If you've wondered about buying eyeglasses online

[TexasBushwhacker]

now's your chance to try it. I've ordered several pairs from this sight and the results have been okay to awesome. And since they start at $6.95 (regular lenses included) and they're knocking off 15% for Labor Day, now is a good time to try them out. Even their most expensive frames are only $35.

http://www.zennioptical.com

They have frames for men, women and kids. Add-ons like tints and specialty lenses are reasonably priced too. I have a pretty strong prescription and the last time I looked at frames at a brick and mortar store they were over $250, and that was with cheap frames.

You will need your prescription and PD - pupillary distance. It's the distance between the center of your pupils. Mine is 56 mm and I have close set eyes. So yours will probably between 55 and 65 mm. Sometimes the optometrist doesn't write it on your prescription but you can measure it yourself or with the help of a friend.

http://help.coastal.com/questions/9472-How-do-I-measure-my-pupillary-distance-(PD)

So how do you choose frames that fit and are flattering? Use glasses you already have as a guide. Measure the width and height of the lenses and the overall width of the frame. A few mm bigger or smaller is probably okay. A general rule is that rounder faces look better with angular frames and angular faces look better with rounded or oval frames.

Your PD is a good guideline as well. Ideally your eye should be centered horizontally in the lens. A frame that's too wide will make your eyes look more close set and one that's too narrow will interfere with your field of vision.

Be careful with lenses that are too tall if you have high cheek bones or chubby cheeks (like me). Too tall lenses will "ride" on your cheeks and move up when you smile.

But wait, there's more! If you go through MrRebates.com or Ebates.com yo can save a few more %. I've used MrRebates and I really did get money back.

I've also ordered glasses from EyeBuyDirect.com and Coastal.com . They are more expensive than Zenni, but still cheaper than Lensmasters.

[LiberalElite]

1. I have been wondering about Zenni Optical.

I like the variety of frames - I need progressive lenses but there is still more to choose from on their site than at a brick n motar store. Are the lenses less expensive? That's where I really get the chunk taken out of the bank account.

[TexasBushwhacker]

2. Progressives cost $28 to $73 more

depending on the thinness of the lenses. I haven't gotten progressives from Zenni because the one pair of progressives I bought years ago from Lenscrafters I just didn't like. I never could get used to them. I just get 2 pairs of glasses - one for distance and one for computer.

There is a little "refine" box that you can select parameters like your PD, your prescription (progressives in your case) even style and color.

[LiberalElite]

3. Ok tks

[KentuckyWoman]

7. You'll need someone to help get all the measurements correct for progressives

even the pros at the eyeglass place screw it up 60% of the time and you have to be the wicked witch to get them done over........ sometimes several times.

Zenni is great for single vision or contacts... even traditional lined bi/tri focals. Progressives..... I'd think twice at least.

[TuxedoKat]

4. I've ordered from them before

twice and was happy with my glasses both times.

[Kali]

5. oh perfect! thanks!

I have bought from eyebuydirect and had no complaints at all, but I was actually looking last night and they had maybe 3 pairs of metal half rims and I didn't like any of them. looks like a couple good ones to check out at zenni. now if I can just find the photo I used at ebd to "try" them on again...

how long do they take to ship? with EBD I noticed that while they sent regular updates about preparing the lenses and such, the actual time seemed to be about what it takes to ship something from, say...China.

[TexasBushwhacker]

6. I think the last time it took a couple of weeks

Maybe 3. I've got an odd prescription though so I've never been able to get my glasses quickly anyway. The frames and lenses come from China, but I believe they are assembled in California. That's where they are shipped from.