Purchasing a pair of eyeglasses is an investment. And like all investments, you should do your research before you commit to it. There are lots of eyeglasses brands out there, and choosing a brand can be hard (and choosing a specific pair of glasses is even harder). In this article, we do the hard work for you, sharing our top picks of best eyeglasses brands currently on the market.
Overall Winner: Warby Parker
Warby Parker wins for many reasons. Dedicated to making designer glasses affordable, Warby Parker glasses start at $95, much cheaper than other leading eyeglasses brands. Their glasses are customized to your order, with frames made from quality, custom-colored cellulose acetate sourced from Italy, and lenses made to be basically lifeproof. They’re also polished, assembled, and inspected by hand.
In terms of selection, Warby Parker offers everything you could want: blue light glasses, sunglasses, prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, and even monocles in dozens of vintage-inspired styles for men, women, and children. If you need help with your prescription, Warby Parker lets you make an appointment online for an eye exam to take place at or near one of their in-store locations. Warby Parker makes picking your perfect pair of glasses easy with their Home Try-On model, where you can try on 5 glasses of your choice for a period of 5 days, at no cost to you.
Named the ‘Most Innovative Company’ in 2012, Warby Parker is a leader in socially conscious businesses, and has donated over 5 million glasses to over 50 countries since it was founded. Check out our Warby Parker Review for more info.
Most Affordable: Zenni Optical
Zenni Optical is a great place for the eyeglasses buyer who knows that they want. With a huge selection of glasses, it can get a bit overwhelming for someone who isn’t seasoned in purchasing glasses. It’s also a good choice for someone who loses or breaks their glasses often, as prices for single-prescription glasses from Zenni start at only $6.95.
Zenni not only offers glasses for men and women, but has a separate line for children as well, providing low-priced, fun glasses for fashionable youngsters. Unlike many other glasses brands, all of Zenni Optical’s glasses are made in their very own factory based in the United States. Their glasses include prescription glasses, blue light glasses, sunglasses (with or without polarization), and stylish non-prescription glasses that come in multiple lens colors! Check out our Zenni Optical Review for more info.
Best Over Time: Ray – Ban
Ray-Ban glasses have been around since 1937, when they were first made as a stylish way to protect the vision of aviators in the U.S. Army Corps. Since then, aviator glasses have been adopted by nearly every glasses brand in the business, and Ray-Ban’s own inventory has grown to include dozens of other classic glasses. The company itself did not rise to mainstream popularity until the 80’s, when it began to grace the faces of Hollywood stars. Now, Ray-Ban glasses can be seen on the faces of from politicians to DJ’s and everyone in-between.
With one of the largest selections of designer glasses, Ray-Ban offers specialized sunglasses and eyeglasses for men and women, along with a choice to Make Your Own Ray-Bans. While they’re a little on the pricier side, many people choose to continue buying and wearing Ray-Ban glasses because of the rich history tried-and-true comfort and utility of this established glasses brand. Check out our Ray-Ban Comparison for more info.
Most Sustainable: Proof EyeWear
One of the lesser known glasses brands, Proof Eyewear was founded with the belief that we can all be global citizens by doing good in the world and is centered around three principles: heritage, sustainability, and giving back. Proof glasses are hand-crafted using sustainable practices and materials like FSC-certified sustainable wood, repurposed skateboard decks, recycled metal scraps, cotton-based acetate, and other biodegradable materials.
Coming in three main collections: Eco, Aluminum, and Wood, Proof Eyewear includes sunglasses and eyeglasses. While eyeglass lenses themselves are not prescription, they can easily be switched out for prescription lenses by your doctor. Proof also offers sustainable apparel and hard goods like wallets, phone cases, water bottles, and more!
Overview
There are so many choices when it comes to eyeglasses brands that are currently on the market. In the end, we chose Warby Parker as our overall winner because of its low price, large selection, and ease and efficiency for prescription help and at-home try-ons. All of the glasses on our list are great for different types of buyers with different wants and needs. We hope our list helped in your hunt for the perfect pair of eyeglasses!