Guide
How to buy glasses online without regret
What you need before ordering glasses online, from your prescription and PD to frame sizes, lens materials and coatings, plus when to buy in a store instead.
What you need before you order
- A current prescription. In the US, the Federal Trade Commission’s Eyeglass Rule requires eye doctors to give you a copy of your glasses prescription after an exam, whether or not you buy glasses from them. Our prescription decoder explains the numbers.
- Your PD (pupillary distance). The distance between your pupils, used to center the lenses. Ask for it at your exam, have an optician measure it, or use a retailer’s camera tool. Progressives may need separate measurements for each eye.
- Frame measurements. The three numbers inside the temple of glasses you like, for example 52-18-140, are lens width, bridge width and arm length in millimetres. Match them within a few millimetres.
Choosing lenses
| Choice | When it is worth it |
|---|---|
| Polycarbonate or Trivex | Children, sports, rimless frames; impact resistant and blocks UV |
| High-index 1.67 or 1.74 | Prescriptions stronger than about ±4.00, for thinner lighter lenses |
| Anti-reflective coating | Almost everyone; less glare at night and on screens |
| Photochromic | Lenses that darken outdoors, for people who dislike carrying sunglasses |
| Blue-light filter | Optional; the American Academy of Ophthalmology does not recommend it for eye strain |
When to buy in a store
- Progressive or bifocal lenses, which need precise fitting heights
- High prescriptions or prism
- Children’s glasses, which need a good fit and frequent adjustment
- If you have struggled to adapt to glasses before
Before you click buy
Check the return and remake policy, whether insurance or FSA and HSA funds can be used, and the delivery time. When your glasses arrive, wear them for a few days; mild strangeness is normal, but headaches or double vision mean something is off.
Find glasses and an eye exam near you
Questions people ask
Can I use an old prescription?
Most retailers accept prescriptions up to one or two years old, depending on the law where you live. If your vision has changed, new glasses on an old prescription will disappoint, so get an exam first.
Are online glasses as good as store glasses?
For single-vision lenses and simple prescriptions, many people are happy with online glasses. Progressives, high prescriptions and children's glasses benefit more from in-person measurements and adjustments.