We get asked this question all the time by customers at American Eyeglass Repair.
People have seen the online sellers selling glasses at what appear to be rock bottom prices. You can walk into your local retailer and buy cheap reading glasses.
Many people wonder why they should pay hundreds of dollars for a pair of prescription eyeglasses from an optical store when they can look just as good with the frames they buy online.
People want to know the cheapest place to buy eyeglasses.
As much as we all don’t want to spend a penny more than necessary, deals that seem too good to be true often leave us with a pair of eyeglasses that doesn’t live up to our expectations. And it may leave us with eyeglasses that actually harm our eyes.
Be Wary of Low Ball Offers
The best deal you can get on eyeglasses is for a pair that works well for you that you like. The best price you can pay is the one that brings you the most value. With that in mind, let’s look at things you should be aware of when considering cheap eyeglasses:
# 1 – Cheap eyeglasses often cause eyestrain.
The optical quality of most cheap eyeglasses is not the same as pair of customized prescription glasses for computer use or reading.
It’s easy to select the wrong power when buying readers from a store. Most of the online sellers and retailers of cheap reading glasses offer inferior lenses without protection from high-energy blue light like that emitted from your smartphone and computer screen.
The wrong power and lack of blue light protection causes eye strain, headaches and could possibly lead to further medical conditions.
# 2 – Know what you are giving up to get a low price.
Many people wonder if buying eyeglasses online is a good idea.
After all, there’s lots of hidden costs to buying online.
The big one is that you lose are the services and trained expertise of an optician. And that’s a big deal. They help make sure you get the right lenses and frames that meet your vision and personal requirements. You’d be amazed at the stories we’ve been told over the years of online ordering that just didn’t work out, with eyeglasses once thought to be a good deal now sitting in a drawer gathering dust.
# 3 – Be aware of the quality differences.
Sellers of cheap quality eyeglasses often make claims that they offer the same top quality as your local optical store.
We say, “buyer beware.”
There are different levels of optical performance among different lens materials. Optical performance can even vary by brands.
There’s a wide variety of lens materials and frame materials, each with their own distinct applications and features. There are huge differences in the scratch resistance of different lenses and coatings.
Certain lenses go better with specific frames and frame comfort and durability can vary widely, even within the lines offered by the same manufacturer.
Lens fabrication is also a big issue. We’ve seen it time and time again – your lenses are most likely done right at the optical store over the online seller.
# 4 – Watch the online gimmicks used by online sellers.
The big ploy all online sellers use is the “virtual try-on” feature. That’s where you load a front facing picture of yourself into their system and you can “try on” eyeglasses to see how they look on you.
Keep in mind this feature does nothing to tell you how the frames and glasses themselves will fit or feel on you. You have no way to determine the quality of the frame materials or workmanship.
You’re also at the mercy at the quality of the virtual try on tool and your device. You hope the color clarity shown online is the same as in real frame itself. A big issue we’ve seen with these virtual try on features is size – frames aren’t often shown to their actual size.
Some sellers may offer to send you the frames to try on prior to completing the purchase. Here’s the big problem with that approach – the frames don’t contain the lenses. Again, you have no idea about weight, fit or comfort.
Ordering frames online is like ordering a steak dinner from a picture – you have a vague idea what the meal will look like, no idea how it will taste, and you hope and pray the dinner is worth the money.
Buying from your local optical center allows you to know exactly what you are getting and how it will serve you.
The Place for Your Best Deal on Eyeglasses
Price is what you pay. Value is what you receive.
When it comes to your vision and your eyes, shop for the best value. Your eyesight and health are too important to compromise to save a few dollars.
Read our money-saving tips on buying eyeglasses to ensure you get top quality and top value at a great price from your local optical center. And that’s what we recommend – shop your local optical store in your hometown for the best value deal on eyeglasses.
If you need your eyeglasses or sunglasses repaired, call on us at All American Eyeglass Repair. Visit one of our locations for repairs in about an hour or use our mail in service for the fastest mail in eyeglass repair service anywhere.
