EyeBuyDirect Review: Are They Good Quality Glasses?

About EyeBuyDirect

Eyebuydirect photo1 — Vision Center / Joel

EyeBuyDirect is an online eyewear retailer that sells directly to the customer and cuts out the middleman. It offers affordable prices, a virtual try-on feature, name-brand frames, and prescription lenses.

EyeBuyDirect lets you easily buy glasses online without the hassle of going to an eyewear store or doctor’s office. They offer a wide variety of eyewear, including:

Prescription lenses
Non-prescription lenses
Sunglasses
Blue-light blocking glasses

With over 3,000 different frames and styles to choose from, EyeBuyDirect has helped revolutionize the eyewear market with an easy online ordering process. It allows you to try on, order, and track your glasses from the comfort of your home.

Are EyeBuyDirect Glasses Good Quality?

Yes. EyeBuyDirect sells great quality glasses.

In 2013, EyeBuyDirect was purchased by Essilor Group, the largest manufacturer of corrective lenses, extending its extensive library of brands and frames directly to consumers.

All lenses and frames sold by EyeBuyDirect are made with high-quality, durable materials that can stand up to everyday wear and tear, including:

Polycarbonate (durable plastic)
Metal
Natural-looking bamboo and wood
Eco-friendly cellulose acetate

To uphold its dedication to high quality, EyeBuyDirect puts an anti-scratch coating on all its lenses, helping you keep your glasses scratch-free.

Pros and Cons of EyeBuyDirect

There are pros and cons to buying glasses online. We highlight the benefits and disadvantages of buying from EyeBuyDirect below.

Pros of EyeBuyDirect

Over 3,000 different frames to choose from
Easy ordering system
Accepts Flexible Spending and Health Spending Accounts (FSA, HSA)
Free 14-day return policy
Fit and Style quiz to help you pick the right frames
Buy 1 Give 1 campaign gives a free pair of glasses to a country of your choosing
2-day delivery option for select frames and lenses
Has both senior and veteran discounts

Cons of EyeBuyDirect

EyeBuyDirect does not directly accept vision insurance
They do not offer at-home try-on, only a virtual try-on feature
Adding on specialized lenses can make glasses more expensive
Shipping fees apply to one-time replacements

Customer Reviews and Feedback

Positive Experiences

“Lovely website that is well laid out and easy to understand. Great products.”
“I love how easy it is to order glasses. The pictures and reviews they provide are super helpful.”
“Easy to order, great quality, I’m extremely satisfied.”
“Fit is great, and prescriptions seem accurate, great savings.”
“I like that they are cheap and look nice.”
“If I don’t like them, I can donate them to wherever I choose and have my account credited for a new pair.”

Constructive Criticism and Common Concerns

“They frequently mention great prices, but when I check out, the price is way more than anticipated.”
“None of the discount codes applied to me.”
“When I asked for a refund, they would only offer a discount on new frames.”
“Some frames did not offer prescription or a try-on option.”
“The functions are confusing, and the prices are all over the place.”

What Type of Glasses Does EyeBuyDirect Offer?

EyeBuyDirect offers a large variety of non-prescription and prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses.

Eyebuydirect photo2 — Vision Center / Joel

The frame of your choice can be customized with several different types of lenses, including:

Progressive lenses

Progressive lenses are for people who are both farsighted and nearsighted. They eliminate the need to switch between reading glasses and eyeglasses.

They have three distinct layers that allow your vision to quickly change focus from far, middle, and near objects and images. Progressive lenses also don’t have the visible line divider that bifocals have.

Blue Light Glasses

Blue light glasses help protect against harmful blue light rays emitted from our electronic screens daily. They filter blue light and help reduce fatigue and eyestrain. They are great for both children and adults.

Polarized lenses

Polarized lenses are used in sunglasses to reduce glare caused by the sun and water. They use a special coating that filters polarized light away from your eye, giving you clearer vision than regular non-polarized lenses.

Transitional lenses

Transitional lenses quickly shift from light to dark as you move indoors to outdoors and vice versa. They are two pairs of glasses in one.

Transitional lenses are great for people with prescription glasses, eliminating the need for two pairs of glasses.

Additional lens coatings

Additional lens coatings for EyeBuyDirect glasses are also available for an additional cost. Add-on lens coatings include:

Anti-reflective coating
Mirrored sunglasses (reduce the amount of light entering the eye)

How Much Do Glasses From EyeBuyDirect Cost?

EyeBuyDirect offers a wide variety of affordable frames. They start at $9 and go up to $154 for premium brands.

While the frames may be listed at great prices, your total price can increase significantly depending on the type of lens you select, especially for prescription glasses and sunglasses.

How to Order from EyeBuyDirect

EyeBuyDirect has a great website that is easy to navigate. It makes the process of ordering glasses online simple and seamless.

To find the perfect frame shapes and most complimentary frame styles, use the built-in Fit & Style Eyewear Quiz and the virtual try-on feature to see if they are right for you.

Once you choose your frames, pick your lens type and enter your valid prescription from your eye doctor.

Obtaining a Prescription and Pupillary Distance

You will need your prescription information to ensure your lenses meet your vision requirements. You enter the information on a form provided during the checkout process.

The EyeBuyDirect website links information on measuring your pupillary distance to ensure your frames fit correctly.

The website also has a search feature for finding an eye doctor close to you if you need a valid prescription.

Uploading and Verifying the Prescription

Updating your prescription information is as easy as filling out a form. There is no need to upload any documents.

It is essential to know your exact prescription beforehand as it will ask for the following information for both the right and left eye:

Sphere (SPH)
Cylinder (CYL)
Axis
Pupillary distance

Choose Add-on Coatings

After entering your prescription information, it will take you to a page to choose any extra lens coatings, such as:

Anti-glare
Mirrored
Polarized lens protection

Lens coatings are an additional cost.

Proceed to Checkout

The last step is payment. EyeBuyDirect accepts several forms of payment, including:

Amazon Pay
PayPal
Credit card payments

How Long Does It Take to Get Glasses from EyeBuyDirect?

EyeBuyDirect offers a couple of shipping options based on your address and location at checkout. Your shipping options include the following:

Free USPS (for orders over $119) shipping takes 7 to 14 days for delivery
UPS Express starts at $19 and typically takes 2 to 4 days less than USPS
Green Shipping costs $6.95 and includes a shipping route that reduces climate impact
Select single-vision lenses and non-prescription glasses qualify for 2-day shipping

Factors Affecting Delivery Time

As with all online glasses stores, shipping times can be affected by weather, supply chain shortages, and material backlog.

EyeBuyDirect gives you a tracking number once it is shipped and alerts you of shipping delays.

EyeBuyDirect Return Policy and Guarantees

EyeBuyDirect has a comprehensive return policy on all online purchases.

14-Day Free Returns

The 14-day free return policy allows you to receive a one-time replacement pair of glasses for equal or lesser value. Or you can request a full refund within 2 weeks of receiving your order.

365-Day Product Guarantee

If your purchased glasses have noticeable defects in craftsmanship or manufacturing, EyeBuyDirect will deliver a one-time replacement for up to 365 days after purchase (1 year).

How Do EyeBuyDirect Glasses Compare to Competitors?

Online Retailer	Free Shipping	Virtual Try-On	Return Policy
EyeBuyDirect	Yes, on orders above $119	Yes	14 days
GlassesUSA	Yes	Yes	14 days
Warby Parker	Yes	Home Try-On	30 days
Liingo	Yes	In-home and virtual try-on	60 days
Zenni Optical	No	Yes, but you have to upload a video	30 days

Final Verdict: Should You Buy Glasses from EyeBuyDirect?

EyeBuyDirect is a great direct-to-consumer online glasses store that makes shopping for glasses online easy, affordable, and seamless. With over 3,000 frames, there is a fit and style for everyone.

Customizing lenses with your prescription is easy—just fill out a form. You don’t need to upload anything. They also provide pupillary distance measuring information and a Fit & Style Eyewear Quiz to ensure your glasses are perfect.

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