Buying glasses can feel confusing, with prices that vary wildly between opticians, prescriptions full of jargon, and extras added at the till. We built GlassesCompared to make buying glasses simpler. This page puts our guides in the order most people need them, so pick the question you’re stuck on and start there.
Buying Glasses: What Will They Cost?
Prices range from a few pounds for off-the-shelf readers to hundreds for designer varifocals. These guides show where the money goes.
- How Much Do Glasses Cost in the UK?: typical prices on the high street and online, and what pushes the price up.
- Specsavers vs Vision Express vs Glasses Direct: three big names side by side.
- Specsavers vs Boots Opticians: eye test prices, lens extras and which works out cheaper.
Can I Get Help Paying for Glasses?
Many people qualify for NHS help without realising it.
- NHS Vouchers: who qualifies and what the vouchers are worth.
- NHS Sight Test vs NHS Optical Voucher: why a free eye test doesn’t always mean free glasses.
- Universal Credit and Free Glasses: the earnings rules that decide whether you qualify.
What Does My Prescription Mean?
Your prescription holds everything a retailer needs, once you know how to read it.
- Understanding Your Eye Prescription: SPH, CYL, Axis and ADD explained in plain English.
- How to Measure Your PD at Home: the one measurement online retailers ask for that your optician may not give you.
- How Long Does a Glasses Prescription Last?: when you need a new eye test before ordering.
Which Lenses Do I Need?
Lens choices and coatings often cost more than the frame itself.
- Are Lens Coatings Worth It?: which coatings to pay for and which to skip.
- Varifocal Glasses Guide: what varifocals are, what they cost and getting used to them.
- Are Blue Light Glasses Worth It?: what the research actually says.
- Prescription Sports Eyewear UK: options for running, cycling and swimming.
Buying Glasses Online or on the High Street?
Online retailers are often cheaper, but it helps to know who you’re buying from.
- Specscart Review UK: anti-glare included and a free home trial.
- Lentiamo Review UK: known for contact lenses, but they sell glasses too.
- Mojoglasses Review UK: genuine designer frames with lenses made in the UK.
- Specscart vs Lentiamo: two online retailers compared.
- Urban Sunglasses UK: genuine designer sunglasses and current offers.
Looking After Your Glasses
Small fixes that make a pair last longer.
- How to Clean Anti-Reflective Lenses: without ruining the coating.
- Why Do My Glasses Slip?: five easy fixes.
- Eyewear Maintenance Accessories: cleaners, cases and repair kits worth having.
Eye Health and Myopia
Our guides on short-sightedness, including myopia control for children.
- What Is Myopia?
- What Causes Myopia in Children?
- Myopia Control Lenses: How Do They Work?
- Stellest Lenses: A Parent’s Guide
- How Much Do Myopia Control Lenses Cost?
Ready to Start Buying Glasses?
Once you know what you need, our comparison tool shows prices from leading UK retailers based on your own prescription and lens choices.