I've been ordering
prescription glasses on line for years
and love it. I've ordered from
Zennioptical and
CoastalContacts and
39DollarGlasses
.
Zennioptical is my favorite because it's
the cheapest and I generally order 4-5 pairs
once a year. I pay about $12.99 for the
finished product, including frames and
prescription lenses. (Ugh -- I once paid
over $400 for a pair of prescription glasses
from the
ophthalmologist's
office. Never again.)
I need glasses mainly for
reading and the computer, and my
prescription is different for each eye. I
also have other glasses with a small
distance correction for TV and movie
theaters. So when I go to the optometrist
for my exam once every few years, I ask for
two prescriptions. I generally get my exam
at Costco, but you can also get it at
Walmart, or any of the eye-exam businesses
like Lenscrafters. They'll try to sell you
glasses after the exam, but a simple no
thanks works. I could get bifocals but I
hate them. I tried a pair once and could
never get used to them. So I have reading
glasses all over the house, by the
computers, on my nightstand, in the kitchen,
etc., and a couple pair of distance glasses
that I take to movies and use for tv. That's
another reason I like them cheap. I can get
a dozen pairs for the same price as a single
pair from the expensive brick and mortar
stores. Hubby George has bifocals and
finally broke down and bought a backup pair
from
Zennioptical. He opted for nicer frames
and some upgrades. He paid $49, compared to
almost $300 from Lenscrafters. He says
there's no difference in the glasses and
wears the one from Zennioptical as often as
the more expensive pair.
You'll never go back once you
see how easy it is to order online. Here are
the steps if you've never ordered that way.
Get your exam with a written prescription in
hand. Don't worry that it looks like Greek.
Have them also measure your pupillary
distance and write it down. It will be a
number like 58 or 62. They won't routinely
do that unless you ask. It's a very simple
measurement that takes 5 seconds. If they
won't do it (to force you to buy frames from
them), then you can measure it yourself at
home.
Here's how.
With
prescription in hand, go online to a site
like
Zennioptical or
CoastalContacts of
39DollarGlasses. They have a bizillion
frames to choose from. You can 'try on' the
frames on a picture they have posted, or
even upload your own picture so you can see
how they'll look. Pay attention to the width
of the frames. If your face is very wide or
narrow, you'll want to figure that in. If
you already have glasses, look on the stem
for the width measurement, and that will
give you a starting point.
After you choose frames, you'll fill in the
numbers from your prescription. It's easy.
The on-line order form matches the paper
prescription format.
You pay, then wait about 10-14 days and
voila, you get your glasses in the mail.
They come with a case and soft cloths. I've
been known to order 2-3 pairs, each in a
different frame. I decide which frame I like
best, then 6 months down the road, order
several more of that one. I break 'em, lose
'em, step on 'em, drop 'em behind the bed,
etc., but it's never a crisis because I long
ago got my $12.99 value from them, and there
are lots more around the house. I find them
in a coat pocket from last winter, or behind
the nightstand when cleaning, or under the
front seat in the car. They get lost and
found all the time, LOL. The important thing
to me is availability. I want to reach out
and have a pair close by. I don't want to
search the entire house for a single pair.
I'm lazy.
If you need more help with
your order at
Zennioptical, notice on the front page,
lower right, there are links labeled "Infographics"
with great helps.
Glamour
$4.99/yr
with code REFUNDCENTS from
DiscountMags.com 
9/19 Latina $3.29, with code
$2.82
This
deal is happening right now and will last
through Saturday 9/20. 
Instant Win-- Free Lay's Stax
.
Hopefully,
you can score 3 free Lysol Wipes starting
9/21 at RiteAid by combining the sale + Ups
+ Video Values + coupon for a nice quadruple
play. This may be a regional deal, so check
the shelf tags at your RiteAid on Sunday for
notice of the $7 Ups. 
W
9/18 Pilates Style $18.99, with code
