Best glasses deals: Where to buy cheap glasses and contact lenses online
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There’s never a good time to break or lose your glasses.
Yet thanks to the rough and tumble of London life - or you know, accidentally sitting on them - losses do occasionally happen.
Whether you’re a full-time wearer or only need them occasionally, there’s no point crying over shattered lenses; it’s time for pragmatism to kick in and find a replacement.
Don’t know where to start? Hand over the reins, we’re happy to start the search.
Broadly speaking, forking out for new glasses means digging deep into your piggybank/ savings because most prescription specs don’t exactly come cheap. Designer frames push up the costs, but high prescriptions can add to the bill too.
The same goes for contact lenses, especially if you’re a dailies wearer, which are more expensive but are better suited for travel and are more hygienic than bi-monthly or contacts designed for long-wear use.
Luckily with a bit of online sleuthing, you can always find an optician or eyecare specialist holding a sale for new frames or lenses, shaving down the usual RRP and saving you some cash.
We’ve rounded up the best sales for glasses and contact lenses happening right now to help ease the pain of getting a replacement.
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Glasses Direct
The deal: save twice at Glasses Direct with offers including up to 50 per cent off the cost of frames and 20 per cent off lenses
New Glasses Direct shoppers get a welcome gift: either two pairs of standard selected frames for just £15 or two designer models from £35.
There's also a double savings offer that wipes 50 per cent off the cost of selected frames and a further 20 per cent off lenses. Use discount code: 50PAIR20 at the checkout. Students can also save big money on new specs with 50 per cent off through the UNiDAYS scheme.
Not sure about the fit or the frame? Try the home-trial service to see if it works for you.
Vision Express
The deal: up to 50 per cent off prescription glasses online
Among the UK’s eyewear market leaders, Vision Express has a wide selection of frames for both men and women with 50 per cent off the price tag. They’re not budget frames either: you’ll find the likes of GANT, Escada and Swarovski in the mix too.
As well as free delivery for purchases exceeding £35, you can expect free lifetime servicing from this retailer too. If you're struggling with the cost of eyecare right now, Vision Express offers an interest-free loan so you can pay monthly.
Boots Opticians
The deal: get a second pair for half price on selected prescription glasses and sunglasses
Whether you’ve lost or broken your old pair of glasses, having an extra set is always handy. Don’t let the same minor tragedy befall you again thanks to Boots Opticians. When you buy one pair, you’ll be eligible to bag a second for half the cost, and a third for free.
The collection spans men’s, women’s, kids and reading glasses with designer frames available for each category.
SmartBuyGlasses
The deal: general clearance sales
Offering an array of more than 2000 eyeglasses and contact lenses, SmartBuyGlasses has plenty of options to browse online.
The site also offers frames for kids, useful if your little one has lost their spectacles. The clearance section offers a selection of styles to suit all face shapes with many throwing in free lenses as standard.
Specscart
The deal: buy two frames to bag 50 per cent off on second frame
If you need replacement glasses in a hurry, head to Specscart which offers free next-day delivery to get your eye essentials in your hands sooner - even at the weekend. The retailer also offers a free try-at-home service, allowing you to try up to four frames in one go.
There's a much more varied choice of frame style here in terms of shapes and colours, ideal for customers where specs appeal is top of the list. Expect sale prices at around the 50 per cent off mark.
Fashion Eyewear
The deal: up to 70 per cent off designer frames
As the name suggests, this retailer offers a fashion-forward perspective on glasses, stocking the big names we know and love. As well as spectacles for daily wear, there are also prescription sunglasses in the sale section - why not pick up a pair for your next trip in the sun? There’s also an authenticity guarantee to give you peace of mind that your designer glasses are the real deal.
Delivery is free for purchases over £75.
Vision Direct
The deal: general clearance
This eye specialist is based in Europe, which means they operate under slightly different rules to UK opticians.
The company won’t ask to see your prescription, instead trusting you to input the correct details. If you’re unsure of how to read measurements such as base curve and diameter, they are on call to help through Live Chat at the bottom right of the screen.
If you’re looking to cut down your contact lens bill, the Offers section is worth a glance: find RRPs rolled back across popular brands like Acuvue and in-house boxes of Everclear.
The bonus? Your purchase should include of a mini pack of Haribo sweets thrown in for good measure. Sweet.
Lenstore
The deal: 10 per cent off first orders
New to Lenstore? There's a welcome gift in the form of 10 per cent off your first order (use code 10HELLO). Shop by content lens wear frequency and enjoy next-day delivery on items ordered before 11pm, as long as Lenstore has what you need in stock.
Contactlenses.co.uk
The deal: general clearance
Keeping things simple with both its name and its product offering, you can find daily lenses for as little as £12.99 at Contactlenses.co.uk. Alongside prescription lenses, there are also natural-looking coloured contacts to consider.
You’ll get free delivery on orders over £35 and can even earn commission by recommending the site to friends. The discounts aren’t massive but if you’re bulk-buying you should be able to skim some off the usual RRP.
Discounted Sunglasses
The deal: up to 77 per cent off
No prizes for guessing what this brand specialises in. There are designer looks here, with labels listed including the likes of Armani, D&G and Gucci, allowing you to pick up a top-tier prescription frame for less. Despite the name, regular reading glasses are available here too - not just options for when the sun gets its act together. Prices start at just £12.95.