8 of the best glasses for astigmatism

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A quick look at 8 of the best glasses for astigmatism

• Best for home try-on: Warby Parker
• Best for designer brands: EyeBuyDirect
• Best for a longer warranty: GlassesUSA.com
• Best for physical stores: Zenni Optical
• Best for a free eye exam: America’s Best
• Best for free shipping: Eyeglasses.com
• Best for finding out a prescription: Liingo Eyewear
• Best for insurance: Eyeconic

This article reviews some of the best brands that offer glasses for astigmatism and looks at some essential information for people who are considering purchasing glasses online.

Astigmatism is a condition that occurs when light is incorrectly bent, or refracted, as it enters the eye. When the cornea is not smooth, or if the cornea or the lens is unevenly curved, light refracts improperly, leading to blurred, distorted, or double vision.

Astigmatism commonly occurs alongside visual problems such as nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia).

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, symptoms that might indicate astigmatism include:

• blurred vision
• headaches
• eye discomfort
• squinting to see things clearly
• eye strain

Store-bought reading glasses are not suitable for people with astigmatism. Individuals must use prescription glasses or contact lenses to correct their vision.

To provide an accurate lens prescription, an eye doctor will check a person’s visual acuity and perform a refraction. They may also check the shape of a person’s cornea using keratometry or topography.

The cylinder or astigmatism section in a person’s prescription indicates the additional power required to correct their astigmatism.

The eye doctor may also discuss the option of refractive surgery, such as laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), to correct astigmatism.

Medical News Today chooses eyewear brands based on the following criteria where possible:

• Features: MNT chooses products that come with different features, such as lightweight glasses and glasses that are durable for sports.
• Price: MNT chooses products that fit a range of budgets.
• Returns: MNT chooses products that come with a return guarantee

A person might consider the following brands when looking for the best glasses for astigmatism.

Best for home try-on: Warby Parker

Warby Parker offers own-brand glasses and sunglasses as well as brand-name contact lenses.

For some frame selections, Warby Parker allows a person to try up to five frames at home at no initial cost.

A person can create an account with Warby Parker and upload their prescription to save on their profile. Alternatively, individuals can upload a photo of their prescription, send it to the company later, or have Warby Parker contact their eye doctor.

Warby Parker also offers eye exams at or next to its stores.

The company offers free shipping that a person can track using a “Track My Order” link that they will receive via email.

After Warby Parker approves an individual’s prescription, the individual can expect to receive their order within 7–10 days. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost.

The company extends a 30-day exchanges and refunds policy.

Best for designer brands: EyeBuyDirect

EyeBuyDirect offers own-brand and branded glasses and sunglasses. Its website allows a person to filter the available frames by many options, including prescription strength.

Once an individual finds a suitable frame, they must enter information on their usage (such as distance or reading), lens type, and lens color. A person must also have a copy of their current, valid prescription to enter onto the website. If not, EyeBuyDirect will only offer non-prescription lenses.

The company does not accept direct billing from insurance providers. If a person has a vision benefit, they must usually pay for their glasses and submit a claim to their insurer.

EyeBuyDirect advises that a person will receive their glasses within 7–14 days. However, for specific products, a 2-day delivery option may be available.

The company extends a 14-day fit and style guarantee, which offers a person a one-time replacement or refund of their purchase.

Best for a longer warranty: GlassesUSA.com

GlassesUSA.com offers an array of own-brand and designer glasses.

Once a person has selected a frame, they must specify the lens purpose, provide their prescription, and select a lens package and additional coating. The company also offers a protection plan that a person may choose to purchase at checkout.

GlassesUSA.com offers a 100% money-back guarantee within 14 days of purchase, during which individuals are entitled to either a 100% store credit or a full refund.

They also extend a 365-day warranty, provide free returns and shipping, and have 24-hour customer service.

Best for physical stores: Zenni Optical

The Zenni Optical website allows a person to choose from various own-brand frames, lenses, and filters. People can also purchase this company’s glasses from eye doctors’ offices and brick-and-mortar stores.

Once an individual has chosen their frames, they must provide their prescription, choose their usage, lens type, and lens coating, and specify add-ons. Before checking out, they have the option to create an account from which they can track the shipping status of their order.

Zenni Optical offers standard U.S. shipping of 14–21 days, priority shipping of 10–16 days, and express shipping of 8–12 days. Shipping times to other U.S. territories, Canada, and other parts of the world vary.

The company extends a 30-day return policy that offers people either a 50% cash refund or 100% in-store credit.

Best for a free eye exam: America’s Best

A person who wishes to purchase from the America’s Best range of glasses may choose from visiting one of its retail stores and buying online. The company offers a range of lenses from many different brands.

Once an individual chooses a frame and proceeds to the checkout, the website will ask them to provide their prescription and select their preferred lens type, lens package, and other add-on features.

Should a person not have a copy of their prescription, the company will ask for their eye doctor’s contact information to ensure that they provide the correct lens strength.

America’s Best also has doctors of optometry at its stores to provide eye exams for those who may need them. The company offers a free exam with the purchase of two pairs of glasses. Otherwise, the cost is $50.

For in-store purchases, America’s Best also accepts vision insurance.

The company offers shipping within 7–10 days or 1–2 days expedited.

It also operates a 30-day return policy on glasses, provided a person has their receipt.

Learn more about America’s Best here.

Best for free shipping: Eyeglasses.com

Eyeglasses.com offers many different brand-name glasses. The company will first ask a person to choose a lens purpose, such as single vision or progressive, then they can enter information such as lens material, coating, tinting, additional services, and prescription details.

Eyeglasses.com offers several ways for a person to submit their prescription, including by making an account to upload the prescription, which saves to a person’s profile, fax, or email.

The company offers free shipping within the United States and Canada. This offer extends to other countries for orders greater than $100.

It also operates a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Best for finding out a prescription: Liingo Eyewear

Liingo Eyewear exclusively sells its own brand of eyeglasses and sunglasses. Once a person chooses a frame, they can then add lens upgrades.

Liingo offers a virtual try-on where a person can take a selfie and try various frame sizes and styles on themselves.

Additionally, people can use the website to find out the prescription for their current glasses. They can do this by scanning the glasses through a phone camera. However, the company warns that this method may not work for all glasses.

People can also upload their prescriptions to the website without using the scanner.

This company currently offers free shipping, but only within the United States.

Liingo offers a 60-day Delight Guarantee. This means a person can return or exchange the glasses within this 60-day window.

Best for insurance: Eyeconic

Eyeconic does not offer its own brand of eyewear. However, the company offers various designer and budget brands of eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses for adults and children.

Frames are available either with prescription or nonprescription lenses. A person may also use the company’s virtual try-on feature to see how the frames look before purchasing.

Eyeconic currently accepts insurance plans from MetLife, VSP, and Cigna Vision Insurance.

The company offers free shipping and returns. Additionally, a person has 60 days from the shipping date to refund or exchange their glasses.

The following table compares the brands in this article.

A person may wish to consider the following when purchasing a pair of glasses for astigmatism:

• Cost: A person should check that the glasses are within their budget.
• Prescription: People will need a current eyeglass or contact lens prescription to order products online.
• Coatings: Lens coatings, such as scratch resistance and anti-reflection, are often an optional extra.
• Virtual or home try-ons: If purchasing online, it is important for a person to be able to check they are happy with the style they choose. Many companies offer a home trial with several pairs of glasses and others may offer a virtual try-on feature.
• Returns and warranty: A person may wish to look for a company that has a return and warranty policy.

Several lens materials are suitable for different refractive errors and levels of prescription. They include:

• Plastic lenses: Also known as CR-39, these are often the most cost effective lenses. They are suitable for lower level prescriptions, but they are not impact resistant.
• Trivex lenses: These durable, lightweight, and thin lenses are also suitable for lower level prescriptions. They are impact resistant, which may benefit people at risk of eye trauma, such as athletes.
• Polycarbonate lenses: These are similar to Trivex lenses. They are highly durable are lightweight. They offer UV protection and are also impact resistant. They are suitable for low-to-medium level prescriptions.
• High index lenses: These are particularly suitable for higher level or strong prescriptions. Their material is thin and light.
• Glass lenses: These are still available, but eye doctors tend to avoid them due to their weight, thickness, and risk of breakage.

A person may also choose glasses with extra coatings, such as UV protection, adaptive lens technology, and blue light blockers.

According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), more than 150 million people in the U.S. have a refractive error.

One 2018 systematic review of global refractive errors found that astigmatism is the most common refractive error in adults and children, closely followed by myopia and hyperopia.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that children undergo eye exams early to monitor their vision health, especially if visual problems are prevalent in their family history.

The NEI suggests the following measures to help people protect their vision:

• Have regular comprehensive eye exams.
• Be aware of one’s risks of eye conditions.
• Eat healthy foods containing nutrients that are good for the eyes.
• Stay physically active.
• Wear proper eye protection, such as sunglasses and protective goggles.
• Reduce eye strain as much as possible.
• Practice good eyewear hygiene.

A person may wish to visit an eye doctor outside of regular eye exams if they have symptoms of astigmatism. These include:

• blurry vision
• headaches
• eyestrain, which may be more noticeable when a person uses a computer

Below, we answer some common questions about astigmatism.

What does astigmatism look like?

Astigmatism is a condition where a person’s eye is more oval than round.

People with astigmatism may see a starburst or halo effect around lights. This is more common with bright lights.

Do blue light glasses help with astigmatism?

Short-wave blue light, such as natural light, may help reduce the risk of developing vision errors such as myopia and astigmatism.

However, there is no clinical evidence or studies that support blue light glasses can help with astigmatism.

Can you get glasses for astigmatism only?

Yes, a person can have glasses for astigmatism only.

An eye care professional will provide a prescription for glasses or contact lenses after an eye exam if necessary.

Astigmatism is a common vision problem. It develops due to an irregularity in the shape of a person’s cornea or lens. Wearing prescription glasses is one treatment option to correct astigmatism.

Many companies offer a range of options for those looking for the best glasses for astigmatism, from frame color and style to lens type and coating.