EyeBuyDirect Review 2024

If you’re trying to buy eyeglasses online, the options can seem endless. With so many retailers to choose from, it can be difficult to determine which websites to trust.

EyeBuyDirect is one of the optical retailers that jumped in on the direct-to-consumer business model in the early 2000s. Their claim to fame is that they’re easy to order from and generally affordable. EyeBuyDirect also offers a huge selection of eyeglass frames.

But is EyeBuyDirect worth it for you? This article will let you in on things you should know before clicking “buy.”

What is EyeBuyDirect?

EyeBuyDirect is a direct-to-consumer online retailer. The company sells prescription and nonprescription eyeglasses, blue light glasses, and sunglasses. EyeBuyDirect is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and has been around since 2005.

EyeBuyDirect offers a wide range of luxury and budget eyeglass frame brands. Ordering from EyeBuyDirect can be a simple way to get new glasses. But there are a couple of tips and tricks to know before placing your first order.

Pros and cons of EyeBuyDirect

Pros of EyeBuyDirect

• There are tons of options to choose from, including name brands like Theory, Oakley, and Ray-Ban.
• EyeBuyDirect accepts flexible spending account (FSA) and health savings account (HSA) debit cards, or you can submit a receipt to your insurance for reimbursement.
• EyeBuyDirect offers free returns within 14 days of getting your order.
• Manufacturing defects are covered by the EyeBuyDirect warranty for a year post-purchase. In these instances, you’ll be given a store credit.
• Buy 1 Give 1 program donates one pair of glasses to a person in need for every pair purchased on their website.

Cons of EyeBuyDirect

• While the frames are very affordable, lens options have the potential to raise the price point.
• If you return your glasses because of faulty manufacturing, you get a gift card in your email, and it isn’t tied to your account.
• EyeBuyDirect isn’t affiliated with any insurance companies, so you can’t use a traditional vision insurance policy or voucher to get your glasses.
• EyeBuyDirect doesn’t offer an at-home try-on — just a virtual try-on option.

What eyeglasses can I get from EyeBuyDirect?

EyeBuyDirect offers prescription and fashion eyewear.

EyeBuyDirect frames

EyeBuyDirect sells a wide variety of budget eyeglasses. Many of these eyeglasses mimic the look of upscale designer frames.

EyeBuyDirect also sells well-known brands such as Oakley and Ray-Ban. These brands are called premium selections. Premium brands cost more than EyeBuyDirect’s budget frames, but the frames are often still cheaper than they might be at a brick-and-mortar retailer.

EyeBuyDirect lenses

In addition to frames, EyeBuyDirect offers an array of lens options. Lenses and coatings available include:

• blue-light-blocking
• anti-glare
• polarized
• bifocal
• progressive
• reading

How much do eyeglasses from EyeBuyDirect cost?

It’s a bit hard to know what you might end up paying when you purchase glasses through EyeBuyDirect.

The frames themselves are typically more affordable. There are plenty of frame options for $50 or less.

Once you add in your lenses, the price starts to go up.

Vision distance prescription lenses — i.e., glasses for people with nearsightedness (myopia) — with clear, standard lenses will typically cost about $7. If you want anti-reflective or anti-scratch coating on your lenses, the price increases. You can choose from four different types of prescription lenses, each at a different price point.

EyeBuyDirect’s highest quality lenses, called their premium lenses, include an anti-scratch and anti-glare coating, ultraviolet protection, as well as dust and smudge protection. These lenses add $80 to the cost of the frames that you select — although some of the premium frames on EyeBuyDirect include these lenses in their pricing.

The same logic applies when you buy sunglasses from EyeBuyDirect. While the frames start at a low to moderate price point, different lens options can add to the cost.

What you need before ordering

If you’re shopping for prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses, you’ll need to know your prescription.

You should also have a clear idea of what you want in terms of eyeglass lenses. Do you wake up to find your glasses on the bedroom floor every morning? Anti-scratch may be essential for you.

Do you work at a computer for long hours every day? Blue-light-blocking lenses or anti-glare coating might be worth considering. Knowing what you need will keep you from overspending on things you don’t.

How to order from EyeBuyDirect

When you shop for glasses on EyeBuyDirect, you start by narrowing down the frames that you want from their huge selection.

Filter shopping pages and choose frames you like

Much like shopping for clothes at an online department store, EyeBuyDirect has filters you can use to look at frames by color, shape, and size. They also offer extensive advice on how to choose frames online based on your preference and the shape of your face.

Fill out the form with your prescription details

Once you’ve chosen your frames, the next step is to select your lenses. You’ll need to enter your prescription information into the form on their website, being careful not to make any errors. This method means you don’t have to transfer any files, but it is up to you to make sure that the entries are correct.

If you need a prescription, EyeBuyDirect offers a search feature on their website to look up eye doctors they have partnered with in your area so you can schedule an eye exam.

Choose the lenses and coatings you want

At this point, you can also choose add-ons, like anti-scratch coating or smudge protection on the lenses.

Make your shipping selections and add to your shopping cart
Next, you’ll select your shipping options and any additional accessories, like a leather glasses case or defogging cloth, at checkout.

How long does it take EyeBuyDirect glasses to ship?

After ordering, the company states that your glasses can take 7 to 14 business days to arrive with standard shipping. In some cases, your frames may be ready much sooner. Orders over $119 ship for free.

EyeBuyDirect is experiencing some delays as their supply chain copes with storms and pandemic-related challenges.

But once your order ships, the company uses a service, called Route, to help you track your package in real time.