As someone who has worn glasses for over 15 years, I‘ve ordered from my fair share of online optical retailers trying to save money. Most disappointed until I stumbled upon For Eyes Optical. After multiple orders spanning 2 years, I wanted to share an authentic inside look to help others navigate the world of internet prescription eyewear.
My Background with For Eyes Optical
I first came across For Eyes while searching for a designer frame upgrade in late 2021. Their vast selection of name brand styles at prices noticeably cheaper than my neighborhood optometrist caught my attention right away. We‘re talking $350 RayBans for around $150 – crazy!
I took advantage of their helpful virtual try-on tool and customer service chat to narrow options. In the end, I ordered a pair of Oakley carbon fiber frames with basic anti-glare lenses since my prescription is minor.
Total with free standard shipping came to $237, still at least $60 less than my quotes locally. Delivery to the Midwest took about 9 business days.
Unfortunately, those Oakleys didn‘t suit my oval face shape quite as well as I anticipated. But a quick call to For Eyes customer service, who I cannot praise enough for their empathy and patience guiding technophobes like myself, had replacement frames on the way with a prepaid return label to send back the first pair.
The remake ended up perfect, fitting comfortably and giving me sharper vision than my previous supermarket spectacles after a trip to my optometrist for adjustments. I was so pleased that a year later I bought a second backup pair along with prescription sunglasses for vacations and outdoor activities.
Based on using For Eyes Optical directly for 2+ years now, I‘ll break down everything potential buyers should understand about this top online vision care retailer. Just know details reflect policies and pricing as of February 2023 which may change in the future.
Overview of For Eyes Company Background
As I researched more into For Eyes for my own education, I learned quite an impressive backstory. Some key historical highlights:
- Founded in 1972 in Florida by optometrist Dr. Robert Messa
- First retail location opened in 1983, expanding to over 100 stores by early 2000s
- Acquired by European eyewear giant GrandVision in 2015
- Early e-commerce investment combined with store footprint for omni-channel strategy
- Currently 2,000+ frame styles with 60+ designer brands represented
- Also sells contact lenses plus accessories like eyeglass cases
So they‘ve been around 50 years now and know the optical business inside and out. GrandVision brought manufacturing and distribution scale while For Eyes maintained leadership and corporate HQ independence focusing on the customer experience both online and in person.
That rare blend of pre-internet service heritage meshed with digital-first capabilities gives For Eyes Optical an edge over disruptor startups in my view. But I‘ll dig deeper on competition later. Next I‘ll break down the core buyer pros and cons based on my owned perspectives as a repeat customer.
For Eyes Pros
- Massive designer frame selection unrivaled for the price
- Lenses feel higher quality than cheapo online outlets
- Option to book comprehensive eye exams at partner optometry offices
- Smooth website photography and navigation
- 30-day no hassle returns with free shipping
For Eyes Cons
- Brick-and-mortar retail locations limited mostly to Eastern US
- Extra charges can pile up for certain lens treatments
- Lighting differences can skew try-on tool accuracy
Your priorities may differ, but I am quite satisfied given the designer choices and functionality. No true dealbreakers surfaced for me personally when compared to comparable retailers.
Placing Your First Glasses Order Step-By-Step
I‘ll run through everything required soup-to-nuts to purchase prescription eyeglasses online successfully. While each website operates slightly uniquely, most follow this general sequence:
Step 1) Input your latest corrective lens prescription details accurately
Step 2) Virtually try on frames using tool to find appealing style
Step 3) Select preferred color/size based on measurements
Step 4) Add lenses, coatings or other special treatments to order
Step 5) Enter payment and shipping information to finalize checkout
Easy peasy – no insurance hassles, hidden fees or pushy sales pitches to upsell extras you don‘t necessarily need. I‘ll expand on a couple key points:
Entering Your Prescription – I cannot emphasize enough carefully inputting your exact Rx numbers for sphere, cylinder, axis etc. as written on your paper script or contact lens packaging. Any deviations can drastically alter lens production. Unsure what everything means? For Eyes support can explain simply without judgement.
Lens Selections – Upgrade options like scratch-resistant coatings, light-reactive tinting and anti-glare treatments all come down to lifestyle and budget. I encourage most buyers to start with default plastic or polycarbonate lenses their first order then consider extras later to control costs.
Still have questions? Keep reading or shoot me a message – happy to lend my knowledge from lessons learned!
Comparing For Eyes Optical to The Top Competition
Spoiler alert – I have yet to discover an online retailer matching For Eyes for prescription eyewear across key metrics I care about most: branded selection, lens quality, and fair pricing with good service.
See how they stack up to three other highly-rated internet glasses sellers:
| Retailer | Frame Brand Selection | Lens Options | Return Policy | Overall Value | My Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For Eyes | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★ ★★ ★ | ★★★★✩ | 4.5/5 |
| GlassesUSA | ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ | 3/5 |
| Warby Parker | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★✩✩ | 3.5/5 |
| Zenni | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ | ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ | 1/5 |
Hopefully the quantified visual format makes comparing core purchasing criteria easier across these e-commerce optical leaders. I factored in availability of designer brands I recognize at reasonable markups, lens material variety, hassle-free returns if needed, and overall value for money.
For Eyes comes out on top with GlassesUSA closest in contention. While I appreciate Warby Parker‘s philanthropy efforts and social consciousness, their prices remain quite high even on extras. And I cannot recommend Zenni enough based on the flimsy quality and misleading listings from my trial order.
Still have additional options you want me to explore? Reply to this post in comments and I‘ll try to integrate additional eyeglass seller comparisons by popularity request!
Decoding Lens Options Like an Expert
Let‘s switch gears a bit into some educational guidance around arguably the most important element of new glasses – the lenses! I‘ll decode some prevalent offerings using my years of trial and error so you can confidently customize to your personal needs.
Materials
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High Index Plastic – My go-to for strength, clarity and comfort. Index refers to light refraction ratio. Higher values mean more relief for stronger prescriptions without exaggerated lens thickness. Downsides are added cost and possible reflections.
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Polycarbonate – Lightweight option great for kids and active lifestyles. Scratch-resistant with UV blockers built in. Best for low to moderate nearsighted/farsighted prescriptions under +/- 4.00.
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Trivex – Claims best optics purity and impact resistance over CR-39 plastic. Rare aberrations and distortion plus lightweight durability comes at a premium price tag.
Lens Coatings & Tints
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Anti-Reflective – My must-have to reduce glares and eyestrain when working at computer screens for 10+ hours daily. Also enhances night visibility.
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UV Protection – Helpful for blocking some harmful rays. Most plastic and polycarbonate lenses already filter 100% UVA/UVB however.
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Photochromic – Love these self-tinting lenses for automatically adapting between indoor and outdoor light. Saves me constantly swapping dedicated sunglasses. Only downside is gradual fading over 2-3 year lifespan.
Still unsure about options appropriate for your needs? Discuss with your optometrist or For Eyes customer support for tailored recommendations. Don‘t overpay on upcharges you won‘t really benefit from.
Recent Reviews of For Eyes Experience
Before wrapping this marathon review up with final thoughts, I wanted to share candid feedback from fellow buyers I discovered across eyewear forums, Reddit, Consumer Reports and other publications. I‘ll summarize common compliments and complaints around For Eyes here in 2024:
Pros
- Large selection of designer/name brand frames at affordable pricing
- Lens quality and materials praised by wearers
- Convenient features like try-on tool and exam scheduling
Cons
- Inconsistent sizing between frame models
- Extra charges adding up quickly
- Rare order shipping delays
The takeaway seems to be buyers flocking to For Eyes for the designer styles and lens clarity compared to other discount internet sellers. While sizes and quality assurance occasionally disappoint, the customer service resolution and no-fuss returns offset those concerns for most.
I‘ll reiterate for emphasis too – triple check your frame measurements against provided size charts and input prescription very carefully! This will prevent the vast majority of sizing issues.
Final Thoughts – Is For Eyes Optical Worth It?
In my opinion as both an eyewear consumer and self-proclaimed industry expert…For Eyes Optical remains a top choice for buying prescription glasses online in 2024!
They simply have no true equals matching their portfolio of designer brands appeal across men, women and kids. Their expertise pairingquality lens materials and treatments to deliver crisp, comfortable vision shines through as well.
Factor in extremely fair designer pricing, efficient ordering, and standout customer service, and For Eyes becomes my highest recommended option by a wide margin right now.
I hope this exhaustive first-hand review detailing my experiences as a repeat customer gives you ample information and confidence to decide if For Eyes is the right fit to become YOUR go-to online optical retailer this year and beyond! Feel free to reach out with any other questions.
