Intro
In today’s fast-paced world, finding high-quality, affordable eyewear that combines style and functionality can be quite a challenge. However, there’s no need to worry because Zenni Optical is the perfect solution for all your optical needs. The best part? You don’t have to break the bank, with prices starting at an incredible $6.95. In this comprehensive Zenni Optical review, we’ll introduce everything you need to know about their products, services, and why they stand out as the ultimate destination for affordable and high-quality eyewear.
Overall
Summary
Our Zenni Optical review concluded that it is a fantastic online shop that offers incredibly budget-friendly prescription glasses. They offer a wide variety of frames for both adults and children, with over 1500 options available in various shapes and styles. Customers also have the flexibility to choose and pay for only the additional features they desire. However, if you are in search of brand name or designer frames, you will need to explore other options. Nevertheless, Zenni Optical compensates for the lack of designer styles by offering significant savings on prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Affordable eyewear from $6.95
- Wide selection for men, women, and kids
- Two virtual try-on options
- Option for custom engraving on frames
Cons
- No brand name frames
- Paid shipping
- Doesn’t accept vision insurance
- No option to exchange
About Zenni Optical
It is a company that was established in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2003 by a married couple who are both scientists. For the past fifteen years, Zenni Optical has been the go-to destination for affordable and fashionable eyewear. It’s worth mentioning that they recently marked their 20th anniversary by reaching the milestone of selling 50 million pairs of glasses.
Throughout its existence, the company’s objective has consistently been to provide individuals with visually appealing eyeglasses at a significantly reduced price compared to luxury designer brands.
Known for selling glasses as low as $6.95, you can discover a vast selection of designs and glasses, with more than 1500 frames to choose from.
The company is capable of providing glasses at exceptionally affordable prices as they create and manufacture all their frames and lenses internally. Additionally, because they operate as an online store, they do not have additional expenses from physical retail spaces that would be passed on to customers.
With their virtual try-on feature, you can purchase prescription glasses or sunglasses with various lens choices at an affordable price without the need to go outside of your home.
Company Operations
The company’s main office is located in Novato, California. They create and manufacture all of their eyewear within their own large manufacturing facility in China, spanning 248,000 square feet. Every aspect of the process, from designing glasses using computer-aided design software to producing digital lenses, is done within the company, ensuring control and oversight from beginning to end.
They manufacture glasses and sunglasses for men, women, and children, along with other related products. Every day, the factory sends more than 7,000 pairs of glasses to more than 80 countries.
Shopping Experience
Their goal is to ensure that choosing and buying glasses online is incredibly simple. For individuals who are new to purchasing eyeglasses on the internet, they have a How-To video tutorial to help you start quickly.
Every item page has feedback and evaluations from previous purchasers for each frame. By uploading a photo, you can also determine how the glasses will suit your appearance.
Our Zenni Optical Review
This company was the first to introduce inexpensive eyeglasses to the market. Zenni continues to provide unbeatable prices with a wide selection of hundreds of frames under $20, In addition, the cost covers single-vision prescription lenses.
In our assessment, we tested four sets of glasses and sunglasses with various lens coatings and prescriptions. During our extensive examinations, we carefully assessed factors such as aesthetics, longevity, price, and precision.
Lastly, we also evaluate our entire shopping journey, beginning from the initial stage until the end, and offer our suggestions on who to choose.
Zenni Lens Quality – 4.5/5
Zenni provides customers with a variety of lens materials and indexes to choose from. These range from standard CR-39 plastic lenses, which are typically suitable for those with low to medium-strength prescriptions, to high-index 1.67 lenses. This allows you to personalize your lenses based on your desired thickness and cost.
In addition, they have the Trivex 1.53 index lens which is highly resistant to impacts. This lens provides the advantages of both the CR-39 and the 1.59 polycarbonate lenses.
The Trivex lens, which is lighter and more resistant to impacts compared to CR-39, also provides sharper images than polycarbonate. Opting for the Trivex lens comes with an extra cost of $29.95.
In addition to single-vision lenses, you have the option of choosing bifocals and progressive lenses.
For our Zenni Optical review, we purchased regular prescription lenses with a 1.50 index as part of the frame’s price and also bought an additional pair of rimless glasses with a 1.59 polycarbonate lens for an extra $9.00.
We discovered that both were of high quality and did not encounter any issues or detect any inaccuracies with the prescription.
It’s great that all of their lenses include anti-scratch and UV-protection coatings at no additional cost.
If you’re thinking of getting the standard lens, we suggest opting for the 1.57 mid-index lens as it is thinner, offers 100% UV protection, and does not incur any additional cost.
It is important to note that you should also consider your pupillary distance (PD) correctly in order to ensure that your prescription lenses provide the correct correction. If the PD is measured incorrectly, it can have an impact on your vision, regardless of the accuracy of your prescription.
Zenni Frame Quality – 4/5
In our review of Zenni’s frames, we selected a variety of glasses that span across their most affordable options, some of their high-end frames, along with a few in the middle price range.
What we found is that the $6.95 glasses are just as you would anticipate. In other words, they are functional but have a cheap appearance and are somewhat fragile.
We predict that under normal usage, they would remain functional for approximately 8-10 months. However, considering the affordable price, you could easily replace them once they become worn out.
The glasses in the middle price range ($15-$30) performed better, and we suggest them as the main choice for most individuals. Among our preferred options were their acetate, stainless, steel, and mixed material frames.
The most expensive glasses at Zenni were $45.95. We decided to purchase multiple pairs with different materials to determine if they were superior to the cheaper frames.
In general, we discovered that the quality of these glasses is similar to their mid-range counterparts. If quality is a priority for you, there isn’t much reason to choose these over the mid-range options, unless you have a preference for a particular frame.
Zenni Style & Selection – 4.5/5
Zenni offers a variety of frames that range from traditional to fashionable. However, we did notice that many of the styles seemed to lack originality and were similar to others on the market. While you can find popular shapes and styles, the level of attention to detail does not match that of high-end boutique or designer brands.
One notable feature is the ability to transform any pair of glasses into sunglasses by selecting the appropriate lenses. Additionally, they provide glasses with magnetic clip-on shades, and we found one that caught our attention.
Furthermore, Zenni also offers glasses for kids. They provide hundreds of styles for you to choose from for your children.
For individuals who have low nose bridges or high cheekbones, Zenni has introduced a new product: Universal Bridge Fit Glasses, which offers a variety of frames that will suit your facial features more effectively.
Overall, whether you frequently lose or break your glasses, want multiple pairs for a change in appearance, or require a spare pair, this is the place to find them. Zenni is a great place to shop.
Zenni Customer Service – 3.5/5
Over the years, there have been inconsistent experiences with customer service. Numerous users have expressed dissatisfaction with extended waiting times and challenges in receiving timely or satisfactory assistance for problems with their eyeglasses or obtaining refunds.
During non-working hours (at 11:30 PM EST), we reached out to them through live chat to inquire about something before buying. To our delight, we were met with a representative in just a few minutes.
It is significant to mention that Zenni’s refund policy allows for either a 50% refund or a one-time store credit for the full amount, and excluding shipping If you ask for a refund within 30 days after receiving your glasses.
Many individuals expressed their dissatisfaction in numerous negative reviews when they discovered that they would only receive a 50% refund of the amount they had spent on their purchase.
The conclusion? If there are no issues with the glasses you purchase, you will probably be pleased with the service. However, if you require assistance with any problems and need to reach out to them, it may turn out to be a bothersome experience.
Zenni Cost – 5/5
This particular thing is quite obvious because Zenni is known for their highly affordable eyewear. They offer frames along with single-vision prescription lenses at extremely low prices (as low as $6.95). You will still be spending significantly less, even after factoring in shipping costs, compared to what you would pay at any optical store or other online shops.
You will have to pay extra for additional lens options and treatments that are not included, as Zenni offers customizable options where you can choose what you want (all lenses, however, come with UV protection and anti-scratch coatings).
Here are the prices for extra treatments:
| Lens type | Price |
| Solid Lens Tint | $4.95 |
| Gradient Lens Tint | $7.95 |
| Beyond UV Blue Blockers with a standard index of 1.50 | $16.95 |
| 1.61 High-Index Beyond UV Blue Blockers | $29.95 |
| 1.67 High-Index Beyond UV Blue Blockers | $49.95 |
| Sun: 1.50 Polarized (80% tint) | $32.99 |
| Sun: 1.59 Polarized Polycarbonate Vision-Ease SunRx® (85% tint) | $72 |
| Sun: 1.59 Polarized Polycarbonate Vision-Ease Coppertone® (90% tint) | $76 |
| Sun: 1.61 Polarized (85% tint) | $69 |
| Sun: 1.67 Polarized (85% tint) | $102 |
| Sun: 1.50 Photochromic Transitions® | $69 |
| Sun: 1.59 Photochromic Polycarbonate Gray Vision-Ease LifeRx® | $66 |
| Sun: 1.61 Photochromic | $29 |
| Sun: 1.61 Photochromic Transitions® | $139 |
| Sun: 1.67 Photochromic Transitions® | $169 |
Although some online retailers provide free shipping for orders that meet a specific purchase threshold, you will be responsible for the shipping expenses, but Zenni does not.
In the United States, it costs $4.95 for standard shipping, which usually takes around 2 to 3 weeks. To receive your items more quickly, you have the option to upgrade to express shipping. This will cost $18.95 and your delivery will be completed in approximately half the time.
If you require glasses in a timely manner, the quickest choice available is their service. The delivery service called Rush Delivery provides quick and efficient transportation of packages. This option allows you to choose from a few frames and receive them with single-vision lenses within 3-5 business days.
Zenni Optical Review Conclusion
Here comes the end of our Zenni Optical review. In conclusion, If you are in search of a reliable backup or extra pair of glasses, or if you require new eyewear annually, we would suggest considering them. In addition, if you still have more doubts about Zenni Optical, please check our Zenni FAQs here.
