Where To Buy the Best Online Glasses in Canada?

Finding the right glasses online can be tricky, as the offer is massive, yet you typically cannot try out the glasses to see how they fit your face. Thankfully, we at ReviewMoose have done the hard work for you and narrowed down the top online stores for buying prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and more.

Check out our guide to find the best online glasses Canada has to offer.

Top 5 Places to Buy Glasses Online in Canada

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Warby Parker

Best virtual try-on

  • Frames Quiz and Virtual Try-On
  • Blue light filter integration in purchased glasses for $50 only
  • All glasses and sunglasses boast scratch-free properties and UV filters
  • Eye exams are available in Vancouver and Toronto
  • Glasses are designed and made in-house

EyeBuyDirect

Best glasses for any budget

  • Fit & Style Quiz and virtual try-on
  • Affordable budget and designer brands glasses
  • A 30% promo code for blue-light lenses
  • One-year warranty covers manufacturing defects
  • 20% off for $75+ purchases

SmartBuyGlasses

Best discounts and hassle-free returns

  • Over 80,000 frames from 180 brands
  • 100-day free return policy
  • Best price guarantee
  • Frequent discounts and international shipping
  • 24-month warranty against all manufacturer defects

Clearly

Best glasses selection

  • Over 2,000 frames and styles
  • Free shipment for orders over $80 (glasses) and $99 (lenses)
  • 24/7 email, live chat, and phone support
  • 30-day return policy
  • Many prestigious brands are on offer, including Polo Ralph Laurent, Biomedics, and Ray-Ban

BonLook

Best affordable stylish glasses

  • 30+ store in Canada
  • Affordable unusual eyeglasses and sunglasses
  • Prospective buyers can schedule an appointment
  • Virtual try-on with a 180-degree view
  • Online stores offer store credit for 30 days from purchase, even on discounted items

Bailey Nelson

Best design and accessibility

  • 30-day return policy
  • Lots of special deals
  • Free shipping for orders over $99
  • Big discounts for two pairs of progressive glasses
  • Afterpay with four installments for interest-free shopping

Best Places to Buy Glasses Online in Canada Reviews

Buying glasses online may seem strange at first, but every online store on ReviewMoose’s list allows you to buy prescription lenses or sunglasses from the comfort of your home and get several additional perks. Now, let’s see what else sets these online stores apart from each other and other brick-and-mortar stores.

Warby Parker

star 10

Best virtual try-on

  • Try-on: Virtual
  • Return Policy: 30 days
  • Shipping: 7-15 days, free shipping
  • Blue light filtering filter: $50
  • Prescription glasses: From $95
  • Discount on two or more pairs: 15%

Warby Parker is among the finest Canadian merchants selling vision-correction glasses, sunglasses, and related accessories. The store has collections for men and women, and you can take a quiz and answer simple questions to determine which frame is right for you.

Warby Parker allows you to order prescription glasses online and get them anywhere in Canada. But if you need a valid prescription and live in or travel to Vancouver or Toronto, you can schedule an eye exam via the company’s website.

As for the models, the site boasts plenty of attractive-looking frames in various shapes and colours. Warby Parker regularly updates its assortment with new arrivals, too. And you benefit from a 15% discount if you buy at least two pairs of prescription glasses.

You can buy a pair from Warby Parker for as little as $95. Furthermore, upgrading your glasses with blue-light filters is available for $50. All you need to do is add blue-light filtering lenses at the checkout.

The reason the models you buy here will be some of the best online glasses in Canada is that the seller outfits each pair with scratch-resistant lenses that block UV rays completely. If lenses are more your speed, you get 15% off your first purchase and a $50 credit at the store when you buy an annual supply.

If you need assistance, you can contact Warby Parker’s customer support via phone or live chat every day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Alternatively, you can email them or consult the extensive FAQ section on the site.

You can order up to five pairs of Warby Parker’s best-selling glasses and try them at home for five days with no strings attached. When you choose your favourites, send them back with a complimentary free-return label and order your selected models with a prescription.


Pros

  • + Frames Quiz and Virtual Try-On
  • + Blue light filter integration in purchased glasses for $50 only
  • + All glasses and sunglasses boast scratch-free properties and UV filters
  • + Eye exams are available in Vancouver and Toronto
  • + Glasses are designed and made in-house

Cons

  • The virtual try-on tool only works on the iPhone X and newer models.
  • Only a handful of brick-and-mortar stores throughout Canada

EyeBuyDirect

star 10

Best glasses for any budget

  • Try-on: Virtual and Fit and Style Quiz
  • Return Policy: 14 days
  • Shipping: 7-14 business days, $9.95 to Canada
  • Sales: Up to 50%
  • Orders above $75: 20% off
  • Orders above $110: 25% off

EyeBuyDirect is among the two-thirds of small businesses in Canada that accept online payments. Also, they have a virtual try-on feature allowing you to compare different glasses from the comfort of your home. So, you can conveniently buy their products without going to a physical store.

Many customers think EyeBuyDirect is the best place to buy glasses online in Canada because the company offers products suitable for every budget. The most affordable models are often discounted to just $7 ($9 normally), while high-end glasses cost around $430 at most, so purchasing products for vision correction won’t break the bank. As for sunglasses, their price ranges from $17 to $364.

Besides budget models, EyeBuyDirect offers products from designer brands, such as Oakley and Ray-Ban, in its assortment. Moreover, you can buy prism, bifocal, and progressive lenses, too.

The retailer also has glasses featuring blue-light filters that protect eyes from harmful blue-violet light from smartphones and other screens. The available prescription and non-prescription blue-light filtering glasses boast anti-scratch, anti-glare, and dust-repellent properties.

Discount coupons are another thing that makes EyeBuyDirect one of the best places to buy glasses online in Canada. The retailer has a flexible discount policy, granting considerable discounts depending on how much you purchase.

Shoppers ordering glasses worth at least $75 get a 20% discount, while those making purchases over $110 benefit from a 25% discount. You can also use a code to get 30% off when buying blue-light filtering lenses, and there is often a 50% discount on selected models.

Take the Fit & Style quiz to find glasses that match your personality. Once you narrow them down, use the virtual try-on feature to see if the glasses really fit you.

If you’re shopping for glasses online in Canada, note that EyeBuyDirect has a 14-day return policy, allowing you to return products for free within two weeks of your purchase. You can get a full refund or a new pair if you find another frame shape that fits you better. Moreover, a 365-day guarantee offers one-time replacements in case of manufacturer defects.


Pros

  • + Fit & Style Quiz and virtual try-on
  • + Affordable budget and designer brands glasses
  • + A 30% promo code for blue-light lenses
  • + One-year warranty covers manufacturing defects
  • + 20% off for $75+ purchases

Cons

  • Rather short return window
  • Lens options can significantly increase the price

SmartBuyGlasses

star 9.5

Best discounts and hassle-free returns

  • Try-on: Virtual
  • Return Policy: 100-day free return
  • Shipping: 5-10 business days, free shipping on orders over $89
  • Frames: From $35
  • Prescription glasses: From $7

SmartBuyGlasses is among the few top retailers for everyone looking for the best online prescription glasses in Canada. This shop offers tens of thousands of such glasses, and many won’t break the bank since they cost as little as $14, and there are often half-price deals to find.

SmartBuyGlasses offers many products, including glasses, sunglasses, and lenses, and with tens of thousands of models available, you’re sure to find someone you like.

Aside from glasses for vision correction, they sell blue-light glasses starting at $98 (discounted to $45 at the time of writing this article) that protect eyes from the blue light emitted by monitors and other screens. Also, you can choose a frame for prescription glasses for as little as $35.

One of the best providers of prescription glasses in Canada has affordable sunglasses on offer, too. You can buy LMNT sunglasses for as little as $29. But if you are after a pair of sunnies from more popular brands, SmartBuyGlasses has a selection of Chopard, Gucci, and Bvlgari shades for up to a few thousand dollars.

If you’ve refrained from buying glasses online because you didn’t know how to choose a good pair, there’s now a handy solution: SmartBuyGlasses has provided a virtual try-on tool. It allows you to choose glasses and “try them on” by activating your camera. Once satisfied with your choice, you can proceed to online shopping.

When ordering glasses online in Canada, this merchant will provide you with a worry-free shopping experience. If you don’t like the glasses you ordered upon delivery, there’s a 100-day return policy to fall back on.

Furthermore, SmartBuyGlasses has the best price guarantee policy. It allows you to reduce the cost you paid for goods if you find the same product online for a lower price 14 days after purchase. In that case, SmartBuyGlasses will beat the price by $2.

Lastly, the seller delivers its products to customers in the US, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, and Italy.


Pros

  • + Over 80,000 frames from 180 brands
  • + 100-day free return policy
  • + Best price guarantee
  • + Frequent discounts and international shipping
  • + 24-month warranty against all manufacturer defects

Cons

  • No free shipping under $89
  • Occasional delivery delays

Clearly

star 9.7

Best glasses selection

  • Try-on: Virtual
  • Return Policy: 30 days
  • Shipping: 4-8 business days (1-2 if non-prescription glasses), free shipping on orders over $80
  • Coupon codes: Up to 90%

Clearly has a wide range of glasses, lenses, and sunglasses on offer. They are among the top glass providers of cheap glasses in Canada, with deals as low as $9. But if you prefer more expensive designer brands, they also offer Ray-Ban, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Derek Cardigan glasses, among others.

People who wear glasses can choose between around 2,000 styles, including rectangle, round, and cat-eye. Furthermore, you can browse depending on the preferred colour, material (plastic or metal frames, for example), features (adjustable nose pads, for instance), and more.

Not only does Clearly offer glasses in Canada, but lenses and sunglasses, too. If you wear progressive lenses, you can add them to most frames and benefit from clear vision at all ranges. Some top lens brands on offer are Biomedics, Splash, and Air Optics.

As for sunglasses, Clearly has a wide range of prescription sunglasses and other models with various features (lightweight frames, progressive-eligible, etc.). Prices start at $9, but if you’re a fan of Gucci, Persol, or some other exclusive brand, you can find models going as high as $624.

If you are considering ordering eyeglasses online in Canada, you can benefit from Clearly’s 30-day return policy. That said, to get a full refund or exchange the merchandise, you’ll have to return the item in an unworn condition and in its original case.

Furthermore, you’ll get free shipping on glasses over $80 and contact lenses over $99 and you can track the shipment of your order by using your email and order number.

Lastly, Clearly has excellent and highly-efficient customer support. So, contact them anytime to learn more about the best online glasses in Canada. Customer service is available 24/7, and you can get in touch with them by phone, email, or live chat.


Pros

  • + Over 2,000 frames and styles
  • + Free shipment for orders over $80 (glasses) and $99 (lenses)
  • + 24/7 email, live chat, and phone support
  • + 30-day return policy
  • + Many prestigious brands are on offer, including Polo Ralph Laurent, Biomedics, and Ray-Ban

Cons

  • Could offer more brands
  • Absence of physical stores in some big cities (coming soon, though)

BonLook

star 9.5

Best affordable stylish glasses

  • Try-on: Virtual
  • Return Policy: 30 days
  • Shipping: 10-15 business days, free shipping on orders over $80
  • Sales: Up to 70% off
  • Physical stores: Over 30 shops throughout Canada

BonLook is also among the top sites for purchasing glasses online in Canada. The vendor excels at selling stylish frames for reasonable, even affordable, prices. Besides glasses, you can find various lenses and accessories on BonLook’s user-friendly website.

If you’re after vision correction glasses, you can find items in the $149 to $249 price range. These prices tend to be way lower (discounts of up to 70%) during sales, such as Black Friday, when four out of five Canadians spend the most on shopping. BonLook has various trendy frames for people buying glasses online. They’re made of metal, stainless steel, and titanium, among other materials.

As for sunglasses, the merchant has affordable models that start at $49 and far less during the sales. You can find sunglasses made of metal, acetate, or a combination of the two, among other materials. They are available in typical and unusual shapes like square, aviator, and cat-eye. The retailer also offers lenses with scratch-resistant and blue-light filtering properties.

BonLook’s assortment includes a variety of accessories for glasses. Some helpful products you can buy are a cleaner set, a stylish eyewear chain, an anti-fog kit, and various types of eyewear cases.

Take advantage of the virtual try-on software to see how well your favourite glasses look on you. If you wish to check or aren’t sure about purchasing glasses online, visit one of the over 30 BonLook stores in Canada. You can also set an appointment at your local store if you need assistance with determining your prescription or want to test out some glasses in person.

BonLook has a 30-day return policy covering products sold both online and in physical stores, but only the online store offers store credit for items purchased during sales events.


Pros

  • + 30+ store in Canada
  • + Affordable unusual eyeglasses and sunglasses
  • + Prospective buyers can schedule an appointment
  • + Virtual try-on with a 180-degree view
  • + Online stores offer store credit for 30 days from purchase, even on discounted items

Cons

  • Kids’ glasses can only be purchased in-store
  • The 30-day return policy doesn't cover discounted items in brick-and-mortar shops

Bailey Nelson

star 9.5

Best design and accessibility

  • Try-on: Virtual
  • Return Policy: 30 days
  • Shipping: 10-15 business days, free shipping on all orders over $99
  • Sales: Up to 50%
  • Progressive glasses: From $349

If you’re searching for the best online glasses in Canada, you can’t overlook Bailey Nelson. The store offers various glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses, free shipping and a 30-day return policy. Also, you can schedule an appointment with an eye doctor in any store.

For as little as $149, Bailey Nelson sells standard simple vision glasses with a scratch-resistant and anti-glare coating. But if you are after premium progressive glasses with lenses, you can get them for $349. Moreover, you can save when purchasing two progressive glasses for $439.20.

Ordering glasses in Canada is simple through Bailey Nelson’s website since you can complete your purchase within just a few clicks. During the process, you can add the prescription type (distance, reading) and lens thickness, among other details. At the checkout, choose the payment option and add your contact details.

You can purchase progressive and blue light glasses via Bailey Nelson. Both prescription models and sunglasses are available in various shapes and frame sizes. Besides, there are various clip-on sunglasses available for $60.

Contact lenses are available starting from $35. You can order packages ranging from six to 90 lenses. The contact lens brands you can browse among are Acuvue, CooperVision, and Alcon, among others.

Bailey Nelson has a 30-day return policy for customers buying online glasses in Canada. Plus, all Canadian buyers who spend over $99 will benefit from free shipping.

That’s not everything, though, since you can schedule the eye examination in any merchant’s store. And Bailey Nelson has more than 30 eyewear stores countrywide, mainly in Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia.

Best of all, you can even order the seller’s products and pay for them later with no additional interest through Afterpay.

You can get in touch with customer support through email and live chat or refer to the buying guide for information about special offers, frames, and progressive lenses.


Pros

  • + 30-day return policy
  • + Lots of special deals
  • + Free shipping for orders over $99
  • + Big discounts for two pairs of progressive glasses
  • + Afterpay with four installments for interest-free shopping

Cons

  • A few brick-and-mortar stores outside of Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia

Best Online Eyeglasses in Canada: A Buyer’s Guide

Online purchasing is a popular shopping method, and according to research, more than 80% of Canadians shopped online in 2020. Stores selling glasses have adapted to new trends, and many offer tools and services that allow customers to get the needed merchandise without going to physical shops. Here are some things we considered when reviewing online stores:

Price & Value

The price is often the key factor in deciding a purchase, and we have covered every budget while researching the top merchants in Canada. Our top picks boast various glasses, sunglasses, lenses, and accessories with prices ranging from single figures to enough money to buy a used car, but we always look at the relative value compared to the competition.

Selection

Shop around when buying glasses online, as Canada has a lot to offer. You’ll find everything from plastic frames to titanium glasses in our shortlisted sellers’ assortments. You can also contact the customer service team for help or schedule an appointment at an actual store to consult with a specialist regarding the thickness of the lenses, check your prescription, and more.

Return Policy

Purchasing glasses online has some drawbacks, and learning that the merchandise you bought isn’t quite right for you is one of the most obvious ones. That’s why we chose vendors with a lengthy return policy that allows customers to get refunds and exchange the products they are unsatisfied with without much hassle.

Shipping Costs and Times

Shipping costs can inflate the bill when you order prescription or other glasses online. Canada has plenty of online shops providing free shipping for their customers, though, and we highlighted such shops for your convenience. You may need to meet the minimum order requirement, but it shouldn’t be too high in most stores.

As for the shipping times, these depend on your location, but you may expect delivery in as little as a few days.

Customer Service

Customer support is another vital part of any business. We looked for companies that offer multiple support channels, including email and live chat. If the company offers a dedicated phone number or round-the-clock support, all the better.

Types of Eyewear You Can Buy Online

There are various categories and subcategories, but we can divide eyewear you can buy into three groups – prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses.

Prescription Glasses

Prescription glasses are essential corrective glasses with lenses that could be single-vision, bifocal, trifocal, and progressive. If you see blurry or can’t complete everyday tasks without straining your eyes, you should look into getting these eyeglasses.

The price can vary greatly, but many vendors offer cheap prescription glasses, and Canada has strong market competition that leads to fantastic savings if you can catch the right sale.

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are curved discs resting against the eye’s surface. They bend the light entering the eye, thus correcting the wearer’s vision. They could be made of glass, polycarbonate, trivex, plastic, or high-index plastic. Furthermore, available coatings are anti-fog, anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, UV-blocking, and transition (photochromatic).

Sunglasses

Sunglasses help people wearing them see more clearly during bright sunny days. However, they also protect the eyes from damaging UV rays. For this reason, choosing high-quality sunglasses with a high UV rating is crucial. Look for sunglasses with the UV 400 label when shopping for glasses online since they provide almost 100% protection.

Understanding Your Prescription

Before buying glasses, you should understand the meaning of various abbreviations and numbers in your prescription, so let’s dive in.

  • Sph (sphere) represents longsightedness and shortsightedness. Plus (+) indicates the former, while minus (-) implies the latter. The higher the number, the more longsighted or shortsighted you are.
  • Cyl (cylinder) indicates the astigmatism of your eye. An ordinary eye is spherical, while an astigmatic eye resembles the shape of a rugby ball, distorting both near and far vision. So, if the Cyl box is empty, your eyes are spherical.
  • In case you have astigmatism, the axis represents the direction of the part of the lens correcting it.
  • PD (pupil distance) represents the distance between the eyes and ensures that the lenses are well-centred.
  • Prism is a correction for unsynchronized eyes that turn out or in too much, causing problems like double vision.
  • Add (reading addition) indicates a magnifying power helping people (typically those over 45) to read since the focusing power of the eyes declines with age.

What You Need To Know Before Buying Glasses Online

Be aware of the following before you order glasses online:

Get a Prescription from a Licensed Optometrist

Getting a prescription from a certified optometrist is a must because you are unlikely to find glasses that will adequately correct your vision otherwise. The specialist will do several tests during your eye exam and prescribe the lenses you need based on the results.

Pay Attention When Browsing Between Different Lens Types

Single-vision (SV) lenses are used to correct astigmatism, nearsightedness (myopia), or farsightedness (hyperopia), but bifocal (BF) lenses can help people with both myopia and hyperopia improve near and far vision. While the upper part of the lens corrects distance vision, the lower part helps with reading and other tasks that require good up-close vision.

Progressive (PR) lenses improve close-up, intermediate, and distant vision. Note that you may need some time to get used to them.

Choose the Right Coating

Ensure you have a protective coating before buying glasses online in Canada. Some available coatings are anti-static, scratch-resistant, anti-reflective, water-repelling, and UV-protective.

Personalize Frame Type and Size

You’ll have to compromise when choosing the right frame type. If you prioritize support for lenses over the weight of your glasses, full-rim frames should be the right choice. To reduce weight, opt for half-rim frames. To eliminate weight as much as possible, go for rimless glasses, but note that they offer the least support for the lenses.

Also, measure the frame size to get an ideal frame. Many online stores have helpful guides where you can learn how to do it right before ordering the glasses. In Canada, you can visit an optician if you need additional help.

Tips for Buying Glasses Online in Canada

Remember the following tips when buying eyeglasses online:

  • Research every online shop selling glasses because not all of them sell genuine products. Search for online reviews for customer opinions on a particular store.
  • Consider frame types and brands of glasses carefully to get the best product for your budget.
  • Check the return policy before buying glasses. If you fail to do so, you might end up with unsuitable eyeglasses you can’t return or exchange.
  • Pay attention to whether online shops you’re browsing offer free shipping for online glasses and if orders have any special requirements for free shipping and returns. Also, make sure you are familiar with the expected shipping times.
  • Consider upgrading your lenses with scratch-resistant, UV-protective, anti-static, or other useful coatings.
  • Take time when entering prescription details on the seller’s website. If you make a mistake, you’ll end up with glasses that won’t be of any help.

Conclusion

Buying glasses from specialized web stores is a great way of getting the best glasses online. In Canada, reputable online stores have a virtual try-on tool or allow you to order several eyeglasses to test before purchasing. Also, they offer models suitable for every budget and personality.

If you have difficulties finding the perfect glasses, check out the retailers in this review, or read our in-depth analysis of Zenni Optical.


FAQ

What is the best place to buy glasses online in Canada?

There are many reputable online stores selling glasses in Canada, and some of the most famous ones are Clearly, Warby Parker, and SmartBuyGlasses.

Which website is best for eyeglasses?

Finding the best online glasses in Canada depends on several factors. If you are after reasonably priced designer glasses, for example, check out EyeBuyDirect. But if you’re looking for big discounts, BonLook should be among your shortlisted options.

Is Zenni as good as Warby Parker?

While Warby Parker is better regarding the products and services on offer, Zenni may be a better option for budget shoppers.

Milica Milenkovic
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