Prescription Glasses Can Be Purchased Cheaply Online

DENVER (CBS4) - Approximately 75 percent of Americans need their vision corrected, with most opting for eyeglasses.

Prescription eyeglasses can be costly, but some are turning to websites to order their frames and lens.

ZenniOptical.com is one of the most popular. Their glasses start at $6.95. The prices sound too good to be true.

Denise Leffingwell says she buys all her glasses online.

"I've been wearing glasses since I was 9 years old."

Denise is seeing quite clearly these days.

"The average I pay when I go through insurance is $200, these are $8."

Prescription glasses for only $8, can that be?

"The pair of glasses I was wearing before I found this website cost $600." Jill Morin says. She says she has genetic eye problems compounded by astigmatism, so she was stunned when an $8 pair of online glasses gave her clarity. "It's not too good to be true, it's absolutely true."

ZenniOptical.com is one of the popular websites which allows you to use your doctor's prescription to order online.

Some traditional optometrists envision problems with the online orders.

"I always tell them to be cautious about the measuring," says Dr. Beverly Rouleau of International Optique of Denver. She says you may save money online but pay for the lack of customer service. "You get the personal service here you come in and we fit glasses to your lifetstyle."

Still, some bespeckled online buyers see only the advantages.

"They're like little accessories" Jill Morin says.

She sees the savings to be clearly worth it.