Believe it or not, you can purchase a great pair of kids’ glasses online (and thanks to hours of daily screen time, they’re more in-demand than ever). Whether you’re searching for prescription lenses, teeny toddler specs or blue light glasses for older kids, online retailers make it easy to choose frames, upload prescriptions and pick the best features. But when making a decision that’s so specific to the individual—both in terms of fit and functionality—there are some extra factors to consider before making your final purchase.
As you’ve probably gathered, finding the right pair of kids’ glasses online takes some research and attention to detail. To simplify your search and save you some digging, we’ve gathered eight great brands and highlighted the most useful information, from general turnaround times to return policies—and whether they accept insurance, HSA or FSA.
- Best Kids’ Glasses Overall: Zenni Optical
- Best Customizable Kids’ Glasses: Pair Eyewear
- Largest Selection Of Kids’ Glasses: Glasses USA
- Best Designer Kids’ Glasses: Target Optical
- Best Kids’ Glasses In Classic Styles: EyeBuyDirect
- Best Affordable Kids’ Glasses: DiscountGlasses.com
- Best Try-Before-You-Buy Kids’ Glasses: Jonas Paul Eyewear
Best Kids’ Glasses Overall
A Simple Shopping Experience That Won’t Break The Bank
- Turnaround time: 14-21 business days with standard shipping, expedited shipping options available
- Return policy: 30 days for store credit refund
- Insurance accepted: No, but accepts HSA and FSA
If you’re new to buying kids’ glasses online, Zenni Optical’s easy-to-navigate site is a great place to start. You can shop by age range—toddler, little kid, pre-teen and teen categories—to find the size, style and features that’ll suit your child. (For instance, you might want flexible frames with kid-friendly glasses straps for tots or affordable yet cool-looking specs for tweens). After finding frames your kiddo might like, give the site’s virtual try-on button a go. Once you pick a pair, they’re easy to customize: Choose from prescription lenses, blue-light blockers, sunglasses or transitional lenses, and then select add-ons like specialty coatings and extra accessories.
Zenni offers more than a seamless shopping experience. The glasses are very affordable, with prices starting between $10 to $46 before upgrades (most are in the $16 to $25 range). The icing on the cake is the company’s 30-day return policy that offers a 100% store credit or a 50% cash refund via Paypal (excluding shipping). Certain aspects of the glasses are also covered under warranty, like free replacements for damaged frames within the first 30 days and replacement of defective anti-reflective coatings or photochromatic films within one year.
Best Customizable Kids’ Glasses
Snap-On Covers Let Kids Switch Up Their Style
- Turnaround time: 10-14 business days, expedited shipping options available
- Return policy: 30 days
- Insurance accepted: No, but accepts HSA and FSA
Do you have a child who can’t make up his mind? You might want to consider Pair Eyewear. Created especially for kids, the brand name is actually a play on words—you can order clip-on covers to change the look of the frames, effectively getting multiple pairs in one. While glasses start at $60 including prescription or non-prescription lenses (with the exception of progressives), specialty add-ons like blue light filtering and light responsiveness are an additional charge and toppers range from $25 to $30 a pop.
The base styles come in five flattering shapes and your choice of six neutral(ish) colors, from clear to classic tortoiseshell. But youngsters can really express themselves with the covers, which offer everything from funky patterns to Sesame Street characters to sports team logos and more. They can also choose tinted sun tops which will transform their glasses to sunnies in a snap.
Best Variety Of Kids’ Glasses
A Ton Of Options Means Finding The Exact Pair They Want
- Turnaround time: 10-16 business days, expedited shipping options available
- Return policy: 14 days
- Insurance accepted: Yes, and accepts FSA and HSA
If variety is what you’re after (or a specific brand, style or set of features) Glasses USA won’t disappoint. Although the thought of sifting through hundreds of kids frames may sound overwhelming, easy-to-use filters—in which you can sort by age, frame shape, brand, color, price and more—will make your search more manageable. Even better, most come with free single-vision prescription if you need it, with optional add-ons like blue light blocking and light transitioning.
You can also score deep discounts at the massive optical retailer, with clearance sales, deals, coupons and a designer outlet offering up to 60% off name brand styles. For added reassurance, Glasses USA offers a 14-day hassle-free full money back guarantee return policy, plus free shipping and returns. (Note: The return policy excludes items purchased through an exchange or store credit.)
Best Designer Kids’ Glasses
Designer Brands Where You Already Shop
- Turnaround time: 10-15 business days, expedited shipping options available
- Return policy: 90 days
- Insurance accepted: Yes, and accepts FSA and HSA
With over 400 kids’ styles from brands like Ray-Ban, Coach and Vogue, Target offers plenty of eyewear options. That said, you might be surprised to find that the majority of options, which range from $80 to $250 or more, aren’t as affordable as you’d expect. There’s also a $25 upcharge for single-vision prescription lenses, and upgrades like blue light filtering aren’t available online.
Target Optical does accept insurance as well as HSA and FSA, which can offset or cancel the out-of-pocket cost. But the truly redeeming factor is the generous return policy, a 90-day Unconditional Guarantee that promises complete satisfaction or your money back, no questions asked. In short, if your child just wants fashion-forward frames and you’re not looking for any extra features, Target Optical is your spot, especially if you have insurance. You can also score 20% off your first purchase with code GET20.
Best Kids’ Glasses In Classic Styles
Classic Styles In Child-Friendly Materials
- Turnaround time: 7-14 business days, expedited shipping options available
- Return policy: 14 days
- Insurance accepted: No, but accepts HSA and FSA when affiliated with major credit cards
EyeBuyDirect’s selection of kids’ frames includes over 40 classic styles in kid-friendly materials. They’re affordable too, with prices ranging from $12 to $42 plus $7 for standard lenses (with or without prescription). And there are more upgrades you can pick and choose from including blue light blocking, sun tinting and transitional lenses.
Another easy-to-use site, you can shop by age (juniors ages 6-8, tweens and teens) and use the size guide to find the right fit for your kid. A virtual try-on feature also offers a glimpse of how they’ll look on. And if the new specs still aren’t perfect, the company’s 14-day Fit & Style guarantee ensures you can get a replacement or refund. You’ll also appreciate the 365-Day Product Guarantee, in which customers are eligible for a one-time replacement pair if the glasses aren’t holding up as they should.
Best Affordable Kids’ Glasses
Budget-Friendly Prices And A Generous Return Policy
- Turnaround time: 9-14 business days, expedited shipping options available
- Return policy: 365 days
- Insurance accepted: No, but accepts HSA and FSA
DiscountGlasses.com offers glasses for ages ranging from toddler to little kid to pre-teen to teen. With an array of brands including Disney, Converse and Picklez (the latter of which comes with a Kid-Proof Warranty), frame prices range from $10 to higher-end $130 options. Choose from non-prescription, single vision, reading or progressive lenses as well as the lens material (standard is free), and then pick add-ons like blue light filtering, sun tinting and light transitioning coatings and films.
And even the wariest of buyers will be at ease with the ample 365-day return policy. That’s right, you have a full year to return your kids’ glasses for any reason and get free return shipping, to boot.
Best Try-Before-You-Buy Kids’ Glasses
Try Out Up To Seven Frames Before Making A Purchase
- Turnaround time: 8-12 business days, expedited shipping options available
- Return policy: 30 day for non-prescription glasses or frames (prescription lenses non-returnable)
- Insurance accepted: No, but accepts HSA and FSA
Jonas Paul is exclusively a kids’ glasses brand and all its specs are made with quality materials designed for durability and comfort. The online retailer offers a streamlined shopping experience with frames organized by age range and gender, so you can narrow your search from the get-go. From there, you’ll have a handful of styles to choose from (and some available in as many as 11 colors), giving you and your child plenty of options without being overwhelming. While the cost of frames range from $55 to $89, basic prescription or non-prescription lenses can be added for free. You can also choose pricier upgrades like polarized sunglasses, blue light filtering and light responsiveness.
But where this brand really shines is its at-home try-on kit, which lets you borrow a set of seven frames to test out for a week at the cost of $1. While virtual try-ons are also an option, you’ll probably want to opt for the kit, since glasses are non-returnable once prescription lenses are put in. However, Jonas Paul offers a one-year normal use warranty on lenses and a six-month warranty on frames; if they break, you’ll receive 50% off a second pair. Or, you can plan ahead: While making your initial order, grab a second pair at half price just in case with code SECONDPAIR50, slashing your overall cost per pair.
How To Shop For Kids Glasses Online
Have The Correct Prescription On Hand
Galo Andrade, Optician and Myopia Control Specialist at GC Optics, explains that having the right prescription information on hand is key, especially when it comes to the pupillary distance (PD) measurement. “[PD] marks exactly where the center of the eye is in the lenses,” he says. “Vision won't be perfect without this number. You can ask your ophthalmologist/optometrist when writing the prescription if they can share the PD with you. There may be a fee, but it's important to have this very exact measurement for the most precise lens design.”
Look For Lens Features
Nicole Lord, vice president of merchandising and supply chain for My Eyelab, notes some features to look for, like a selection of lenses to suit your kid’s comfort level and lifestyle. For instance, “polycarbonate lenses are scratch-resistant and have UV protection built in,” she says. “ And the option to upgrade to blue light-blocking lenses is great for kids who spend a lot of time in front of screens.”
Consider Costs
Of course cost is another thing to keep in mind, but it’s important to look beyond the initial price tag. Make note of the retailer’s return policy, any warranties and whether or not they accept insurance or HSA or FSA. And while some glasses retailers don’t work directly with insurance companies, many plans offer a stipend to reimburse vision purchases as out-of-network expenses, so it’s worth taking a closer look at your benefits (pun intended).
Note The Return And Warranty Policies
As with any online purchase, it’s important to note the brand’s return and warranty policies. With glasses, this is especially important because a pair that feels uncomfortable (whether it’s the prescription or frame style) becomes a waste of money. Since glasses orders are customized, most return policies have limited terms; for instance, some retailers only allow exchanges, some are only for the first order and you usually have to make any return or exchange decisions within a certain timeframe. If your child is accident-prone, also look at warranty information, as some retailers will replace lenses or frames that get broken or scratched. We’ve briefly outlined each retailer’s policy above, but be sure to double-check it before clicking “buy.”
Involve Your Kid
Finally, it’s crucial to choose a set of frames that your child will actually wear. “Emotionally, it’s critical to ensure your child plays an active part of the journey,” says Doug Zarkin, CMO of Pearle Vision. “To help ease the emotional transition that many kids face, encourage your child to find a pair that they feel good about,” he says.
How To Check The Fit Of Kids’ Glasses
Andrade says that fit is the number one most important aspect of choosing glasses for your kid. “Parents need to be fit detectives and check all aspects of it,” he says, and points out key areas to watch out for:
- Temple: The arms should fit comfortably along the sides of the head, as tightness “will cause discomfort and headaches,” he says.
- Bridge: The bridge, which rests across the top of the nose, should also sit securely without pinching or falling down.
- Frame: “If the frame is slipping constantly, it is too loose,” he says. “Depending on the shape of their nose, some kids need glasses with nose pads to keep the frame in place.”
- Arm length: The arms of the glasses “should contour just behind the ear. If they’re extending further, the arm is not the right fit,” he says.
Shopping for kids’ glasses online isn’t as easy as picking up the rest of their school supplies, but it can save you a trip to the eye doctor and in many cases a good chunk of money. The best advice: Stick to a retailer that has a return policy or warranty you’re comfortable with, and take advantage of onsite live chat features or customer service numbers to ask questions along the way.
