Cheap prescription sunglasses

Antje

I lost my very chic very expensive prescription sunglasses last year, and while I will be looking for a stylish replacement this spring, right now I need a pair quickly for an upcoming vacation and it should be cheap, convenient (no running around to several stores) but not completely ugly.
Has anyone bought cheap prescription sunglasses online and had a decent experience? By cheap I mean well below $50, and I'm looking for fast shipping and easy/free returns so I can still go through a selection round.
(Please save me from having to wear clip-ons over my regular prescription glasses - been there before when I lost a pair during a trip, but really don't need to go there again). Thanks!

13 years ago

Shopping

10 replies

Latest reply was from Antje

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I was going to suggest Warby Parker - but they are $100.

13 years ago

Antje

Veteran

Hmm. I know I'm being crazy cheap, but I just hate to throw money at something I might not keep in the long run. I have bifocals in my regular glasses now and will eventually be looking for a great pair of bifocal sunglasses that will cost me hundreds of dollars. So right now I'm just looking for a basic (non bifocal) pair I can wear around the hotel pool to get by until I get on that bigger shopping excursion. (It might just end up being clip-ons or something monstrous like these: http://www.amazon.com/Wear-Ove.....3?s=appare) Sigh.

13 years ago

Diana

Veteran

My first thought was Warby parker too, but it's out of your price range. I do have a super-cheap pair from Zenni Optical. I don't think they allow returns but I think my sunnies were <$20. I bought them as an interim pair while I was hunting for my fancy ones, and they were fine for that purpose.

13 years ago

Kristin L

Veteran

I don't think you can get prescription sunglasses that cheap. What I did on one of my last vacation was just wear a cheap pair of non-prescription sunglasses in and around the pool. My vision isn't too terribly bad (I think it's about -1.1 in one eye and -3 in the other) and that's worked for me. I still carry my prescription ones, but I wear them when I know they'll stay on my face the whole time.

13 years ago

Antje

Veteran

Diana, thanks for the Zinni Optical pointer, that looks promising!

13 years ago

Anna

Active Member

Does it need to be online? I've purchased pretty cheap glasses at Costco in the Optical department.

13 years ago

qfbrenda

Veteran

About Zenni Optical, please know that if they mess up anything then you are out the money. They screwed up my son's prescription, denied it, and refused to fix it. So we were left with just the frames. If they make them correctly, the glasses are a great deal. Just don't expect any customer service.

13 years ago

amiable

Veteran

I've bought several pair of glasses from Zenni, and they did get the prescription right - very cheap. (But I haven't had to deal with customer service - I expect it is abysmal - the price doesn't really allow for it)

13 years ago

cciele

Veteran

Have you thought of going to a Sears-type or other chain optical store? Sometimes they run specials and you can get prescription glasses for really cheap. I got two pairs of reading glass for $90 or something like that. They can tint them for sunglasses too.

13 years ago

Antje

Veteran

Thanks, Costco and Sears are great suggestions, I might try those. For now, I ordered this, just to be sure I have *something*. <span class="wysiwyg-font-size-medium">

<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-medium">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA.....0169408068

<span class="wysiwyg-font-size-medium"> We shall see if my family agrees to be seen at the pool with me.

13 years ago

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