If you want to get new lenses for your old frames, I’ve pulled together a list of the best lens-replacement vendors to help you narrow down your options. All of these companies also sell frames and full prescription eyeglass and sunglass packages. Some also have special offers available to save you some money on your purchase.
Each company will either send you a box with a return shipping label inside to mail in your glasses, or, if you already have a box for your glasses, the company will just send you the return shipping label. It’s an easy process and expedited shipping options are available for a special fee if you need your glasses back quickly. Depending on your prescription, some companies can turn around orders in just a couple of days.
What’s the best place overall to buy replacement lenses?
It’s hard to declare one online retailer as the best place to buy replacement lenses for your glasses. All of them good, though none of them is perfect. (I occasionally get an email from a reader about a bad outcome, but I’ve found that the customer service at all of our top picks is usually pretty responsive and settles any issues, though those issues can sometimes take a few days to resolve.)
We have Lensabl at the top of our roundup for best place to buy replacement lenses for glasses because it’s user friendly and offers competitive pricing. Qualifying customers can even renew their eyeglass prescription with them online. But if you’re looking for fast service, Overnight Glasses is a great pick. And I had good experiences with all the other online lens-replacement shops on this list.
Read more: Best Bluetooth Audio Glasses and Sunglasses for 2023
Things to keep in mind when buying new prescription lenses
We’ll update these best replacement lenses for glasses list as we try more. Before we dive in, keep in mind the following prerequisites, caveats and tips:
- Most of the prescription eyewear sites highlighted here for eyeglass lens replacement offer a discount for first-time customers.
- In most cases, you’ll need to know your prescription and pupillary distance from your optometrist before you use an online glasses retailer — so make sure you get a hard copy the next time you get your vision checked. Once you have your current prescription, most of these websites will let you upload a picture of the prescription from your phone the first time you buy prescription eyewear.
- If you don’t know your prescription, certain lens-replacement outfits in this roundup can simply duplicate the lenses you have in your existing frames. (If a lens is cracked or scratched, you may simply want to replace it if your prescription is current.)
- Some eyeglass lens replacement sites will ask you to send a description or photo of your frame (and perhaps ask for a model number if you have one), so they can prep your order and process it faster.
- Most but not all existing frames can accept new prescription lenses.
- See how to buy glasses online and save hundreds of dollars for more tips.
Read more: Use Your Phone to Check Your Vision
Best places to buy replacement lenses for glasses
Shipping Info Free, takes 2-5 business days (after processing and receiving the glasses)Return Policy No returns/refunds. All sales final. If lens were incorrectly made, customers have 30-days to request a remake.Insurance Accepted No (reimbursement available depending on insurance company)Features Offered Use your own frame, blue light filter, anti-glare (polarized), anti-scratch, UV protection
Although it offers full frame/lens packages, Lensabl puts its lens replacement service front and center and comes up high in search results when Googling “lens replacement.” Its motto is “Your frames, our lenses,” with prices starting at $77 for buying a basic pair of single-vision lenses. A pair of tinted sunglasses lenses starts at $97. The budget new lens options are decent enough, but it does make a difference (in terms of sharpness and clarity) to step up to lenses more in the $150-plus range.
Shipping Info Free, takes 2 business days (after processing and receiving the glasses)Return Policy 7-day free returns or exchangesInsurance Accepted No (reimbursement available depending on insurance company)Features Offered Anti-glare (polarized), anti-scratch, UV protection, water-repellent
As its name implies, Overnight Glasses can make you a new set of prescription glasses quickly — and really quickly if you’re willing to pay extra for a new pair of glasses. If you buy a frame/lens package, fast three- to four-day service is available for $9. (It takes slightly longer for progressive lens and bifocal lens types.) The quality of the lenses I got was as good as that from other replacement lens sites, so there’s no sacrifice of prescription eyewear quality for speed.
Shipping Info Free, takes 2-7 business days (after processing and receiving the glasses)Return Policy 30-day free returns or exchangesInsurance Accepted No (reimbursement available depending on insurance company)Features Offered Anti-scratch, anti-smudge, UV protection
While it’s had shops in the New York area for a while, ReplaceRxLenses is somewhat new to the online replacement-lens arena. My experience using this retailer was smooth, with a relatively quick turnaround time (about a week, but I was in New York). Its prices are competitive and slightly cheaper for some lens types.
Shipping Info Free, takes 1-3 business days (after processing and around two weeks to make the lenses)Return Policy 90-day free returns or exchanges on unopened products. DIY lenses have a 30-day return policy.Insurance Accepted No (reimbursement available depending on insurance company)Features Offered Anti-scratch, anti-glare (polarized), UV protection
LensDirect says it can make quality lenses for a wide array of frames — “practically any frame unless it just absolutely doesn’t make any fundamental sense like putting a +7.5 prescription on a semi rimless frame” — and has its own machine in-house that can cut the lenses anytime (other retailers have this as well). “We make lens replacement more affordable than our competitors without sacrificing quality,” a rep told me.
Shipping Info Free, 1-6 business days (after processing and receiving the glasses)Return Policy 30-day free returns or exchangesInsurance Accepted No (reimbursement available depending on insurance company)Features Offered Anti-glare (polarized), clip-on sets available
Eyeglasses.com has a huge selection of both frames and lenses and is also one of a small number of sites that offer a lens replacement service for existing frames, with prices starting at $48. As with all the other sites here, you simply choose the lens you want (that can be a little daunting because there are so many options) and you’ll get sent a prelabeled box with which to return your frames, with free shipping both ways. If you don’t know your prescription — and don’t want to change your current prescription — you can opt to have Eyeglasses.com’s technicians “read your lenses and duplicate them..
Buying replacement prescription glasses online FAQ
Can I replace lenses in glasses?
With any frame that currently has a prescription lens in it, you should be able to replace the lens. That said, certain types of glasses that have more curved lenses — such as those found in certain sports glasses — may be harder to replace. Just make sure that before sending in that type of frame whether a lens-replacement shop can replace the lens for it.
Can you put old lenses in new frames?
You can put old lenses into a new frame as long as the new frame is the same as the old one and the lenses are still in good condition. Some eye care providers may be able to shape old lenses into the new frame, but it’s not always possible.
Is it expensive to put new lenses in old frames?
Depending on the quality and type of lens you get it, It can be, though it is usually cheaper to do through an online retailer. If you are just getting basic lenses, it can be quite affordable. But the main reason to do it rather than buying a whole new set of glasses is if you like your frames and paid a tidy sum for them when you got them new.
What type of eyeglass lens is best?
For pure clarity, a glass or mineral glass lens is the best. But most people prefer polycarbonate lenses, which are lighter and more durable. High-index lenses are good for those who have strong prescriptions that would normally require thicker lenses. These high-tech plastic lenses end up being the same thinness as standard plastic or polycarbonate lenses that have a lighter prescription. However, you do have to pay more for high-index lenses. Arguably the best lenses are Trivex lenses, which are lightweight and durable and offer slightly better clarity than polycarbonate lenses. But they are more expensive than plastic (CR-39) and polycarbonate lenses.
Can I get prescription lenses for Bluetooth audio glasses?
If you’re wondering whether these eyewear retailers make prescription lenses for audio glasses, like the Bose FramAmazon Echo Frames and Razer Anzu, most do. Only a few have officially partnered with Bose, like Lensabl and the Bose Tempo sports model. Aside from the Tempo, most other audio glasses have pretty standard frames that accept prescription glasses. But you can always call and ask whether the company can make lenses for whatever audio glasses you have based on your particular prescription.