4 Best Online Eyewear Stores

Vision is important. Looking and feeling good while making sure you see well is equally as important. Now that it’s a new year, it’s the perfect time to embrace a new look and what better way to do that than with a new pair of stylish glasses? We have scoured, tested and photographed the cutest frames from the best online shops and are here to give you the low down. From high quality giftable frames to affordable $86 options to at-home try on programs and personal stylist services, we have it all.

David Kind

David Kind offers an innovative approach to eye wear with a luxurious way to find the perfect glasses.  The company recently launched in Venice, CA and they offer one-on-one customer service to every client throughout the process of their eyewear purchase. Their website is a breeze to use and very nicely designed so it’s a pleasure going through the stylist profile.

Styles

David Kind’s custom frames are crafted in Italy and Japan and they offer an abundance of options for lenses.  The styles are chic and elegant, yet appealing to those with a more quirky and retro taste.  Your stylist will make sure that the glasses selected for you fit your personality and size.

Lens Options

David Kind is committed to providing crystal clear optics, therefore they never use conventional polycarbonate lenses. Their lenses include anti-reflective and anti-scratch coatings.  Free-form progressive lenses and Transitions lenses are also available.  David Kind offers Trivex/High Index HD Digital Lenses that are clear and thin with the widest RX range and widest peripheral vision.

Ordering Process

With expert eyewear stylists, ordering is very simple.  Just sign up and tell them what you like/don’t like and include a few photos of you. A real eyewear stylist then builds your fit and style profile.

• Virtual Try On is not available with David Kind.
• Home Try On: Receive 6 frames to try on at home for 6 days, each hand-selected by your stylist. Shipping is free both ways.

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Returns

You can purchase after consultations with your personal stylist and absolute satisfaction with David Kind with no returns necessary.

Speed

You receive your new glasses pretty quickly.   It takes 5 days to process after selecting your glasses and you will get them delivered in a lovely cork case.

Quality

These specs are of the finest taste and sturdy.  However, the true highlight is the hand crafted lens quality with thinner profile and clearer viewing surface.

Coastal.com

Coastal.com is the largest retailer of online designer glasses and brand name contact lenses. They have operations in North America, Europe, Brazil, Japan, Australia and New Zealand and are devoted to using their knowledge and resources to change lives by improving eye health globally, regardless of economics or geography.

Styles

With the largest in-stock selection of glasses they boast surprisingly affordable frames, as well as a large selection of designer frames.  Coastal.com advertises their $49 glasses collection.  You can enjoy light weight frames with their new Silhouette Eyewear line and we love their classic styles that convey individuality in an effortless way.   We found ourselves at a loss for narrowing down our choices as the options are endless.

Lens Options

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Coastal.com manufactures all prescription glasses in their own factories, keeping in control of the process every step of the way to ensure only the top quality materials, machines, and coatings are used to make your eyeglasses.  With state-of-the-art technology they process incredibly accurate progressive lenses to work with their progressive eligible frames. One key thing to note is that your eyes need time to get used to new progressive lenses no matter how accurate they are.

• Bonus: Free shipping and handling on all glasses and sunglasses. Plus, if you’re not happy with your order, you have one full year to return it. They even pay the return shipping.

Ordering Process

The website offers a few virtual applications for finding the right glasses.  Use My Style Finder to get your own personalized collection of glasses by answering just a few simple questions.  There is also a Shape Face Guide to help you find the right frame for your face type.

• Virtual Try On: Very easy with interactive features like Try On View and Find Your Perfect Fit tools.
• Home Try On: Try any frame free for 15 days.

Returns

It’s pretty simple, you have one year to return your order.

Speed

It takes 5-10 business days to process your order, depending on what you are ordering.  Some items, such as sunglasses, ship out within 2 business days.  Delivery time is 5-7 days after processing.

Quality

Over 3,000 frames in stock and options for designer glasses.  The quality is exceptional and styles are satisfying.

See Saw Seen

See Saw Seen Eyewear is a family owned and operated business which was established with the vision to make high quality, stylish prescriptive and non-prescriptive eyewear at affordable prices accessible from the comfort of one’s own home.

Styles

As an online optical boutique, they have the advantage of offering a larger selection of brands and contemporary styles from around the world, which may not be available in other brick and mortar stores.

You can find lightweight frames that are suitable to your taste and are also flexible with a screwless design. This is great if you are worried about crushing your frames.  You can also stand out from the crowd with a pair of wooden frames from their unique collection that offers many finishes.  If you are into a vintage look, try their retro collection with bold style choices like a classic thick frame with modern twists. Their sunglasses collection offers fun and classic frames that would spice up anyone’s outfit.

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See Saw Seen Eyewear offers a durable collection of Children’s Glasses for those of you who are parents in search of glasses for your child.

Lens Options

All lenses include anti-reflective, scratch resistant, UV coating to give you or your child’s eyes the best view and protection.

They offer polycarbonate lenses made of the same material as bullet proof glass, which means these lenses will stand up to the toughest wearer.  Polycarbonate lenses are the standard option, but you can upgrade the lenses to High Index 1.67 Aspheric lenses.  They also offer Ultra High Index 1.74, which is recommended for prescriptions over -6.00D.  An aspheric lens appears thinner than polycarbonate, which hides the exact strength of your prescription lenses.

Ordering Process

The website is full of helpful tips on how to figure out the right frames for you.  There is a Face Shape Guide, Frame Fit Guide and a nifty Virtual Mirror Guide, where you can see yourself actually wearing the glasses.

• Virtual Try On: You can use your webcam or upload a passport picture of yourself to see how the glasses will look on you.  We think it can’t get any better than that, as even in an optometrist store, you would not be able to take pictures of yourself wearing various frames to compare and choose.
• Home Try On: Select up to 10 frames to be brought to you in person to try on and get fitted for.  See Saw Seen offers a unique In Person Try On Service that we think is extremely valuable.  In our opinion, this is a truly revolutionary idea for an online store.  You simply pick 10 frames you really love, choose a time and location and they will be there with the 10 frames you selected.  You sample the frames and their optical staff will make measurements for your prescription lenses.

Returns

In the event of any manufacturer defect to your frames or lenses, See Saw Seen will exchange any frames or lenses for free within thirty (30) days.  If you are unsatisfied with your frames, you are entitled to a refund or exchange within fourteen (14) days. They cannot refund lenses as they are custom made for you. However, they will allow one free additional customization with any lens and frames purchase. This means that if you are unsatisfied with your frames, you may return the frames and lenses and exchange them for a new set of frames and lenses.

Speed

Your order is delivered fairly quickly.  Most orders are shipped within 7-10 business days.

Quality

The frames are durable and flexible with screwless hinges that take the stress out of maintenance.  Nice frame styles, low cost, and an easy approach to buying glasses are what caught our attention immediately.

Classic Specs

Classic Specs shop was created by two neighbors in Williamsburg, Brooklyn who figured out a way to offer stylish, quality frames and lenses at a fraction of the price of optical shops.

Styles

With a wide range of surprisingly flattering and pleasantly affordable frames, Classic Specs advertises $89 for all their glasses. You can find cool hipster frames that actually suit your face, as well as more classic looking styles with a flare thrown in there for good measure. Among all the brands we have tested, we had the hardest time selecting just one frame from 6 try-on options.

Lens Options

All lenses are polycarbonate with anti-reflective coating and anti-scratch finish. You have the option of ordering high-index lenses for an extra $20, if your Rx is less than -4.0 and more than +4.0.

You can order Rx sunglasses in every frame or plano lens for those not needing a prescription but in love with a specific look. Sunglass tint can be previewed for each frame in the 4 colors that are offered: amber, charcoal, evergreen and ash. Or, if you would just like sunglasses without Rx, they give you that option as well.

BONUS: There are three unique services that Classic Specs offers that we are in love with.

• For every frame purchased from them, they will work on a pair of your old frames and get you new lenses in your old glasses. So that’s like paying $89 for two pairs of glasses.
• If you ever break your frames/lenses, they will get you a fresh pair for just $25.
• If you need to adjust your glasses, they recommend stopping at any optical shop – most shops perform adjustments as a standalone service. If you’re charged anything at all, just let them know and they will be happy to cover the cost 100%.

Ordering Process

The website is full of tips on how to properly measure and figure out the right fit for glasses. Once you’ve figured out which size will work for you, you can refer to each frame’s sizing at the top.

• Virtual Try On: This option is very accurate, which is how we were able to receive so many frames that fit correctly and looked good, thus making choosing just one set difficult. While you cannot preview how Rx sunglasses will look in each frame via virtual try on, you can see the tint while ordering.
• Home Try On: Available for standard frames (not sunglasses). Once you’ve selected 6 pairs that you like the most and added them to your try-on cart, they ship for free for you to try. Once you’ve decided on a frame or two, you ship them all back with a note on which frame you liked. Those frames can then be purchased and filled with your Rx.

Returns

Very simple 30 days return policy for any reason. 100% refund that covers shipping cost.

Speed

The glasses arrived very fast. It takes 5-7 business days to process all orders and 3-5 days for shipping.

Quality

Classic Specs frames are not flimsy or cheap. They are thick, well adjusted and solid, made of strong materials and carry a presence, on your face as well as when inspected.

So there you have it! Four AMAZING online shops offering hundreds of new glasses to give you a new look moving into this new year.

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Photo Credit: The Art of Making a Baby