Should i order eyeglasses online

Don't know what your pupillary distance is or how to calculate it yourself? We've got you covered with an article, video and infographic showing you how to calculate your pupillary distance. If, however, your glasses prescription has expired , you will need to book a comprehensive eye exam with your eye doctor.

Compare online retailers like EyeBuyDirect and Frames Direct until you find the best fit for your needs. Just know this takes extra time and effort on your part , and you might not receive as much coverage as you would with an in-network provider.

Before you get too far along into your search, create your own checklist: Face shape: Do you have a heart, diamond, oval, round or other face shape?

Not sure? Use our guide to find your face shape. Do you want basic black or bolder blue frames? What kind of frame materials — plastic, wire rims or eco-friendly?

Notable site features : Like Coastal see below and others, FramesDirect has a philanthropic partnership with the Essilor Vision Foundation to improve the sight of people who can't afford glasses.

FrameDirect says that "for every pair of glasses bought, we will donate a pair of glasses to someone in need," and you can select the region for the donated pair. One of our editors recently used glasses. She said that glasses. If your vision insurance plan is out of network, like VSP and Spectera, the site automatically generates a bill via email that you need to submit to get reimbursed.

Notable site features : Glasses. It does have a quiz you can take that recommends what frames are right for you. You can also return frames and lenses within 60 days if you have an issue with them. Coastal shares some similarities to online retailer Zenni in that it leads with low prices and sporadic two-for-one deals around various holidays. It recently added a virtual-fit feature, and there's an option to input the size of your current frames and the site will serve up options based on those measurements that will be a good fit for your face.

Notable site features : Coastal has a philanthropic partnership with the Essilor Vision Foundation to improve the sight of people who can't afford glasses. Coastal says that "for every pair of glasses bought, we will donate a pair of glasses to someone in need. Before you start shopping, you'll want to visit an optometrist to get your prescription updated and your eyes checked, which you should be doing on a regular basis anyway to ensure that your eyes are healthy and your prescription still works.

Glasses that aren't strong enough can lead to headaches and other ailments -- not to mention the fact that you can't see. Once you have a prescription, online retailers offer all the same things as an in-store experience. Whether you're looking to buy a progressive lens, multifocal lenses, a designer frame, blue light filtering or something that will work with your vision insurance, online retailers deliver. Learn smart gadget and internet tips and tricks with our entertaining and ingenious how-tos.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy , which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. CNET editors pick the products and services we write about. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. David Carnoy. Best shopping experience Warby Parker. Jump to details. See at Warby Parker. Best frames Roka Eyewear. See at Roka.

Best for style selection GlassesUSA. See at GlassesUSA. Extra fast delivery Overnight Glasses. See at Overnight Glasses. Best for high-quality lenses and massive frame selection Eyeglasses. See at Eyeglasses. Fast delivery EyeBuyDirect. See at EyeBuyDirect. Best for the budget-conscious Zenni. See at Zenni. Good for swapping lenses Lensabl. See at Lensabl. Best for Rx sports glasses SportRx. See at SportRx. Good customer service FramesDirect. See at FramesDirect.

Insurance-friendly site Glasses. See at Glasses. Good for giving back Coastal. See at Coastal. But before we dive in, note the following prerequisites, caveats and tips: Most of the sites highlighted here offer some sort of discount for first-time customers.

That means the first time you buy glasses can be when you get the best deal, so it can pay to try several online retailers before buying glasses online. You'll need to know your prescription and pupillary distance from your optometrist before you use an online glasses retailer -- so make sure you get a hard copy the next time you get your vision checked.

The eye exam payment could wind up being the bulk of your glasses cost, meaning you should spend time shopping around. Your health insurance may cover eye exams, or perhaps you have separate vision insurance.

Either way, review your policy before you pay for an exam out of pocket. Note, however, that if you're interested in contacts as well as glasses, your exam will likely cost a little more.

The exact price will vary depending on the doctor you see and where you're located, but reasonably priced exams are available at plenty of national chains. Check with these retailers to see who has the best deal in your area:. Your doctor is legally required to give you a free copy of your prescription after your exam, so you can get your glasses anywhere.

Before you leave your doctor's office, check to see if your pupillary distance, or PD, is listed on the prescription. If it isn't, be sure to ask for it, as you'll need this to order glasses online.

Buying the right frames involves more than just picking out the style you like — you need to find frames that fit your face. There are three measurements to know: lens width, bridge width the width across your nose , and temple arm length the length of the arms.

If you own a pair of glasses that fit, you can start by checking their size. These measurements are usually written inside the frame, listed left to right lens width, bridge width, temple arm length. You'll find them printed inside the temple arms or the nose bridge. Once you have your measurements, you can use those numbers to find the right frames.

If you're buying your first pair of glasses and have no idea of your sizing, the process is a little trickier. Consider shopping at Warby Parker, which will mail you frames to try on before you buy.

And wherever you buy, check their return policy so you know what your options are if your frames aren't a perfect fit. Some retailers offer generous return policies, and some won't take ill-fitting glasses back without charging a hefty penalty.

Pupillary distance is the distance, in millimeters, between the centers of the pupils in both eyes. When you put on your glasses, the lenses need to be centered on your pupils, so if this measurement is off, you may not get the perfect vision you're hoping for.

Your PD should be listed on your prescription, but it may not be. If you don't see it listed after you've had your eyes examined, ask for it. You could go to an optician for a PD measurement, too.

Be warned that if you ask your doctor to measure it, you may be charged extra unless you plan to buy glasses from the office. If the PD isn't on your script and you don't want to pay extra for it, you can measure it at home. Warby Parker has a tool to measure your PD by snapping a photo of your face , and you can also measure on your own with just a mirror and a ruler , although that may be more difficult.

You're likely to see some extremely low prices quoted when you're shopping around, but it's important to note you probably won't pay the lowest price. Like frames themselves, these can vary greatly in price. While you probably won't need every upsell, some will be useful.

Here are the options you're likely to find. Anti-Reflective Coating Blocking reflections makes your eyes more visible and can reduce glare.