How to Save Money When Buying Eyeglasses

In this digital age, it's not uncommon to see people wearing glasses —especially those working long hours on digital devices like smartphones, laptops, or computers.

According to findings from Grand View Research, the global eyewear market was valued at $183.36 billion in 2023. Researchers attribute this constant market growth to the increasing prevalence of eye conditions like myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia.

Investing in high-quality eyewear becomes important as people become increasingly aware of the consequences of neglecting eye care. Today, prescription glasses account for the largest revenue share of over 70%. In the meantime, continuous advancements in lens technology and shifting consumer trends also contribute to the growing popularity of eyeglasses as a fashion or style accessory.

However, investing in high-quality and functional eyeglasses can rack up unexpected costs if you're unsure what you're looking for. Fortunately, there are many ways to save money and reduce unnecessary costs when shopping for your glasses. Below, we'll share some tips for saving more money when buying eyeglasses:

Explore and compare frames

One way people tend to overspend when buying eyeglasses is by settling for frames and designs they don't completely like. This may result in the glasses ending up unused or even quickly replaced with another pair. As such, it's important to ensure you only spend on the eyeglasses you really like.

To help you decide which eyeglasses you should purchase, many eyewear retailers today allow customers to try on glasses online using the virtual try-on feature. Retailer LensCrafters describes this as an "innovative virtual mirror tool," allowing people to try on glasses and other eyewear products from the comfort of their homes. Customers can virtually put on glasses from brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley, and Burberry and use the camera on their smartphones to access the retailer's "virtual mirror" feature. Many eyewear retailers and brands today offer this virtual try-on feature on their websites and apps, eliminating the need for you to leave your home to visit stores in person.

Consult with your eye doctor

Another crucial step for saving as much money as you can when buying eyeglasses is ensuring you have the right prescription. This is important even if you intend to buy eyeglasses for fashion or accessory purposes, as most eyewear retailers or brands offer free eye tests along with purchases, so you don't have to think of spending extra on future lenses or prescription upgrades.

Nowadays, there are lots of apps for checking prescription. For example, Prescription Scanner is an FDA-listed app that helps you get the right glasses parameters, from prescription to size. There are also apps like EyeMeasure, which helps measure your pupillary distance and segment height (the height from your bottom lens to your eyes) using only your smartphone camera. Of course, the best way to ensure you get the right glasses and lenses for yourself is by consulting with eye care professionals, who may also advise you on specific lens types or materials you may need depending on your eye health condition and needs.

Avoid unnecessary add-ons

Finally, we mentioned that an eye doctor can make recommendations for lens materials or upgrades you may need in your eyeglasses. However, it's important not to get too carried away and only spend on the lens, frames, and materials you need. For example, retailers and brands may ask you to pay an add-on price for anti-scratch lenses. However, most plastic lenses on the market today already have an anti-scratch coating on the front of the lens, making this "upgrade" possibly redundant.

Likewise, you may be tempted by other lens upgrades like photochromic lenses or polarized sunglasses if you're looking for sunglasses. If you're unsure if you need a specific eyeglasses feature or upgrade, you should consider your lifestyle and needs. For example, if you don't spend lots of time outdoors, photochromic lenses may not be the best upgrade to spend extra on. Experts have also debated the functionality and benefits of blue light-blocking lenses, so you may want to rethink that upgrade. As explained above, it's always best to consult with your eye doctor when in doubt.

If you found this post helpful or useful, you can also check out our post on how to save money on food shopping, featuring helpful tips like using coupons and discounts and tracking your food expenses to get a clearer understanding of your food lifestyle.