Warby Parker is an online eyewear company that sells glasses and contacts directly to customers

Warby Parker sells prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses through its website and mobile app, with physical locations in select cities. You order online by entering your prescription, choosing frames, and paying — the glasses ship to your home in about a week. The company also operates a Home Try-On program where you can request up to five frames to wear at home for five days before deciding which to buy. Unlike traditional optical retailers, Warby Parker has no middleman markup; you buy directly from the manufacturer.

The company operates on a direct-to-consumer model, meaning it cuts out the wholesale distributor and retail markup that typically make glasses expensive. A standard pair of glasses costs between $95 and $195 depending on the frame and lens options you choose. If you need a current prescription from an eye doctor, Warby Parker can connect you with one through its telehealth service, though that visit costs extra and is separate from your glasses purchase.

Key Takeaways

  • You need a current prescription from an eye doctor to order glasses from Warby Parker — the company cannot write prescriptions itself.
  • The Home Try-On program lets you request five frames to wear for five days at home before you commit to buying, with free return shipping.
  • Glasses typically arrive within seven to ten business days after you place your order.
  • Warby Parker offers a telehealth eye exam through its app if you do not have a current prescription, though this costs money and is billed separately from your glasses.
  • The company has physical stores in major cities where you can try on frames in person and pick up orders if you prefer not to wait for shipping.

How to order glasses online

Start by going to Warby Parker's website or opening the mobile app. You will be asked to enter your prescription — the numbers from your most recent eye exam. If you do not have a prescription written down, you can ask your eye doctor's office to email or mail it to you, or you can use Warby Parker's telehealth service to get one (this requires a separate payment and video call with an optometrist).

Once you have entered your prescription, you browse frames by style, color, shape, and price. You can use the virtual try-on feature, which uses your phone's camera to show how frames look on your face. When you find frames you like, you select your lens type — standard, blue light filtering, or progressive bifocals — and any add-ons like anti-glare coating. Then you add the frames to your cart, enter your shipping address and payment information, and complete the purchase. Warby Parker will manufacture your glasses and ship them to you.

The Home Try-On program and how it works

If you are unsure which frames suit you, the Home Try-On program lets you request up to five frames at no cost. You choose the frames on the website, and Warby Parker ships them to your home. You have five days to try them on, wear them around, and see how they feel and look in different lighting. During this time, you are not charged anything.

After five days, you return the frames using the prepaid shipping label that came in the box. Once Warby Parker receives your return, you then place an order for the frame you want to buy. This means the Home Try-On program adds about one to two weeks to the total time before you receive your final glasses, but many people find it worth the wait because it removes the guesswork from buying frames online.

What you need before you can order

You must have a current prescription from an eye doctor. This prescription includes your sphere (SPH), cylinder (CYL), axis, and pupillary distance (PD) — the distance between your pupils. Most prescriptions are valid for one to two years, depending on your state's laws and your eye doctor's policy.

If your prescription is older than two years, or if you have never had an eye exam, you will need to visit an eye doctor or use Warby Parker's telehealth service. Warby Parker's telehealth exams are performed by licensed optometrists and cost around $75 to $95, depending on your state. This is separate from the cost of your glasses. After the exam, the optometrist will send your prescription to you, and you can then order glasses from Warby Parker or any other retailer.

You will also need a valid payment method — credit card, debit card, or PayPal — and a shipping address. If you want to pick up your order at a physical location instead of having it shipped, you will need to live in or near one of Warby Parker's store locations.

Shipping, delivery, and returns

After you place an order, Warby Parker typically manufactures and ships your glasses within seven to ten business days. Shipping is free within the United States. Once your order ships, you will receive a tracking number via email so you can monitor its progress.

If you are not satisfied with your glasses when they arrive, Warby Parker offers a 30-day return window. You can return them for a full refund or exchange them for a different frame or prescription at no additional cost. You pay for return shipping unless the glasses arrived damaged or with an error in the prescription or frame.

If you ordered through the Home Try-On program and then purchased a pair, those glasses are also covered by the 30-day return policy. This means you have a total of 35 days from when you first receive your try-on frames to decide whether to keep the glasses you ordered.

Prescription requirements and pupillary distance

Your prescription tells Warby Parker how to grind the lenses to correct your vision. The prescription includes your sphere (the main correction for nearsightedness or farsightedness), cylinder and axis (for astigmatism, if you have it), and add power (for bifocals or progressive lenses if you need them). Warby Parker will ask you to enter all of these numbers when you order.

Your pupillary distance, or PD, is the distance in millimeters between the centers of your pupils. This number is critical because it determines where the optical center of each lens is positioned in the frame. If your PD is off, your glasses may cause eye strain or blurred vision even if your prescription is correct. Many eye doctors include PD on the prescription they give you, but some do not. If yours is missing, you can call your eye doctor's office and ask them to provide it, or you can measure it yourself using online guides and a ruler.

Comparing Warby Parker to traditional optical stores

Traditional optical retailers — like LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, or independent optometrists — typically charge $200 to $400 for a pair of glasses because they buy frames and lenses from wholesalers and mark them up. Warby Parker cuts out the wholesaler and sells directly, which is why its frames cost $95 to $195. However, traditional retailers often have more frame styles in stock, let you try on frames in person, and can make adjustments or repairs on the spot.

Warby Parker has physical stores in many major cities, so you can try on frames in person if you want. But if you live far from a store, or if you prefer to shop online, Warby Parker's lower prices and Home Try-On program make it a practical choice. The trade-off is that you wait for shipping instead of walking out with glasses the same day.

Other online eyewear retailers like Zenni, EyeBuyDirect, and GlassesUSA operate on a similar direct-to-consumer model and offer comparable prices. The main differences are in frame selection, return policies, and whether they offer a home try-on program. Warby Parker's Home Try-On is one of the most generous in the industry, which is why many people choose it over competitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have an eye exam to order from Warby Parker?

You need a current prescription from an eye doctor, but you do not need to have the exam done by Warby Parker. You can use a prescription from your regular eye doctor, an urgent care clinic, or a retail optical store. If you do not have a current prescription, Warby Parker offers telehealth exams for an additional fee.

Can I use my insurance with Warby Parker?

Warby Parker does not bill insurance directly. However, many vision insurance plans reimburse you for glasses after you pay out of pocket. Check your insurance plan's coverage limits and submit a receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement. Some employers also offer Warby Parker as a covered benefit through their vision plan.

What if my glasses arrive and the prescription is wrong?

Warby Parker will remake your glasses at no cost if the prescription was entered incorrectly on your order or if the lenses were ground incorrectly. Contact customer service with your order number and a description of the problem. If the error was yours — for example, you entered the wrong numbers from your prescription — you may be charged a remake fee, though Warby Parker sometimes waives this for first-time customers.

How long does the Home Try-On program take?

You have five days to try on the frames once they arrive. Shipping to you typically takes five to seven business days, and return shipping takes another three to five business days. After you return the try-on frames and place your order for the glasses you want, manufacturing and shipping takes another seven to ten business days. The entire process from start to finish usually takes three to four weeks.

Can I get progressive bifocals from Warby Parker?

Yes. Progressive lenses, which have a gradual change in power from top to bottom and correct vision at all distances, are available as an add-on. They cost more than standard lenses — typically $125 to $175 extra depending on the lens material and coatings you choose. You must have a valid prescription that includes an add power for bifocals or progressives in order to order them.