re: Ordering prescription glasses on the internet

From February, the last time this thread appeared.

Zenni is great, so is Eyebuydirect. I've been using them exclusively for the last 7 years or so, and the quality of a $20 pair has consistently equalled the quality of the brick and mortar chains costing 10x as much. I buy all my computer glasses from Eyebuydirect because they will do plain plastic lenses (CR-39) which minimizes chromatic aberration but is thicker than the higher-index materials. ISTR Zenni is all higher index, though they're now offering Trivex at a more premium price; it's thinner than plastic, but still not quite as good optically.

You need to know what frame shape and size works for you. The important numbers are the frame width and height, bridge width, and temple length. You can upload a photo and try frames on virtually, which is actually pretty helpful, but you still need to now what kind of shape looks good IRL.

You will need your PD (pupillary distance), which is not strictly part of the Rx, and which some may not want to give you. However, I noticed the other day that Costco has a sign stating you will get your Rx and PD when you get an exam there. At other shops, you have to see an optician, and measuring the PD is part of the service of selling glasses; it's the very last thing they do after you've decided to buy a pair. You'll really piss them off if you just walk in and ask them to measure and give you your PD. All the online shops talk about this and give instructions for measuring at home. If you do it right, it's probably accurate enough.

Pros: Great quality, accurate lenses. (I have a buttload of astigmatism, so my Rx is considered difficult to make, and the locals screwed it up surprisingly regularly.)

Cons: It takes a couple weeks to get your glasses. No way to specify seg height for progressives. That said, Zenni's progressives have worked fine for me; their $60 semi-rimless pair with A/R coating and magnetic sunshades would probably be $400 or more locally. I remember paying $280 at Sam's just for lenses before I wised up.

I bought a few pair from eyebuydirect.com. They are cheap as hell, but you get what you pay for. I wear contacts and only use glasses every now and then so a $45 pair of glasses is suitable for me.