Online eyewear costs less than in-store purchases

Shoppers who buy prescription eyewear online paid a median of $125, while those who visited physical stores paid a median of $220, according to a survey of nearly 60,000 members by Consumer Reports.

The organization found that 68% of adults wear prescription glasses. Members listed convenience, customer service, and price as their primary factors when choosing where to purchase frames.

Costco Optical received the highest overall satisfaction rating among brick-and-mortar locations. Sam's Club Optical and BJ's Optical also earned strong scores in the survey.

Warby Parker and Payne Glasses were the only online retailers to rank in the top five best stores. Both companies received very good scores specifically for their customer service departments.

Getting the correct fit remains difficult for online buyers. Consumer Reports suggests using the measurements from a pair of glasses that already fits well to find a similar frame. Shoppers should look at the bridge width, which is the middle number of the three figures printed on the inside of the current frames.

The survey results provide a breakdown of satisfaction levels across different retail channels. The data distinguishes between warehouse clubs, big-box chains, and independent stores.