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If you're a glasses
wearer, you've probably heard of affordable designer eyewear company Warby
Parker. If you haven't tried their glasses yet and you're still choosing from
the small selection at your optometrist's office, you're probably overpaying
and missing out on some really cool frames.
Warby Parker was
founded in 2010 by students at the Wharton School who realized that most
"designer" eyewear is simply licensed to a few giant eyewear
companies and sold wholesale to opticians. They realized that if they cut out
the middlemen by designing their own glasses and selling them online, they
could pass on huge savings to the customer.
That was nearly a
decade ago, and Warby Parker continues to deliver on its promise to provide
high-quality, affordable eyewear to its customers. The glasses start at $95
(including frame and lenses) and if the lenses are scratched within a year,
Warby Parker replaces them free. You can even try on up to five pairs at home
before you buy so you can experience trying them on and seeing how they fit.
Warby Parker is also strongly
committed to social good, joining the ranks of other socially conscious brands
such as TOMS, Thrive Market and Bombas socks. With every pair of Warby Parker
glasses sold, a pair is distributed to someone in need. Warby Parker also works
with non-profit organizations that train volunteers to perform eye exams in
disadvantaged communities. As one of the only carbon neutral eyewear companies
on the planet, they also care about the environment.
First step: choose your frames
Take a look at Warby
Parker's selection of frames in men's and women's styles to get an idea of
their aesthetic. There's a nice mix of simple classics and more modern
pieces. If you feel overwhelmed, you can take a quiz to get a recommended pair
of glasses based on your preferences. If you find a pair that you know you
want, skip ahead to ordering it in the third step. If not, you will have the
opportunity to try your favorites.
Second step – Test at home
This is the fun part.
Choose five frames that interest you and Warby Parker will send them to you for
free. I highly recommend the Laurel in Tea Rose Fade (pictured below left).
Seriously, these glasses look good on everyone. Once you receive your frames,
you can try them out for five days to find out which ones are right for you.
Once you've found the frames you like, just send the trial box home with the
included prepaid label.
Third step: order the frames
As soon as you know
what glasses you want, you can go ahead and order them at Warby Parker. Frames
start at $95 for standard single vision lenses. Of course, you will have to pay
more if you want progressive or transition lenses.
Step Three and a Half: Fill the Prescription
When going through the
checkout, you will have to fill in the prescription for your glasses. If you
already have a prescription, the easiest way to do this is to upload a photo of
your prescription. If you don't have your prescription on hand, Warby Parker
can call your eye doctor, but it may take longer to get your frames. If you
don't have a prescription or your current prescription is expired, you can go
get a quick exam with an eye doctor (available at Warby Parker stores in some
major cities), or download this app that ostensibly checks your eyes for you
($40 if you get an updated prescription.)
Step Four: Dealing with Insurance
Warby Parker is in-network with UnitedHealthcare, but is an out-of-network provider for most insurance companies, so you will need to present your receipt for reimbursement if you want to use your insurance to pay for your frames. Warby Parker has instructions and forms for reimbursement from most companies on its website. If you have a flexible spending account or a health spending account, you're in luck—you can use it for your Warby Parker frames, too. Just enter your FSA/HSA card number at checkout.