Everything you need to know about buying glasses at Warby Parker
Warby Parker delivers cool glasses that don’t cost a million dollars without leaving the couch. Sounds like a sweet way to get some new specs – but does it really live up to the hype?
You could call WP the Everlane of the eyewear world. By cutting out the middleman, they can offer designer-quality glasses and sunglasses, along with name-brand contact lenses, for less. Sometimes, way less moolah.
You can do all this online if you have already received an eye prescription. But if you’d rather try on glasses in-store or need an eye exam, there’s also a chance you’ll find yourself at one of the brand’s brick-and-mortar locations.
How does it work?
You have two easy ways to get glasses. Take the home trial route or visit the WP store.
At home
Browse the brand frames and choose what you like. You can download a virtual try-on app to see how the glasses will look on you.
You’ll need to enter your prescription information and use your phone to measure your pupillary distance (PD), which helps center the prescription properly in your frames.
But WP has simple instructions that make this quick, easy, and basically foolproof. Then place your order and wait for the frames to be delivered to your doorstep.
Struggling to decide between several different specs? You can also choose up to 5 model frames to try on at home over 5 days, with free postage and returns. Once you’ve found your perfect pair, submit your order online with your recipe information and the brand will send you a new set made just for you.
In store
All the frames on the WP website are also available to try in their brick store. This procedure works almost like getting glasses from an eye doctor.
For both
If you don’t like your glasses, you can return or exchange them within 30 days. WP also has a one-year scratch-free policy: if your lenses tear during the first 12 months of wear, the brand will replace them for free.
What will it cost me?
It depends on what you’re buying, honey. Here’s a quick breakdown of the number:
- Glasses. Many WP frameworks start at $95, but some cost more. You will pay extra for filtering.
- Sunglasses. Over-the-counter frames start at $95. Prescription options start at $175.
- Contact lenses. WP offers the same contacts you might get from an eye doctor or other sellers. TBH, the price is about the same as what you’d pay elsewhere, but they offer free shipping. The brand’s home contact lenses cost $55 for a 90-day supply.
Wondering if Warby Parker takes insurance? They are affiliated with some providers, and if yours is listed, it’s basically a matter of entering your insurance information to verify your benefits. For many providers outside of WP’s network, the brand also provides instructions on how you can request a return of glasses or contacts.
Have a Flexible Spending (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA)? You can also put those dollars towards your WP purchase.
What do they have?
We talked about the brand’s goods, but let’s dive into a little more detail.
Glasses
WP offers a your of different styles. They are best known for their acetate frames that come in tons of cool designs and colors. But, they also have a decent number of wire-trimmed options.
All Warby Parker lenses come with an anti-scratch treatment, a UV protective coating, an anti-reflective coating to eliminate glare and reduce eye strain, and a superhydrophobic coating to minimize smudging.
They are designed to work for all types of recipes. You can get progressive lenses, readers or even frames over the counter if you have perfect vision and still want to look cool.
You can also opt for a blue-light-blocking coating (nice if you’re staring at a screen all day!), transition lenses (if you want your glasses to double as sunglasses), or ultra-thin lenses for heavy-duty prescriptions.
Sunglasses
Again, you can choose from tons of different styles in both prescription and over-the-counter options. Either way, the lenses are scratch-resistant, offer 100 percent UV protection, and are polarized to eliminate glare and help you see things more clearly in bright sunlight.
Contact lenses
You can buy many of the same lenses you would get from other retailers, such as Acuvue, Bifinity, Air Optix and DAILIES. WP also has its own contact brand called Scout. Billed as comfortable, breathable and affordable, they come in a flat pack that saves space and reduces waste.
Eye examinations
If you don’t yet have a prescription for glasses or contacts, you can get one from the WP store. The brand’s brick-and-mortar locations offer comprehensive exams, so you can get your vision checked and purchased at the same locations.
Pro and con
If all of the above is tl; dr, here is a short list of the good and the bad.
The bottom line
Warby Parker has a huge selection of glasses at really good prices. You can do it all online or take advantage of their free at-home trial option.
In any case, buying glasses is quite easy and takes a lot less time than hoofing to the eyeglass store. You just need to make sure you have the prescription on hand.
Is it exactly the same as going shopping for glasses in person? No, but it’s pretty damn close. And if you want access to WP’s cool, affordable frameworks, but still want the in-store experience, just head to one of their brick and mortar locations. All is well.
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