under $50.
Warby Parker or Costco
My adult offspring and I have all used Zenni. You have to be careful with measurements. I got a pair that was too small because I didn’t measure against a pair I already had that I liked the fit of.
My insurance is eye med which is owned by luxotica. Toggling insurance benefits “on” on luxotica owned sites made the glasses actually more expensive than self paying.
If you have Costco or Sam’s Club the cost savings might pay for the membership itself. I save on contacts and glasses by at least a few hundred each. Got glasses for $160 even with high index lenses
Thank you for posting this. I just shelled out $300 for my first pair ever (in my 30s) and was absolutely dumbfounded. And that was after my insurance. It’s been really helpful reading the replies you’ve received.
Zenni optical. Have bought several pairs from them. Very affordable
Get them online, it’s usually a lot cheaper. they are required to give you you prescription information so you can buy them where you want. We’ve used Zenni and Warber Parker both. But honestly, even in the 90s my glasses were like $150, so you might be remembering wrong? Our teen got glasses a couple years ago, they were like $320. We got one pair at the local office because they had ones he really wanted and then we got a pair (sunglasses for driving) online for less than half that. But definitely still not $50. It’s going to depend on the features you choose, and your prescription.
I started buying glasses online in 2020. Have had no issues at all. I only go to optical store for the eye exam, then take the results online. I don’t stick with one site, but explore different ones and check reviews before I place the order.
I buy mine on zenni. Not only does my optician charge too much, but now they tack on every possible addon they can without asking me. Last time I tried to buy them in office using my “really good insurance” they tried to push glasses they claimed were worth like $500 for two hundred and something. I asked them to explain why they went up so much, and the lady literally could not, she just kind of stumbled and stared blankly at the screen and muttered something about multiple copays. I just told her to give me the prescription.
It’s gotten worse and worse lately. I used to at least buy my kids glasses there since they could try them on and with my insurance it used to cost me next to nothing out of pocket. But I can’t even do that now.
Some of the tariffs may be hiking up frame prices, but it seems because of vision insurance some places gauge on fees.
I really like Costco. They got a top rating from Consumer Reports. You may pay around $140.00 for frames plus progressives. They liked Sam’s Club and Warby Parker too. In my city, Warby Parker added stores with an optometrist that should be reasonable.
Target and Walmart often cause you to over pay.
They’ve always been expensive. In fact I’ve gotten better deals over the years since technology has gotten better. I used to pay $800/pair before insurance, now its less than half that
My concern about online is the fit. I can’t imagine them fitting properly.
Not to hijack the thread, but I hope someone has an answer for me.
My kid completely broke the frames for his glasses and I was looking into getting them replaced. The lenses are perfectly good, but nowhere in town will take those lenses and pop them into another frame (so to speak). I’ve called around and been told that we’d have to buy a completely new set, which aren’t cheap because we sprang for the transition lenses, and he already broke the yearly pair that his insurance allows.
Does *anyone* know of anywhere I could get the lenses I have transferred into another frame? I’d be most thankful for any assistance! 🙏 ❤️
Meanwhile, I ordered a set of prescription sunglasses from Zenni and they were literally $21 Plus shipping.
Zenni. Just make sure to have your PD.
The worse your eyesight gets the worse the bill will be. My last in store regular glasses were $650, single vision. That was in 2008.
Zenni, glasses USA etc.
Zenni is the best . Just make sure to get a friend to help you with the eye measurements because the eye doctor generally won’t
I see so many comments mentioning Zenni but they are NOT what they used to be. I have received 2 pairs over the last year from zenni that had slightly incorrect prescription. I also ordered for my daughter about 6 months ago and the frame was crooked and creaked. Also their discount game has been off too. As i have made the switched to firmoo, I have rea;ized how frequently Firmoo offers discounts to its customers, making it more affordable for me with a family of 4 to buy glasses for. The shipping takes 2 weeks but considering the cheap price I’m happy with what I get. Have faced no issues with the quality of the product too.
About 8 years ago I bought my boyfriend a pair of rx glasses and that shit cost me $650. I really loved that man 😮💨😅
COSTCO and the savings will pay for the membership. Buy some TP and you’re already ahead
Been this expensive at retail outlets for a decade or more.
The Luxottica monopoly controls ~80% of the market so they can charge whatever they want.
If you want reasonably priced glasses in person, JINS is in a few malls. It’s a Japanese company that has expanded its line in the US to fit a wide variety of face types.
Good grief. Last time I bought prescription glasses was over 10 years ago and they cost the same back then. Prices haven’t gone up.