How to save money on trendy, quality glasses

Since the third grade, I’ve worn prescription glasses. If I calculated what my mother spent on them over the years and what I spent on them once I was financially independent, I estimate it totals about $15,000. Ouch!

If you wear eyeglasses, you know that most insurance plans do not cover the cost of eyewear in full, and you also know that any insurance plan for eyewear is overpriced and probably not worth it, as the glasses the plan covers are usually awful in quality and appearance.

Over the last few years, I have had the added cost of buying progressive lenses for my glasses. My husband also wears glasses, so together, we spend a small fortune every year on our eyes. Side note: I can’t believe our ocular and dental care are not fully covered by insurance! Eyes and teeth are part of our bodies and we need them to see and eat…Ridiculous! Anyway, I digress (sort of). 

Since I wear glasses every day of my life, I would prefer them to be functional, comfortable and attractive. The question is how to achieve all of that without breaking the bank. Well, I’ve got a great suggestion for anyone who is in the same boat: Buy your frames from Warby Parker and get your lenses at Costco Optical.

Did you know that you do not have to purchase a full pair of glasses from one retailer? You are “allowed” to purchase frames at one outlet and lenses at another. Doing so can save you a tremendous amount of money, especially if your prescription changes frequently, as mine does.

Warby Parker, founded by two university students who were frustrated with eyeglass prices, started out as an online retailer in 2010. Initially, a customer would choose a few frames on the company’s website to try on. The frames would then be mailed to the customer’s home. The customer would then choose which frame, if any, to purchase and Warby Parker would add prescription lenses to it all for $95. Fortunately, Warby Parker now has 276 brick-and-mortar stores, which still sell most frames at $95, and customers can spend as long as they want trying them on without having to wait for items to be mailed to them or for a salesperson to take the glasses off of the wall display for them, as the complete selection is displayed so customers can try them on without any assistance. It’s amazing. Also, they have such a great selection! I felt like a kid in a candy store the first time I shopped for frames there. I was so thrilled with their products and the prices, that I bought two frames -one in pink (Nancy) and one in green (Zoya). The customer service is stellar as well. The sales people at the store are great at making sure you have the right fit and they offer free adjustments on your frames after you purchase them. Their return policy is generous too (30 days, no questions asked). Lastly, Warby Parker does offer basic eye exams at each of their locations for $95. The cost may be lower if you have insurance.

Costco Optical offers great options for lenses. You can buy transitions and progressives there and they offer all sorts of add-ons including a blue light filter, anti-reflection and scratch resistance, all at a cost so much lower than those offered at other retailers. If you want to buy frames there as well, you certainly may, but their selection is rather small and the prices are higher for the most part than those you’d find at Warby Parker. I would say that the selection at Costco is also less trendy. If you choose to bring a frame to Costco Optical for which to buy lenses, Costco charges you an additional $25. Don’t let this fee deter you from buying lenses there, as even with the added cost, Costco’s lenses are much less expensive, and they are excellent. I have not had a problem with them in the last six years I’ve been buying lenses from them. If you do encounter any issues, Costco has an excellent return policy. 

So, what is the difference in cost?

A complete pair of glasses at Warby Parker initially cost me $445 (the frames were $95). When I bought the frames at Warby Parker for $95 and had the lenses made at Costco Optical, the total cost of the lenses was $157.99, which included the $25 fee for bringing in frames that weren’t purchased at Costco, so my total cost there was $261.42. In other words, buying the frames at WB and the lenses at Costco saved me $183.58 for a compete pair of glasses! It’s a no-brainer!

Hopefully, this approach to buying glasses will save you and your family a bundle over time. I know it involves an additional step, but for the savings, it’s completely worth the extra leg work. I hope I’ve made that clear (pun definitely intended!).