Purchasing Glasses Online update

http://cemexecutive.blogspot.com/2010/01/buying-glasses-online-customer.html is a summary from 2010 that talks about what one should expect when ordering glasses online. Prices have dropped since this post. I end up spending about $15 for my glasses and $20 for my wife's glasses (her prescription is super strong). This price includes shipping.

The main challenge is how to measure pupillary distance (the distance between your pupils in millimeters). Most optometrists do not give this to you, which may force you to buy glasses from them. It is easy to do. See http://static.zennioptical.com/media/Zenni-Optical-PD-Ruler.pdf for a printable measuring device.

Figuring out which frame will fit you best requires measuring your current glasses. Use a ruler with millimeters to measure the temple (the arm that goes from the front to behind your ear), the total width across the front, and measure the height and width of each lens. You can also measure the distance between the lenses if you are concerned about the space for your nose. Every online site shows these measurements for each frame. I find it most difficult to get a temple length that matches the total width. I think there must be a lot of people out there whose ears are very close to their eyes. See http://www.goggles4u.com/eyeglasses_size_guide for more info - and how to interpret the size information already printed on your current frames.

You can get all of the same options (i.e. coatings, tint, and thin and light lenses) from every site, but some sites include things in the price of the lens, while others are a la carte, which can add to the price quickly. For example, I select from the free frames on Goggles4u, get the normal distance lens (1.57 CR39) for $6.94 (which includes UV and anti-scratch coatings unless you get bifocals), and add the anti-reflective coating for $4.99, for a total price of $11.8. At ZenniOptical I select frames for $6.95, the 1.57 lens are included ($0), UV coating and anti-scratch coating are included ($0), and anti-reflective coating is $4.95, for a total cost of $11.90. At EyeBuyDirect I select frames that are $6.95, the 1.5 lenses are free and include anti-scratch, but I want to be comparable so I must use 1.57 (1.5 are very thick; the higher the number the thinner the lens; going to 1.57 like the two glasses above adds $10), UV is $4.95, anti-glare (same as anti-reflective) is $6.95, for a total cost of $28.85. Shipping is about $6 per glasses from each site.

I sign up for the emails from the following vendors and then buy glasses when they send me a sale notice. I typically buy when it is buy one get one free, free frames, or something similar. As long as I can get glasses for no more than $15-$20 (total price, must include shipping), I buy them during the sale. The following vendors typically get me my new glasses in 3 weeks and I have been able to quickly resolve any mistakes in the making of the glasses with each of them. There are several other vendors that have taken 5-6 weeks or have not resolved the mistakes that they made when making me glasses.

http://www.goggles4u.com/ - I have been using this company for my last several pairs because they have had the lowest prices (e.g. today they have a special for a complete pair for $9.90 - which includes shipping, but my wife's will be a bit more due to her strong prescription); it is easy to shop by the size, shape, and other frame features; more variety and selection than the others
http://www.zennioptical.com/ - used to have the lowest prices and the largest selection, but the others have caught up (none of the discount frames fit either of us so we rarely use Zenni any longer); use Refine Your Search drop-down to search by size, etc. (You can only pick exact measurements, which means I only get 2 options once I pick 136mm x 136 mm.)
http://www.eyebuydirect.com/ - often has good sales and has been fast, but is usually far more expensive; use Filter Results to get a range of sizes (I get 120 frames, but only 9 of those are $6.95, and of those, only 1 is my size)

Here is another comparison of full-rim, black, geeky, plastic/acetate, bifocals that I recently shopped for online:

EyeBuyDirect.com - There were no glasses that were even close to my size (or larger because smaller are very uncomfortable and will give you a headache by squeezing the sides of your face) so I just found a cheap pair of frames that matched my style demands.
http://m.eyebuydirect.com/fashion-glasses-tillamook-black-p-11261.html for $14.95
Frames $14.95
Lined bifocal lenses $19.00
1.57 lenses $10.00
UV coating $4.95
Anti-glare $6.95
USPS 1st Class shipping $5.95
TOTAL $61.80 via credit card or PayPal

ZenniOptical.com - There were three frames that met my style requirements. Widths were from 137 to 140 and temples were 138 - all good fits.
http://www.zennioptical.com/264321-plastic-full-rim-frame.html for $12.95 (not big enough for bifocals)
http://www.zennioptical.com/232012-plastic-full-rim-frame.html for $15.95 (these are the ones I picked)
http://www.zennioptical.com/246216-plastic-full-rim-frame.html for $19.95 (dark blue and black, but close enough)
Frames $15.95
1.5 lined bifocal lenses $17.00 (1.61 are $46.00)
Anti-reflective coating $4.95 (free on single vision, but extra on bifocals)
UV not available on bifocals
Standard shipping $4.95
TOTAL $42.85 via credit card or PayPal

Goggles4u.com -
http://www.goggles4u.com/men-s-glasses/elegant-90163-eyeglasses-by-goggles4u.html for $0.00 (for some reason all of the cheap ones have loud colored arms)
http://www.goggles4u.com/men-s-glasses/goggles4u-eyeglasses-3897-html.html for $4.95 (bright red arms are not my thing)
http://www.goggles4u.com/men-s-glasses/betty-86765-eyeglasses-by-goggles4u.html for $4.95 (not as thick as I wanted)
http://www.goggles4u.com/men-s-glasses/inspire-86498-eyeglasses-by-inspire.html for $4.95 (white arms are not what I wanted, but least worst of arm colors)
http://www.goggles4u.com/men-s-glasses/elegant-86310-eyeglasses-by-goggles4u.html for $4.95 (I chose this frame)
Http ://www.goggles4u.com/men-s-glasses/prescription-eyeglasses-by-geek-7178-html.html for $89.00 (too wide for my taste)
http://www.goggles4u.com/men-s-glasses/prescription-eyeglasses-by-geek-7179-html.html for $89.00 (tortoise shell is not my color)
Frames $4.95
1.56 lined bifocal lenses $25.00
UV and scratch-free $4.95
USPS $4.95
TOTAL $39.85 via credit card or PayPal

I purchased glasses from Goggles4U because the lenses are lighter, UV is available, and they were the least expensive.