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3 Tips to Save Money on Eyewear

January 6, 2014 by Lisa Park + 32 Comments

save money on eyewear

Americans spend 33 billion dollars every year on prescription glasses and contact lenses. I understand how expensive eyewear can be since I wear contacts. And because glasses and contacts can be so expensive, I want to share some tips, as well as my personal experience, on how to save money on eyewear.

1. Get an eye exam at Costco, Sam’s Club, or Walmart
If you don’t have insurance that covers an eye exam and you are in need of an eye exam, don’t go to an eyeglass chain or a private eye doctor office. It will cost so much more money. Instead, get an eye exam at Costco, Sam’s Club, or Walmart. At Costco, it’s usually about $70 for an eye exam and $120 for a contact lens eye exam. Sam’s Club and Walmart cost about the same. Store prices vary by region, so call and check a few stores prices before making an appointment. And these stores have licensed optometrists that perform the exam in an in-store exam room.

2. Buy Eyeglasses and Contacts Online
Don’t get stuck purchasing glasses and contacts from the optometrist. I’ve worn contacts, and sometimes glasses, since I was a teenager. For years, I always just ordered my contacts and glasses from my optometrist following the appointment. And for the longest time I didn’t know that there were other options out there that are less expensive and just as good quality. The contacts I wear normally cost $55 per box if I order them from my eye doctor, but by purchasing them online I was able to save nearly 50 percent! I researched many online stores to find the best deal for contact lenses and here is what I found.

The best deal for my contacts was from DiscountContactLenses.com. They were $34.99 per box, which includes six contacts and is a 3-month supply. Plus, I found a 20 percent off promo code for being a new customer, which brought the total per box down to just $27.99. And they shipped the contacts to me for free. So instead of paying $55 per box, I only paid $27.99 per box! That’s nearly half of the cost of what I’d been paying to purchase them from my eye doctor. And it was the exact same brand and box of contacts. (Side Note: For about 7 years, I purchased my contacts from VisionDirect.com, but unfortunately, as of May 2017 they shut down, so I did a lot of research to find which online stores had the best prices on contacts.)

I researched other online sites and found that the next best places to purchase contacts is from Sam’s Club and Costco. Then Walgreens if you locate a good promo code, and then Walmart.com. Other sites that I haven’t tried but I’ve you might want to consider looking at for contacts is 1800AnyLens.com and 1800Contacts.com. It is always a good idea to check a few sites before you order contacts online to make sure you find the best deal for what you need to order.

If you are looking for eyeglasses, purchase them online from Coastal.com or ZenniOptical.com where you can get generic frames and lenses for $20 shipped! The reason they can sell them so inexpensively is because they make them, and they don’t have to go through a middle man. And sometimes, Coastal.com has promotions where you can get your first pair of glasses free. All you’ll pay is shipping and handling and the cost of any lens upgrade. This promotion comes and goes, so you have to watch for it. For your first pair of glasses, you might want to consider ordering them in-store to ensure the fit is right, but after that, order them online!

3. Keep Your Old Frames
Just because you have a new prescription, it doesn’t mean you need new frames. While you may need new lenses for your glasses if your prescription has changed you don’t need to purchase new frames if your old ones are still in good condition. When shopping for new frames, be sure to stick with elegant and classic styles, rather than the latest trend that way you can have with them for a few years.

By doing these things, you can save a lot of money on glasses and contacts. What other tips to do you have to help you save money on eyewear?

Filed Under: Frugal Ideas, Money-Saving Tips

Comments

  1. Jaimi@TheStayatHomeMomSurvivalGuide says

    August 2, 2014 at 5:16 am

    These are great tips! I have an sppointment with Costco for an upcoming eye exam and have read great things about their cost and customer service.

    Reply
    • Lisa Park says

      August 5, 2014 at 11:20 pm

      Thanks! And I’m glad you stopped by!

      Reply
    • Tom H says

      May 6, 2017 at 8:24 pm

      Costco at my place Fairfax ,VA they don’t take any insurance. Cost 65$

      Reply
      • Lois says

        August 8, 2017 at 7:38 pm

        America’s Best in Georgia eye exam is $45

        Reply
        • Maria Chlih says

          January 21, 2018 at 5:41 am

          I live in Georgia in cobb county where did you go. I’m truing to get contacts I’m tired of eyeglasses

          Reply
          • Lisa Park says

            January 21, 2018 at 6:23 am

            I first go to my eye doctor to get a checkup and to get the prescription renewed for my contacts, then I order my contacts online through discountcontactlenses.com because it’s less expensive than ordering them from the eye doctor’s office.

  2. Doris Springer says

    August 22, 2014 at 12:14 am

    So did you buy a box of one month supply for that price or 3/6 months?
    Because we pay $35 for a 3 month supply.

    Reply
    • Lisa Park says

      August 22, 2014 at 4:00 am

      The $26 price is for a box of six contacts which is a three-month supply.

      Reply
  3. Maddison says

    February 5, 2015 at 8:12 pm

    If you have a high prescription (+/-4.00) or a complicated one, I don’t recommend buying glasses online. All of the measurements are very important and should be done in person by someone who knows what they’re doing. Try not to cheap out on something as important as your vision!

    Reply
    • Lisa Park says

      February 10, 2015 at 5:16 am

      I agree that if you have a complicated prescription you should have that done in person. For me, since I don’t have a complicated prescription, it works to order my contacts online. Thanks for your comment.

      Reply
      • sdfasdf says

        December 2, 2016 at 2:41 pm

        you can send a pic of your script and they do it for you on dicount contacts.com

        Reply
    • Alex says

      February 12, 2015 at 9:01 pm

      I disagree; I have a very high index prescription, need progressives, and wanted transitions with an antireflective coating, etc. etc.
      Translation? It’s a complicated prescription and I DID order online and had a great experience:
      glassesmarket.com
      and
      coastal.com
      Will certainly go back! MUCH less expensive than in person; I got ALL of the measurements I needed when I requested my prescription; used the measurements on my existing frame.

      Reply
      • Lisa says

        February 16, 2015 at 5:59 pm

        I’m really glad to hear that even though your prescription is a complicated one, you’ve had a good experience ordering online. I think people will be interested in knowing that you can order a complicated prescription online and that it can work out great. Thank you for sharing your experience!

        Reply
  4. Aleisha says

    February 12, 2015 at 1:55 pm

    Having the edges polished will make the glasses look thinner.
    Especially due to the augmentation that prescription lenses add, you don’t need your eyes battling with the frames; you simply want the whole look to blend smoothly.
    Fodeez also has a Frames for Children program in place.

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      February 16, 2015 at 6:01 pm

      Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll be sure to check out Fodeez.

      Reply
  5. Delores Lyon says

    February 23, 2015 at 11:20 pm

    These are some really great tips for getting your eyes checked for a cheap price. I actually just got my eye exam, and now I can pick out some glasses. I want to make sure I pick good ones, but I also don’t want to spend a fortune on them. I’ll definitely make sure to check stores online!

    Reply
    • Lisa Park says

      February 25, 2015 at 6:05 am

      I’m glad you were able to read some of these tips before you purchased your glasses, and I hope you’ll be able to find glasses you like that don’t cost too much. Thanks for your comment!

      Reply
  6. sophia says

    April 3, 2015 at 3:05 am

    How do you get the eye doctor to provide the measurements necessary to order online? I’ve got the script for lenses but not facial measurements.

    Reply
    • Lisa @ Saving Cent by Cent says

      April 3, 2015 at 3:27 am

      Sophia,
      When I filled out the information on VisionDirect.com to get my contacts, I gave them my doctor’s name and phone number. They call your eye doctor to verify your prescription.
      Lisa

      Reply
  7. Jill says

    May 9, 2015 at 12:20 am

    As of May 2015, Costco’s exam for contacts is $95 + a mandatory contact training which is $25. Total cost is $120 and I don’t know if they would charge extra for certain contact fittings.

    We went ahead and made an appt with the Dr. we’d seen before. They charge $95 for the exam and $55-90 for the training/fitting depending on the type of contact you need.

    Reply
    • Lisa @ Saving Cent by Cent says

      May 17, 2015 at 3:42 am

      Thanks for the information. I didn’t know that they had raised their prices. I need to do some additional research and call around to different places to see if they all are that price now.

      Reply
  8. Linda says

    June 10, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    I can’t decide if I need anti reflective coating …..at SAMs $130 extra …..no optical insurance ..retired ( that means old …lol) and I am getting transition lens. Any comment appreciated

    Reply
    • Lisa @ Saving Cent by Cent says

      June 11, 2015 at 4:07 am

      Linda, that would be challenging not to have insurance and have extras that you need for your vision. I would just suggest that you call around to a few different places and ask a lot of questions to see who has the best deal for what you need. After your exam, see if you can get a better deal for your vision wear online. I’m sure the people at VisionDirect.com would answer any questions you have before you order. Hopefully, doing a lot of research will help you find the best deal for you.

      Reply
  9. Victoria says

    January 31, 2016 at 1:30 pm

    Thanks for sharing great tips to save money! Finding some discounted coupons can be challenging. After my long research, I found cheapestplacetobuycontacts.com which offers good coupons on branded contact lenses.

    Reply
    • Lisa @ Saving Cent by Cent says

      February 12, 2016 at 10:37 pm

      I will definitely check them out the next time I purchase contacts and see if I can get an even better deal on my contacts. Thank you for sharing with everyone so we all can save money and get the best deal on eyewear!

      Reply
  10. Mary says

    September 18, 2016 at 2:42 pm

    I wouldn’t say that $80 for an eye exam is cheap. You can get a coupon from Vision Works sometimes for a $10 or $20. As for ordering eyeglasses in the mail it’s not worth the bother. How do you adjust the frames? If there’s an error in the order I would rather take them back myself to resolve the issue. Spending money on postage to fix the problem causes you to fork out more money.

    Reply
    • Lisa Park says

      September 28, 2016 at 2:37 pm

      Mary,

      Prices have gone up since I originally wrote this post, so thank you for the tip about getting a coupon from Vision Works to save money on an eye exam. My mother-in-law purchased glasses online and she hasn’t had a problem with them and had a good experience. She paid $40 for her glasses and had a slightly more complicated prescription. She save a lot of money because the last time she purchased glasses through the eye doctor, it cost her $300. Even if she had to send her glasses back to get them adjusted, it would have still cost her less money. And I’ve been ordering contacts in the mail for 6 years now from VisionDirect and have never had to return any of my contacts because of a problem. I realize others might have a different experience, but we’ve had great experiences ordering glasses and contacts online.

      Reply
  11. Elaine Bazany says

    March 13, 2018 at 8:43 pm

    Where can I get my new prescription put in my old frames

    Reply
    • Lisa Park says

      March 14, 2018 at 4:04 am

      Whichever vision center or eye doctor you go to ask them about the cost to change out the lenses and keep your frames. You might want to call around to a few places to find the best deal.

      Reply
  12. Chrystal Hays says

    January 16, 2019 at 5:37 pm

    Back in the 1980’s, my brilliant little sister found some cool old frames at a thrift store, and had her lenses put into those.
    If you don’t have a complex rx, this can still be a fun way to get new frames or have an extra pair made. You can experiment with vintage styling or an unusual look for under $10.

    Reply
    • Lisa Park says

      January 16, 2019 at 10:52 pm

      I love that idea! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply

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  1. Coastal.com: FREE Glasses (Just Pay Shipping / New Customers Only) - Saving Cent by Cent says:
    April 4, 2014 at 3:33 pm

    […] glasses inexpensively because they make them, and they don’t have to go through a middle man. Head over here to read more about Tips to Save Money on Glasses and […]

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Hello, I'm Lisa

I enjoy teaching people how to live frugally so they can live within their means while still enjoying and doing the things in life that matter most to them. I'm here sharing tips about budgeting, saving money, meal planning, simple recipes, and more.

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Some things you could do to save this money is don’t eat out, cut your grocery bill down, don’t go to the convenience store to grab a drink, or cut out subscription services.

It’s the small changes that make a difference over time.

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Click the link below for the recipe, or message me, and I'll send you the recipe.

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The link to the recipe is below or message me and I'll send you the recipe.

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Message me for the recipe or use the link below.

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I recently picked up the 31-pound Mixed Staples bo I recently picked up the 31-pound Mixed Staples box from the Food and Meat Co-op. I love the high-quality variety of meats and that it’s prepackaged and ready to go straight into the freezer.

For those of you in Northern Utah, if any of you want to try the Staples boxes, use the code savingcent10 to get $10 off.

Also this month, the Food and Meat Co-op is featuring convenience foods and easy meal options such as chicken nuggets, corn dogs (regular and gluten free), restaurant-quality sweet and sour pork meal kits, and orange meal kits. It’s nice to have quick and easy meals on busy days!

The pickup day for orders is between March 23-25 depending on where you live in Northern Utah.

https://foodandmeatcoop.com/tooele
Are you wanting to get out of debt or save up a do Are you wanting to get out of debt or save up a down payment for a home? Do you want to stop living paycheck to paycheck or save for a big family vacation? Determine what is motivating you to set some financial goals.

Once you determine your goal, determine how much money to save each month, then break it down to how much to save per week. You may not be able to save $500 a month, but maybe you can save $200 a month. That means you would set aside $50 a week.

Some things you could do to save this money is don’t eat out, cut your grocery bill down, don’t go to the convenience store to grab a drink, or cut out subscription services.

It’s the small changes that make a difference over time.

For more tips, visit my website.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2021/01/05/how-to-create-a-budget-free-budget-worksheet/

#budget #budgeting #financialgoal #finances
We are having these Oven Baked Tacos this week for We are having these Oven Baked Tacos this week for dinner. It's an easy meal to make!

To make this meal even faster, prepare the ground beef in advance by cooking it earlier in the week. You can then put the cooked meat in the fridge or freezer and pull it out when you are ready to use it.

Click the link below for the recipe, or message me, and I'll send you the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2013/10/18/oven-baked-tacos/

#tacos #bakedtacos #ovenbakedtacos #easydinneridea #easymealideas #easymealidea #easydinners #easymeals
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Use the link below or message me for the link to the Disneyland post.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2023/02/12/how-to-go-to-disneyland-on-a-budget/

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These slow cooker French Dip Sandwiches are on my These slow cooker French Dip Sandwiches are on my meal plan for this week. And it's so easy to make! You just need 10 minutes to put it together in the morning. Then let it cook all day.

I've tried a bunch of French dip Sandwiches, and this recipe is by far my favorite. My family also loves this meal.

The link to the recipe is below or message me and I'll send you the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2015/05/29/best-slow-cooker-french-dip-sandwiches/

#frenchdip #frenchdipsandwich #easydinnerideas #easymeal #easydinners #easymeals
If you want a fun treat for St. Patrick's Day, mak If you want a fun treat for St. Patrick's Day, make these yummy green cookies. They are really easy to make!

Message me for the recipe or use the link below.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2018/03/09/st-patricks-day-cookies/

#stpatricksdaycookies #stpatricksday #greencookies #greentreats #stpatricks #stpatrickscookies
I recently picked up the 31-pound Mixed Staples bo I recently picked up the 31-pound Mixed Staples box from the Food and Meat Co-op. I love the high-quality variety of meats and that it’s prepackaged and ready to go straight into the freezer.

For those of you in Northern Utah, if any of you want to try the Staples boxes, use the code savingcent10 to get $10 off.

Also this month, the Food and Meat Co-op is featuring convenience foods and easy meal options such as chicken nuggets, corn dogs (regular and gluten free), restaurant-quality sweet and sour pork meal kits, and orange meal kits. It’s nice to have quick and easy meals on busy days!

The pickup day for orders is between March 23-25 depending on where you live in Northern Utah.

https://foodandmeatcoop.com/tooele
Are you wanting to get out of debt or save up a do Are you wanting to get out of debt or save up a down payment for a home? Do you want to stop living paycheck to paycheck or save for a big family vacation? Determine what is motivating you to set some financial goals.

Once you determine your goal, determine how much money to save each month, then break it down to how much to save per week. You may not be able to save $500 a month, but maybe you can save $200 a month. That means you would set aside $50 a week.

Some things you could do to save this money is don’t eat out, cut your grocery bill down, don’t go to the convenience store to grab a drink, or cut out subscription services.

It’s the small changes that make a difference over time.

For more tips, visit my website.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2021/01/05/how-to-create-a-budget-free-budget-worksheet/

#budget #budgeting #financialgoal #finances
We are having these Oven Baked Tacos this week for We are having these Oven Baked Tacos this week for dinner. It's an easy meal to make!

To make this meal even faster, prepare the ground beef in advance by cooking it earlier in the week. You can then put the cooked meat in the fridge or freezer and pull it out when you are ready to use it.

Click the link below for the recipe, or message me, and I'll send you the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2013/10/18/oven-baked-tacos/

#tacos #bakedtacos #ovenbakedtacos #easydinneridea #easymealideas #easymealidea #easydinners #easymeals
If you have always wanted to go to Disneyland, or If you have always wanted to go to Disneyland, or if you have plans to travel there in the near future, check out these tips on how to go to Disneyland on a budget.

I share tips of where to purchase tickets, how to use Genie+, where to find hotels in Anaheim, how to save money on food, and more. Plus, I’m sharing tips how to plan out your days, and I share Disneyland and California Adventure itinerary ideas.

Use the link below or message me for the link to the Disneyland post.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2023/02/12/how-to-go-to-disneyland-on-a-budget/

#disneyland #disneylandtips #disneylandtipsandtricks #californiaadventure #californiaadventuretips #disneylandbudget #budgetdisneyland #savemoneyondisneyland
These slow cooker French Dip Sandwiches are on my These slow cooker French Dip Sandwiches are on my meal plan for this week. And it's so easy to make! You just need 10 minutes to put it together in the morning. Then let it cook all day.

I've tried a bunch of French dip Sandwiches, and this recipe is by far my favorite. My family also loves this meal.

The link to the recipe is below or message me and I'll send you the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2015/05/29/best-slow-cooker-french-dip-sandwiches/

#frenchdip #frenchdipsandwich #easydinnerideas #easymeal #easydinners #easymeals

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