The prospect of needing glasses for the first time in my early 20s felt like a fast track to being labeled a nerd. To add insult to injury, the steep costs associated to eyewear wasn’t exactly thrilling. Yet, after wearing glasses for nearly half my life, I’ve found it’s not all gloom and doom. There are ways to affordably obtain prescription eyewear.
FIRMOO
One such solution is Firmoo, an online platform for affordable prescription eyewear. Not only do they host frequent buy one get one free sales with prices starting from as low as $19 per pair, but they also offer a rewarding referral program that pays $10 in PayPal cash for each new referral.
THE JOURNEY
Truth be told, I wasn’t always a smart eyewear shopper. My first pair was a simplistic wireframe design that set me back over $500. As a result, my single pair of glasses was treated like a precious artifact. Thankfully, my brother introduced me to cheaper yet quality alternatives. His top recommendation was Zenni Optical.
ZENNI OPTICAL
The user-friendly Zenni Optical website offers a wide variety of designs for men, women, and children. The glasses start at $6.95 a pair and shipping is pegged at $4.95 irrespective of the number of pairs bought together. While they have numerous offerings in the $6.95 range, most of my purchases have ranged from $9.95 to $12.95. The priciest pair I’ve gotten from them cost $27.95. They constantly update their inventory with fresh styles, giving shoppers a plethora of options to choose from.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Beyond the agreeable pricing, their glasses come with a sturdy eyeglasses case, cleaning cloth, standard UV Protection, Anti-Scratch Coating, and Single Lens. Added features like photochromic lenses, which darken in the sunlight to function as sunglasses, start at $19.00 per pair. Other noteworthy add-ons are anti-reflective coating, bi-focals, blue blocking lenses, various colored lenses, gradient lens tint, different types of vision lenses and coatings.
MEASURING UP
Before you make your first purchase, it’s crucial to have your prescription and PD (Pupillary Distance) measurement. The website provides guidance for taking these measurements. With your prescription and PD entered into your profile, you can “try on” the glasses virtually. I usually just base my order on a pair of glasses I already own, adjusting by a few millimeters if necessary.
QUALITY AND DURABILITY
So far, I’ve only had problems with one pair where I strayed too much from my usual measurements. I’ve purchased all my glasses from Zenni Optical and currently have a rotation of 14 different pairs. Breaking just one pair and having one ill-fitting pair, I can vouch for their durability. Having a variety of frames to choose from without breaking the bank has been quite rewarding.
Try Zenni Optical and experience it for yourself. It’s simply a smart way to ensure that the need for prescription eyewear doesn’t burn holes in your pocket without compromising style.
