The Real Cheapest Place to Get Prescription Glasses: My Budget DIY Secret

Last Tuesday, I was waiting in line for my morning coffee. The rush was in full swing. As I reached up to adjust my glasses, the woman behind me leaned in and said, "Excuse me—those frames are fantastic. Where did you find them?"

I smiled. I get that question a lot these days. What she didn’t realize was the long, frustrating journey behind these glasses. It all started with my quest to find the absolute cheapest place to get prescription glasses and ended with me essentially performing impromptu optical surgery in a Walmart parking lot.

If you wear glasses, you know the drill. It’s that unavoidable, non-negotiable expense that hits every couple of years. It feels less like a purchase and more like a polite mugging by your optometrist.

The Challenge: $600 for Plastic and Glass

My old pair met its end when my dog decided they made a great chew toy. I headed to the local chain store, got my updated prescription, and picked out a simple black alloy frame—nothing extravagant.

The technician scanned my prescription and started adding options. "Anti-glare coating, thinner lenses, scratch resistance..." The total on the screen kept climbing. When she finally turned the monitor toward me, my heart sank. "$625," she said quietly. Even with insurance, I was looking at nearly $400 out of pocket.

I left the store with my prescription in hand, saying, "I need to think it over." What I really meant was, "I need to find a way out of this financial nightmare."

Takeaway: Never buy glasses right after your eye exam. Get your prescription and walk out.

The Turning Point: The Online Frame Hunt

I decided to split the process. Surely frames had to be cheaper online, right? I started digging into the far corners of the internet, skipping the big names that just mimic mall stores. That’s how I found these MERRYS DESIGN Men Alloy Glasses Frames—the S2102 model. They were lightweight, square, and exactly the half-rim style I wanted.

The price for the frame? Under $20. I felt like I’d hit the jackpot. Even if it didn’t work out, I was only out twenty bucks. That’s how I stumbled upon what seemed like the cheapest place to get prescription glasses.

I ordered the frames right away. I also thought, "Why not get the whole thing done online?" That was my first big mistake. I kept searching for trustworthy sources—whether for eyeglasses or sunglasses, I needed affordable quality I could rely on, similar to when you Buy Cinily online.

The Lesson of the Blurry Lenses

I uploaded my prescription to a popular online retailer—let’s call them 'Glasses U.S. Eh?'—hoping to save even more. I paid around $90 to have lenses put into my new MERRYS frames.

A week later, the glasses arrived. I put them on, and everything was blurry. Not just "give it a minute" blurry, but "I can’t safely drive" blurry. I reached out to customer service.

And that’s where the real trap was waiting. They told me, "We can fix it, or we can give you 110% store credit." Store credit sounds generous, doesn’t it? Think again.

Step 1: They botched the first order. I returned it for 110% credit.

Step 2: I used the credit to order a second pair. They were also blurry. (I even had to pay a little extra since the credit didn’t cover the full new price.)

Step 3: I tried to return the second pair. They said, "Store credit purchases are non-refundable."

I was now over $100 in the hole with two pairs of frames holding useless lenses. The prescription was completely off, and my neck ached from straining to focus.

Takeaway: If an online retailer offers you 110% credit instead of a refund, run. They’re locking your money in.

Life After: The DIY Solution

I finally decided to listen to my optometrist, despite hating the prices. She explained, "Online lenses often skip proper quality control. If you have astigmatism or need progressives, cheap lenses won’t cut it. The measurements are almost always off."

So, I focused on what I still had: those great $20 MERRYS DESIGN frames. The frames themselves were solid—316L alloy is decent quality, even if the lenses weren’t.

I took one of the frames—the sleek MERRYS S2102—to a local big-box store with an optical lab. I walked up and asked, "I have my own frames. Can you put my single-vision prescription in them?"

They inspected the frame and said, "Yes, it’ll be $115 for basic lenses with anti-glare included."

Here’s the final cost breakdown:

• MERRYS S2102 Frame: $19.99
• Correct Local Lenses: $115.00
• Total Cost: $134.99

Compared to the original $400 out-of-pocket quote, I saved over $260. That’s the real secret to finding the cheapest place to get prescription glasses—separate the frame and lens process.

Specific Examples: My Two Rules for Cheap Glasses

1. Progressive Lenses Are a No-Go Online

My boyfriend needs progressive lenses. We thought we could save him money too. His online progressives cost over $200. When they arrived, he tried them for a month and felt miserable.

Progressives require extremely precise measurements. If the viewing areas are too narrow, you’re constantly moving your head just to read a computer screen. His cheap pair gave him neck pain, and he couldn’t see the top and bottom of his phone screen at once.

He finally went to a local store where they properly measured his pupillary distance and segment height. The new, quality progressives cost $500, but they worked perfectly from day one. Cheap progressives are always a waste of money.

Action Step: If you need progressive or specialized lenses, invest in a local optician. Don’t gamble your money online.

2. Look for the Material, Not the Price Tag

When buying cheap frames, check the materials. My MERRYS frames were advertised as alloy and felt sturdy. But some ultra-cheap frames are just plastic with a thin metal coating.

How to vet a cheap frame:

1. Check the weight. If it feels flimsy, it probably is.
2. Look for terms like "316L Stainless Steel" or "Titanium Alloy."
3. Check customer photos. Does the finish look cheap or peeling in the reviews?

If you buy a super cheap frame and the plating starts fading in a week, you’ve wasted your $20. The MERRYS S2102 frames turned out to be a durable, excellent value.

Takeaway: Spend $15–$30 on a decent frame. Spend $100–$150 on quality local lenses. That’s the winning formula.

Emotional Conclusion

So when that woman in the coffee line asked me where I got my glasses, I was ready. I looked her right in the eye. I didn’t just say, "Oh, they’re MERRYS DESIGN."

Instead, I shared the whole secret: "I bought the frames online for twenty bucks, but I paid a good optician to put the right lenses in. If you go for cheap lenses, you’ll end up losing more than you save. Trust me on this."

She thanked me for the advice. Walking out of that coffee shop, I felt like I’d passed on a genuinely useful life hack. I’d found the true cheapest place to get prescription glasses, and it’s a two-step plan: affordable frame, professional lenses.