I have bought several pairs of glasses from Zenni over the years. My only complaint is that I always have to re-adjust the nose pieces which has to be done carefully. Also my last pair were bifocals but the line between the transition is too high so that they are annoying to were all the time. I was told by my optometrist that those adjustments would have been corrected if I had bought them instore. I have had cataract surgery so I only use them when I go shopping to be able to read store tags and receipts.
Iâve purchased my eyeglasses from Zenni almost as long as theyâve been in business and have been very satisfied until recently: I purchased 2 pairs, both with the same prescription. To make a long story short, Zenni did not include the âCylinderâ prescription reading in either pair of glasses. I could tell something was âoffâ, as it was nearly impossible to drive at night. Both my ophthalmologist and my optometrist checked my glasses, and both confirmed the âCylinderâ reading the glasses was â0â (should have been +0.25 (Rt) and +0.75 (Lft)). Returned the glasses to Zenni, and their âexpertsâ said there was nothing wrong with them. They sent back one of the two pairs, and lost the other pair. They are currently remaking the other pair - Iâm hoping they will be remade correctly⌠This ordeal started in February and it is now May 27thâŚ
Iâve only ever bought glasses in-person, and nothing Iâve read here makes me reconsider. Iâve been using a private optical shop attached to my previous ophthalmology practice for many years. I have since moved to a different opthalmologist spec but continue to use my previous optician. They have a great rep, (even my current MD recommends), and they always deliver high-touch, personalized service. Most recently, they called my Docâs office to verify/clarify my Rx since my situation is somewhat complex with 1 strong and 1 very weak eye with fairly pronounced astigmatism and a history of surgeries.
I donât know but I suspect much of the savings discussed here largely disappear once hi-index, anti-glare, progressive lenses come into play. I tried VisionWorks once but their outside lab never earned my confidence. I donât think higher-end lenses like Varilux are part of their deal, and that can make a world of difference, even if the Rx is technically correct. I had to give up and start over somewhere else.
My current vision ins (VSP) saves me roughly half the full cost of new lenses and frames - still several $100s - but probably brings my out of pocket in line with the discounted costs others have mentioned. Plus, I can expect a high quality fitting and a strong commitment to my satisfaction.
Iâve been completely dependent on wearing glasses with a strong Rx since age 5 (now 71). They are not readers or a fashion accessory. I donât have the luxury of time, patience, or money to shop around for the perfect pair of glasses, i.e. style/cost/quality, etc. If Zenni works for you, great, but my advice is find what works for you, even if it costs a little more. Itâs a quality of life investment.
I just recently got an order from Zenni. I have been ordering from them since 2017. I have gotten the same frames every time but some were single vision and some bifocal. I have not noticed any difference in âqualityâ with the latest ones. I did have a pair once that a part broke off, that was years ago. I also always have to re-adjust the nose pieces as they never sit correctly on my nose. I have never had a problem doing this with a pair of neddle nose pliers. My biggest complaint is that on the bifocals the transition from far to near is too high. My ophthalmologist told me thatâs because itâs the one thing that glasses online canât measure, only when gotten from an optometrist. I, however, have had catarack surgery and I only need them when I am out somwhere, such as a store, where I must see tiny shelf labels.
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I always used my eye doctor and had vision insurance, but since I retired, the exam and glasses were outrageously expensive. So I went to Warby Parker.
They were not the cheapest, but I have a complicated prescription and wasnât sure about mail order getting it right. They have a store here and they also had an optometrist there. I got a far more comprehensive eye exam than I got from my eye doctor I used for years. I had told him my old doctor had prisms in my lenses. He made a note of that with the exam. The frames are very good and when I needed to have them, I popped into the store and the staff couldnât have been more helpful. Bottom line - my experience with them was great. I know I could save more buying online, but I am one who really needs to see the glasses on me in a mirror and not overlayed on a picture of me.
Sadly, eyebuydirect is now owned by the cartel. Prices are still fairly low but they are lowering the quality of the standard lenses to squeak out more profit. They seem to be making it hard to know what lens material you are ordering and upcharged me quite a bit to get the same lenses as previous orders. Zenni is great but I canât always find a frame I want. Perhaps controversial, but Iâve noticed that aliexpress has quite a few prescription glasses for sale with lots of interesting frame choices. Ordering on Aliexpress will be significantly more difficult but Iâm giving them a go for my next order.