Good glasses don’t have to be expensive. If you’re looking for affordable glasses, you’ll save the most when you know what you’re actually paying for: the frame, the lenses and the extras. Here’s how to spot quality, where it makes sense to save and where it doesn’t.
Key points at a glance
- With prescription glasses, the lenses often make up a large part of the price. What matters is which options you really need.
- You can tell quality by the material, hinges, finish and fit, not by the logo.
- In the sale you’ll find reduced designer frames, often from previous collections.
- The NHS only helps with the cost of glasses in certain cases. Check whether you’re eligible before you buy.
Affordable glasses with good quality: how to spot them
Whether cheap glasses are good value only shows in everyday life: are they still sitting straight after a few weeks? Are the hinges holding up? You can check a lot of this when you buy.
Frame material
Acetate frames look high quality, come in lots of colours and are easy for an optician to adjust. Lightweight plastics such as TR90 are flexible and sturdy. Metal frames are often fine and delicate, and titanium is especially light and doesn’t rust.
Hinges and finish
Hinges get used every day. Screwed hinges can be tightened again, and spring hinges give a little when you take your glasses off with one hand. Clean edges, an even surface and arms that move smoothly without wobbling are signs of a good finish.
Fit and size
Glasses that pinch or slide down your nose are a bad buy, even at a low price. On the inside of the arm you’ll usually find three measurements, for example 52□18 140: lens width, bridge width and arm length in millimetres. Compare them with your current glasses and you’ll find a frame that fits more quickly. To see which shape suits you, read Which glasses frames suit my shape of face?
Lenses or frame: where does your money go?
With prescription glasses, the lenses often cost as much as the frame or even more. How much depends on your prescription and on the extras. The main factors at a glance:
| Option | When it makes sense | How to save |
|---|---|---|
| Single vision lenses | For distance or close-up, e.g. reading glasses | The most affordable lens type and perfectly adequate for many prescriptions |
| Varifocals | If you want to see clearly near and far with one pair | The most expensive lens type. If you only need glasses for reading, single vision lenses cost less. |
| Thinner lenses (higher index, e.g. 1.6 or 1.67) | For stronger prescriptions, so the lenses don’t get too thick | For a weak prescription, the standard index is usually enough. |
| Anti-reflective and hard coating | Almost always: fewer distracting reflections, and plastic lenses become more scratch-resistant | Don’t skip these. It’s money well spent. |
| Tints, photochromic lenses, blue light filter | Only if you really want them for everyday life | Leave them out if you don’t need them. |
You can get your current prescription from an eye test at an optician’s or from an eye doctor. If you have a strong prescription, need varifocals or aren’t sure, ask them for advice.
Where to save on glasses and where not to
Where you can save:
- On the frame: Models from the sale or from previous collections look just as good as the latest ones.
- On the logo: Give lesser-known brands a chance. A good finish isn’t limited to big names.
- On extras: Only choose the lens options that suit your prescription and your daily life.
- On a second pair: For spare glasses or a pair for sport, a simple, sturdy frame is often enough.
Where it’s better not to save:
- An up-to-date prescription: Glasses with an old prescription aren’t good glasses, however cheap they are.
- Pupillary distance and centring: The lenses need to sit exactly in front of your pupils.
- Anti-reflective coating: You’ll notice the difference every day.
- Fit: A frame that pinches will end up in a drawer.
Glasses on sale: designer frames for less
The cheapest glasses aren’t automatically the best value glasses. You’ll often find affordable eyewear from well-known brands in the sale: frames are reduced there, often from previous collections or as the last pieces in a colour. The range changes all the time.
Right now the Edel-Optics sale includes, for example, frames from Ben Sherman (such as Wapping, Walthamston or Southbank), Levi’s (LS304), Reebok, Converse, Strellson and Fraymz. If you prefer something more exclusive, there are also models from DITA, such as the Lineus, and from S.T. Dupont. Not every model stays available in every colour for long. You can see what’s in stock here:
Reebok R3006 BLK£59.51 £74.39Ben Sherman Wapping (BENOP024 BRN)£59.51 £74.39Reebok R2011 BLW£66.20 £82.74Levis LS304 02£39.63DITA Lineus (DTX-702 02A)£313.43 £522.38Ben Sherman Walthamston (BENOP021 NVY)£66.20 £82.74Ben Sherman Walthamston (BENOP021 BRN)£66.20 £82.74Converse VCJ012 955Y£25.68Does the NHS pay towards glasses?
The NHS only helps with the cost of glasses in certain cases. Whether you qualify depends on your personal circumstances. Ask your optician or check with the NHS before you buy whether you’re entitled to support and what proof you need. If you have private health insurance, your policy will say whether it covers glasses.
Buying affordable glasses online: how it works
Where can you find affordable glasses frames and lenses? As well as your local optician, you can buy glasses online. You’ll see lots of frames at a glance and can compare prices at your own pace. Always compare the total price including lenses, not just the price of the frame.
For prescription glasses you’ll need your current prescription and your pupillary distance (PD). Our article Buying Glasses Online – is it really possible? explains how ordering works step by step.
Frequently asked questions about affordable glasses
Are cheap glasses worse than expensive ones?
Not necessarily. A high price often comes from the brand, the design or special lenses. Cheap glasses can be good glasses as long as the material, hinges, fit and lenses are right.
Why are glasses often cheaper online?
Online shops need less retail space in expensive high-street locations and can keep many models in one central warehouse. On top of that, there are sale offers with frames from previous collections. Still, keep an eye on the total price with lenses and on the returns policy.
Which budget-friendly glasses brands are actually good quality?
No brand guarantees quality at every price, so check the material, hinges, finish and fit rather than the name alone. If you’re looking for the best budget glasses or the best value eyeglasses, the sale is a good place to start: it currently includes well-known names such as Ben Sherman, Levi’s and Reebok as well as premium brands such as DITA.
