How to choose eyeglasses

Know who excels at what

The best place to shop depends in part on your needs and preferences. If you need glasses right away—you lost them in the ocean or dropped them in the garbage disposal—indie shops, Empire Vision Centers, and, though it’s expensive, LensCrafters, are the better options. If quality, service, and selection are paramount, and you don’t mind spending a little more than $200, go to a doctor’s office or independent boutique. Otherwise, go to Costco or one of the other higher-rated chains. Consult the Ratings (available to subscribers) for details. We didn’t ask about buying glasses online in this survey because so few readers in our previous survey reported using that option. If you do buy online, consider doing so just for frames and then go to a walk-in store where an optician can fit the lenses and adjust the frame if necessary. No matter which option you choose, find out what follow-up service is provided and what recourse there is if you have problems, such as a faulty prescription or frames that break.

Spring for only what you need

Glasses come in a dizzying array of lens types and coatings, some of which you could end up shelling out for even if you don’t need them. Use Lens lingo to familiarize yourself with the major options and don’t hesitate to ask lots of questions at the store. If an employee doesn’t seem to know the answers, consider shopping elsewhere.

Don’t be a slave to brand names

You can spend hundreds of extra dollars on frames from high-end designers such as Chanel, Prada, and Gucci. But designer frames usually aren’t made by those designers. They’re made by manufacturers that license the brand names. And such licensing fees can translate into higher prices for consumers. The companies that make designer specs, such as Luxotica, Safilo, and Marcolin, also make high-quality nondesigner frames, some of which are similar to the designer versions (minus the fancy logo on the side). Those frames can have the same style for a fraction of the designer price.

Look for coupons

One-third of readers who visited an optical chain used coupons to get a deal on their new glasses, and at chains like JCPenney Optical and LensCrafters, as many as 62 percent of respondents had used one. Check with your health-insurance provider, too, because some insurers will cover a portion of your eyeglass purchase. About 43 percent of respondents to our survey said at least part of their purchase was covered by insurance, and one-quarter said insurance covered at least half.