EyeBuyDirect Review: How To Buy Glasses from EyeBuyDirect

Considering getting your next pair of glasses online? You might want to consider shopping EyeBuyDirect, an online seller of affordable, high-quality glasses that has received good reviews.

EyeBuyDirect (styled as all one word, not Eye Buy Direct) sells prescription and non-prescription glasses, blue light glasses and sunglasses online. Their factory-direct business model helps make their glasses affordable for almost any budget. They design and manufacture glasses in-house and describe the company as “your one stop online optical shop.”

Our EyeBuyDirect review will give you an overview of this popular place to buy glasses online. We’ll cover what they sell, how to order glasses and other details so you can decide if EyeBuyDirect is the place to get your new glasses.

What does EyeBuyDirect sell?

EyeBuyDirect is a top online seller of prescription and non-prescription glasses and sunglasses. They sell men’s, women’s and kids’ eyeglasses and sunglasses. Here are some of the types of glasses you can order: 

• Premium eyeglasses and sunglasses 

• Prescription and plano (non-prescription) sunglasses

• Polarized sunglasses

• Mirrored sunglasses

• Reading sunglasses

• Blue light glasses

• Sports glasses designed to stay on during a workout 

You can choose the frames you want and add lenses and lens coatings to suit your needs. EyeBuyDirect offers standard glasses, bifocals and progressive lenses. You can also get fashion eyeglasses with non-prescription lenses.

Here are a few of the most popular frame styles EyeBuyDirect sells:

• Amore – These rimless women’s heart-shaped glasses come in four colors: silver, gold, rose gold and red. They feature nose pads and stylish tortoiseshell temple tips. They also get good customer reviews.

• Hepburn – These classic, stylish, horn-rimmed women’s frames are made of acetate and come in four colors: tortoise, clear, gray/floral and ivory/tortoise.

• Hollie – These round, trendy glasses for women come in five colors: green, pink, teal, clear melon and cassis. The frame is made from wire covered with see-through plastic, and the glasses feature adjustable nose pads.

• November – These unisex glasses feature bold, square frames that make a statement. They come in five colors: brown, brown clear, matte black, matte clear and tortoise.

EyeBuyDirect also sells premium brands of glasses and sunglasses including Oakley, Ray-Ban and Rflkt. 

How to order glasses from EyeBuyDirect

It’s easy to buy glasses from EyeBuyDirect without leaving home — as long as you already have an eyeglasses prescription from your eye doctor. These are the eight steps you’ll need to follow:

1. Shop for frames. You can browse all frames or search by brand, category, color, gender, frame shape, material or features. You can sort frames by price, popularity and other criteria, such as “Newest Arrivals.”

2. “Try on” your glasses. You can use the virtual try-on tool to make sure those frames look good on you. You just enable your phone’s or computer’s camera to try on in real time. Or you can upload a photo or short video of yourself and the tool will show the frames on your image.

3. Choose the type of glasses. Once you’ve decided on frames, you’ll choose how you plan to use the glasses: distance vision, reading, multifocal or non-prescription.

4. Enter prescription. You can enter your prescription information online using the prescription you got from your eye doctor.

5. Choose the type of lenses. It’s important to choose lenses carefully. You can choose clear lenses, blue-light-filtering lenses, “light intelligent” (photochromic) lenses or sun-protection lenses.

6. Choose lens index. The index is the thickness of the lens. Ultra-thin high-index lenses will cost extra.

7. Choose lens extras. Anti-scratch and anti-reflective coatings are included. You can add water-repellent coating, UV protection coating or “party glasses” with a Swarovski crystal set in the lens.

8. Check out. You can then see your subtotal, add the glasses to your cart and check out. Soon your new glasses will be on their way.

Note that if you make an order then realize you entered the wrong prescription, you must contact customer service within an hour of placing your order to provide the correct prescription.

How much do EyeBuyDirect glasses cost?

EyeBuyDirect glasses can be quite affordable if you choose lower-cost frames. Frames start at just $6 but can cost $250 or more if you choose premium (Ray-Ban or Oakley) frames. 

The total cost of glasses with frames and lenses can range from less than $15 for basic frames and clear, non-prescription lenses to under $50 for low-end frames with basic clear distance-vision lenses. On the high end, you could pay hundreds of dollars for premium frames with lenses that have a complicated prescription and extra lens coatings.

Shipping for orders $99 and under is extra.

EyeBuyDirect deals and discounts

EyeBuyDirect glasses are priced affordably, but there are several ways you can save even more. Look for these special deals:

• Seasonal sales – EyeBuyDirect offers sitewide sales from time to time. For example, they recently offered a spring sale with 30% off everything when you use a special code. You may also get a pop-up ad with a discount code when shopping the site.

• Sale frames – You can also check the Sale page to browse discounted frame styles. By shopping this page, you can get up to 50% off select frames.

• Student discount – Students can get a 20% discount, plus free shipping, on up to six full-priced frames per order. To qualify, you need to join Student Beans to verify your student status.

• Veteran discount – Military veterans can get a 20% discount on lenses and frames by entering a discount code at checkout. [Read article on Veteran eye care.]

It’s always a good idea to check for promo codes, special discounts and sales before you shop to get the best possible deal on your new glasses.

Does EyeBuyDirect take eye insurance?

EyeBuyDirect does not accept vision insurance directly. However, your insurance company may reimburse you. 

First, check with your vision insurance company to determine what frames, lenses and other costs are covered. After you buy your glasses, you’ll have to submit a detailed receipt and a claim form to your insurance company to be reimbursed for covered costs.

Do you have a flexible spending account (FSA) but no vision insurance? You can use your FSA debit card to pay for your glasses.

How long does shipping take from EyeBuyDirect?

It typically takes between seven and 14 business days to get your glasses.

You have two shipping options:

• USPS – Free for orders over $99, otherwise $5.95.

• UPS – Starts at $19.

Shipping time varies based on which shipping method you choose at checkout. EyeBuyDirect estimates that glasses shipped via UPS will arrive two to four business days faster than those shipped via USPS.

Wondering where your order is? Use the order tracking tool to see how long it will take for your glasses to arrive. Just enter your order number and click the “Track my order” button.

EyeBuyDirect return policy

Maybe you don’t like the style of your new glasses, or perhaps they were made with the wrong prescription. EyeBuyDirect has a 14-Day Fit & Style Guarantee that allows you to return a pair of glasses within two weeks for any reason. You can choose to exchange your glasses for a new pair or get a refund (minus shipping fees).

If you find there’s a problem with your glasses after that 14-day period, you may be able to take advantage of the 365-Day Product Guarantee. This offers a replacement pair of glasses if your glasses have a clear defect in materials or workmanship. You may need to pay for shipping for the replacements.

Your EyeBuyDirect glasses broke

Do you have a pair of glasses from EyeBuyDirect that broke? They may replace your glasses under warranty in the first year if they broke due to defective materials or workmanship. But if you sat on or stepped on your glasses — or the dog chewed them up — you may be out of luck. The warranty does not cover breakage due to “accidents, negligence or improper care.”

EyeBuyDirect reviews 

EyeBuyDirect was named the best place to buy glasses online by Wirecutter, a consumer review service from The New York Times. Wirecutter did over 100 hours of research, spoke to eight eye care professionals and tested dozens of pairs of glasses purchased online.

The Wirecutter review of EyeBuyDirect gave the site high marks for:

• A customer-friendly shopping experience

• Affordable prices

• A large selection

• High-quality frames

• A variety of lenses

• Many lens coating options

Wirecutter wrote that their “testers consistently rated EyeBuyDirect glasses as being better than the competition.”

EyeBuyDirect customer service

Have a question about EyeBuyDirect? Need to check your order status? There are three main ways to get in touch with customer service:

• Use live chat – You can chat with a representative by clicking a Live Chat button on the “Contact Us” page.

• Call the customer service phone number – You can reach customer service by calling their Support Hotline at (855) 393-2891. Customer support by phone is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. EST and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.

• Contact them by email using a contact form – The “Contact Us” page also offers a Support Email form that allows you to reach customer service by email. You provide your contact information, send a message and get a response by email.

One of the advantages of EyeBuyDirect is that you have several ways to reach customer service. You can easily reach a live person, even on weekends.

Our thoughts on EyeBuyDirect 

If you’ve got your heart set on buying glasses online, EyeBuyDirect is a good option. They have quality glasses that may be better than some competitors.

But you may want to consider the option of buying eyeglasses through your eye doctor or local optical store. You can get professional help choosing the right frames for your face and getting a free adjustment of your new glasses. Visit your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam and check out their eyeglasses selection.

READ NEXT: SmartBuyGlasses review

Page published on Wednesday, May 12, 2021