If you need a new pair of glasses, you can buy a customized pair of glasses with a frame made by a well-known fashion brand at LensCrafters. This store sells titanium frames and scratch-resistant lenses as well and it can also make your new pair of glasses in about an hour. LensCrafters stores also have independent optometrists who can give you an eye exam so you have the proper prescription when you’re ordering your glasses. The trade-off is that this store has relatively high prices. If you’re looking for other stores that sell eyeglasses for lower prices there are several stores you can consider.
America’s Best
This is another eyeglass store chain where you can get an eye exam performed by a professional as well as a new, customized pair of glasses. It’s also known for its 2 for 1 deal that includes two pairs of eyeglasses as well as an eye exam at no additional cost. If you use this deal, you might get two pairs of glasses from America’s Best for less than the cost of a single pair from LensCrafters. So if you’re struggling to afford a new pair of eyeglasses and don’t have insurance that will cover the bill, you might want to visit this store.
While there are many independent optometrists that also sell eyeglasses, America’s Best is one of the only chain stores that specializes in eyeglasses. Like LensCrafters, it has many locations in Southern California.
Pearle Vision
Pearle Vision is another well-known eyeglass store chain. It has professional employees who can give you an eye exam and make a custom pair of eyeglasses for you. And it also stocks frames made by major fashion brands in its stores and carries a large selection of frames. Like LensCrafters, Pearle Vision stores are often inside malls but both brands have some stand-alone stores as well. Both Pearle Vision and LensCrafters are owned by Luxottica but operate as separate brands.
This is a good alternative to LensCrafters if you’re looking for a store that’s very similar. I’d consider it a premium eyeglass store like LensCrafters and not a discount store like America’s Best.
Target Optical
The big-box discount store Target has pop-up Target Optical stores where you can get an eye exam and a new pair of glasses. Its eye exams are performed by professionals as well. Target is known as a discount store that sells fashionable clothing, household decorations, and other products for low prices and that’s true for its eyeglasses as well. Target Optical does stock frames made by high-end fashion designers that are also known for products such as expensive purses and handbags.
This is another good alternative to LensCrafters if you’re trying to conserve your budget and want a less costly pair of eyeglasses. Target has a lot of stores as well, so if you live in Southern California there’s probably one nearby.
Walmart Vision Center
There are also pop-up Vision Centers inside Walmart stores where you can get an eye exam and a pair of eyeglasses. Walmart is best known for its low prices and these pop-up stores also sell eyeglasses for much lower prices than other eyeglass stores. Walmart Vision Centers also stock a wide variety of frames and can also make you a pair of eyeglasses in around an hour or so. Again, LensCrafters is a premium brand so the main reason to go to a Walmart Vision Center instead would be to save money. Other stores may carry more frames from high-end fashion brands.
You can also buy eyeglasses for low prices at Sams Club stores if you have a membership there. There are pop-up eyeglass stores in Sams Club stores as well.
Costco Optical
You can also visit the pop-up optical centers inside Costco’s warehouse stores to get an eye exam and a new pair of glasses. Like LensCrafters stores, Costco’s optical centers are staffed by independent optometrists who provide the eye exams. Costco is known for selling premium products at massive discounts and this is also true for the frames and lenses that are available at its optical centers. With its additional membership revenue, Costco can sell fashionable frames for lower prices than LensCrafters.
While Costco is a members-only store, you don’t need a membership to get an eye exam there because the optometrist is an independent professional who’s renting space at the store. You do need a membership to buy a pair of eyeglasses from Costco, though. You don’t need a membership to shop at LensCrafters.
JCP Optical
You can also get an eye exam and a new pair of eyeglasses at the department store JC Penney. Its JCP Optical departments carry premium frames made by well-known fashion designers and are staffed by independent optometrists as well. This is another good option if you want a pair of high-quality eyeglasses but want to save money at the same time. JC Penney has relatively low prices for a traditional department store and may sell eyeglasses for lower prices than LensCrafters.
While choosing between eyeglass stores often involves a trade-off between saving money and getting fashionable frames, you might be able to avoid making that trade-off at this department store.