Deciding whether to buy eyeglasses online comes down to balancing against the precision of an in-person fitting. While online shoppers can save roughly 40% compared to in-store prices, the process requires you to handle technical measurements that are usually managed by a professional optician. Quick Comparison: Online vs. In-Store In-Store (Local Optical Shop) Average Cost $91 (median) $234 (median) Selection Virtually unlimited styles Limited to physical inventory Fitting Self-measured or virtual try-on Precise, professional adjustments Best For Simple, single-vision prescriptions Progressive or high-power lenses Why You Might Buy Online How to Order Prescription Glasses Online LIKE A PRO