Getting prescription glasses is a straightforward process: you need an eye exam, a written prescription, and then you choose where and how to buy your frames and lenses. The whole process typically takes one to two weeks from exam to wearing your new glasses, though some retailers offer same-day service. Here’s what each step involves and how to make smart choices along the way.
Start With an Eye Exam
You can get your prescription from either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. An optometrist holds a doctor of optometry (OD) degree and specializes in vision testing, prescribing corrective lenses, and detecting eye abnormalities. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) with additional surgical training who can diagnose and treat all eye diseases, perform surgery, and also prescribe glasses. For a routine glasses prescription, either provider works perfectly well.
A comprehensive eye exam without insurance costs $136 on average nationally, with prices ranging from $105 to $257 depending on your location and the provider. The exam itself takes about 20 to 30 minutes. You’ll read letters on a chart, look through a series of lenses while the doctor asks “which is clearer, one or two,” and have the health of your eyes checked with a light and magnifying instruments.
Adults without risk factors for eye disease should get a baseline comprehensive exam at age 40. From 40 to 54, every two to four years is sufficient. Between 55 and 64, every one to three years. After 65, every one to two years. If you have diabetes, a family history of glaucoma, or other risk factors, you’ll need exams more frequently.
Get Your Prescription in Hand
Federal law requires your eye doctor to give you a copy of your prescription immediately after the exam, whether you ask for it or not. The FTC’s Eyeglass Rule is clear on this: the doctor must hand it over automatically, before offering to sell you glasses, and cannot charge an extra fee for it. You’re also free to take that prescription anywhere you want to buy your glasses. No doctor can require you to sign a waiver or limit where you shop.
Eyeglass prescriptions are typically valid for two years, though your doctor can set a shorter expiration if your eyes or health warrant closer monitoring. Once it expires, you’ll need a new exam before ordering replacement glasses.
How to Read Your Prescription
An eyeglass prescription looks like a small table with abbreviations that seem cryptic at first but are easy to decode. OD refers to your right eye, and OS refers to your left eye. Each eye gets its own row of numbers.
- SPH (Sphere): The main lens power needed to correct your vision. A minus sign means you’re nearsighted, a plus sign means you’re farsighted. The higher the number, the stronger the correction.
- CYL (Cylinder): The amount of astigmatism correction you need, if any. Astigmatism means part of your cornea has a different curve than the rest.
- Axis: A number between 1 and 180 that indicates the angle of the astigmatism on your cornea, telling the lab how to orient the correction.
- ADD: Additional magnifying power in the lower portion of the lens for reading. This is common for people over 40 who choose bifocals or progressive lenses instead of separate reading glasses.
Measure Your Pupillary Distance
Pupillary distance (PD) is the distance in millimeters between the centers of your two pupils. It tells the lab exactly where to place the optical center of each lens so you’re looking through the right spot. If the lenses aren’t centered correctly, you can experience blurry vision and eye strain, especially with stronger prescriptions or progressive lenses.
Some doctors include PD on your prescription, but many don’t. If you’re buying glasses in a store, the optician will measure it for you. If you’re ordering online, you may need to measure it yourself. Stand about eight inches from a mirror, hold a millimeter ruler horizontally across the bridge of your nose, align the zero with the center of one pupil, close that eye, and read the measurement at the center of the other pupil. Having a friend do it for you is more accurate. For progressive or bifocal lenses, you’ll also need a “near PD,” which is measured while you focus on a close object like a pen held at reading distance.
Choose Your Lens Material
The lens material affects how thick, heavy, and durable your glasses will be. Standard plastic (called CR-39) is the most affordable option and offers good optical clarity, but the lenses can be thick if your prescription is strong.
Polycarbonate lenses are lighter, thinner, and highly impact-resistant. Originally developed for aerospace use, they’re the go-to choice for children’s glasses, sports eyewear, and anyone who needs durability. They also block 100% of UV rays without any additional coating. The tradeoff is slightly less optical clarity compared to other materials.
Trivex offers impact resistance similar to polycarbonate but with better optical sharpness. It’s extremely lightweight and resists cracking, making it popular for rimless frames and active lifestyles. It tends to cost a bit more than polycarbonate.
High-index lenses are the thinnest and lightest option, designed for people with strong prescriptions who don’t want thick, heavy lenses. They’re more expensive and reflect more light, so pairing them with an anti-reflective coating is a good idea. For full-time wearers with moderate to high prescriptions, many find the comfort and appearance worth the extra cost.
Pick Your Lens Coatings
Anti-reflective coating reduces glare from lights, screens, and headlights. It’s especially helpful for night driving and for anyone who spends long hours looking at a computer. It also makes your lenses look nearly invisible, which is a cosmetic plus.
Photochromic lenses (often called “transitions”) darken automatically when exposed to UV light and return to clear indoors. They offer full UVA and UVB protection at all times, even when the lenses appear clear. If you don’t want to carry a separate pair of prescription sunglasses, these eliminate that hassle. They also filter some blue light from screens.
Scratch-resistant coatings add a harder surface layer that helps your lenses hold up to daily wear. Many retailers include this as a standard feature.
Buying In-Store vs. Online
Optical shops let you try frames on, get professionally fitted, and have an optician handle all the technical measurements. This matters most for progressive lenses, which require precise fitting measurements beyond just your PD. In-store staff can also adjust the frames to your face after they arrive.
Buying online can save significant money. Consumer Reports found that shoppers saved as much as 40% compared to brick-and-mortar stores. You get a wider selection of styles and colors, and you can comparison shop across multiple sites in minutes. The downsides: you can’t try frames on in person (though many sites offer virtual try-on tools), measuring your own PD can be tricky, and progressive lenses are harder to get right without in-person fitting. Some online retailers also don’t accept vision insurance.
For a simple single-vision prescription, online ordering is a reliable and affordable option. For progressives, bifocals, or very strong prescriptions, an in-store fitting reduces the chance of ordering errors.
Paying for Your Glasses
Vision insurance plans typically cover one pair of glasses per year, including frames up to a set allowance and basic lenses. You’ll usually pay a copay plus the difference if you choose frames or coatings that exceed your plan’s coverage.
If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), prescription glasses are fully eligible expenses. That includes prescription sunglasses, progressives, reading glasses, and even prescription blue-light glasses. Eye exams, contact lens solution, and eyeglass repair kits also qualify. Non-prescription glasses and non-prescription sunglasses do not. Using pre-tax FSA or HSA dollars effectively gives you a discount equal to your tax bracket, which for many people means 20% to 30% savings.
Without insurance, a basic pair of single-vision glasses from an online retailer can cost as little as $30 to $50. In-store prices for frames and lenses together typically range from $200 to $600 or more, depending on the brand, lens material, and coatings you choose.