If you’re still buying prescription eyeglasses from brick-and-mortar stores you might be missing out on the substantial savings, selection and convenience offered by online retailers. With so many options in the market however it can be intimidating to choose a retailer.  

Since 1995, AC Lens has been offering prescription eyewear with a wide range of designs and prices to fit any budget. If you’ve never ordered prescription eyewear online, keep reading this AC Lens review to decide if they might be the right choice for your next pair of prescription eyeglasses.

AC Lens Review

AC Lens Hands-On Review

For this review, I was provided with a complimentary pair of AC Lens glasses and frames. 

Before firing up your browser and making an order, you’ll first need a signed doctor’s prescription for your eyewear. Under FTC regulations, doctor’s must provide you with a copy of your prescription whether or not you even request it, and most eye care providers have many customers that buy their eyewear online so this shouldn’t be much hassle. If you don’t have a physical copy of your prescription AC Lens may be able to contact your doctor by phone on your behalf to verify.

One standout feature of AC Lens is their Online Vision Test. So, if you need to have your prescription renewed, you can take this Online Vision Test on either your computer or your smartphone. The vision test takes only 15 minutes to complete and 1-day for a doctor to review it. All you need is 10 feet of space. Once you complete your review, you'll get your free prescription to use with your order! It should be noted that not all individuals who take the test are guaranteed to receive a prescription, though. You can learn more at AC Lens.

The second bit of information you’ll need to understand is eyeglass sizing. If you’ve already got a pair that fits well, the size is usually located on the inside of one of the arms (listed in millimeters). If you don’t know your frame size, one good technique to measure yourself at home is to place your face as close to a mirror as possible and measure your reflection. There are also several phone apps that can be downloaded which will help with sizing.

Once you’ve got your prescription and sizing here’s how the process of ordering from AC Lens works.

1. Create your account at www.aclens.com.

2. Click the “Frames That Fit” filter option and input your size. This will filter the choices to only frames which are close to your size. Then select other filters like shape, color, price, etc.

3. Click the frame you're interested in to see more details and press the Select Lens Options button to begin the ordering process once you’ve made your decision.

4. Follow the easy steps to enter your prescription strength information, select your lens power and material options and any standard tints or coatings that you like: anti-glare, anti-scratch, tint, UV blocking, etc. All the lens options you’d expect at a brick and mortar glasses shop are available for most frames and lenses.

5. Once you’ve selected your frames and lenses press Checkout. You’ll be prompted to confirm your shipping details, but you’ll also enter your patient information and prescription details on this screen. AC Lens accepts emails, faxes, scanned images, phone photographs to confirm prescription information and can call your doctor directly to verify them if you have any trouble verifying your prescription.

6. Confirm your payment details and complete your order and your new frames and lenses will be on their way to your doorstep!

My frames took 7 days to arrive and came with a hard-shell case, cleaning cloth, and small bottle of cleaning solution. The frames looked just as they appeared online and fit true to size. They feel well-constructed and have tight arm joints. My vision has been crystal clear and I haven’t had any eye-fatigue or headaches that would indicate a poorly manufactured lens.

What Sets AC Lens Apart from Competitors?

There’s a lot of competition in the online eyewear industry, but very few of them (and very few online businesses of any kind) have been operating as long as AC Lens. That longevity is itself a testament to their business and the loyalty of their customers.

Along with their selection of eyeglasses, AC Lens also offers nearly every major brand and type of contact lenses. If you wear both contacts and lenses, like I do, then it’s nice to have all your correct lens needs met under the same roof. Some other vendors specialize in only one or the other and can’t meet both needs at the level AC Lens can.

AC Lens doesn’t carry many no-name brands which often come with no-name quality. You can definitely find cheaper glasses online, and I’ve done the same, but you might discover like I did that not only is the frame quality poor but the lens quality is as well. If the glasses you buy don’t correct your vision properly then they’re not worth whatever price you paid.

AC Lens offers a 1 year return policy. Many other retailers offer only 30 or 60 day warranties on their products. This awesome return policy and the ease of contacting their customer service department really sets them apart from many of their competitors.

AC Lens Company Info

AC Lens was founded by Dr. Peter Clarkson in 1995 on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. They offer prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and most major contact lens brands.

They offer excellent first-time buyer discounts, free shipping, and ship prescription eyewear in 9-14 business days and contact lenses in 5-7 business days standard, and expedite orders overnight for $19.99. 

They also offer a great warranty with free returns within 1 year of the shipping date for free, and for any reason.

AC Lens FAQs

Is AC Lens legit?

Yes, AC Lens is definitely legit. They’ve been in business since 1995, they’ve been BBB Accredited since 2001, and hold an A+ rating.  

Where does AC Lens ship from?

AC Lens ships all orders from Columbus, OH, USA.

What do I need to place an order from AC Lens?

To order from AC Lens, you'll need a prescription for eyeglasses or contacts and your size/fit details.

What is AC Lens return policy?

AC Lens has a simple return policy. It is no-questions-asked, free returns up to 1 year from the shipping date.

Does AC Lens offer a warranty?

AC Lens offers a 1 year return policy with no questions asked.

Can I try on glasses from AC Lens before I buy them?

No, you can't directly try on AC Lens glasses. Since AC Lens offers many major brands you could try to find the same model in a brick and mortar store. However, due to the no-questions-asked return policy, if you don’t like your new glasses just send them back.

How much is AC Lens shipping?

AC Lens shipping on all glasses is free. Shipping for other orders is also free for orders over $99 and $5.99 for orders under $99. You'll pay an extra $19.99 for expedited overnight shipping.

AC Lens Pros and Cons

Overall ACLens Review - 4.8/5

AC Lens was one of the first companies offering prescription lenses online and that experience is apparent in how easy they’ve made the process from start to finish.  They have an excellent selection at every price point however they’re not focused on the ultra-budget market or house-brands so there’s no need to be concerned about the quality of the glasses you’ll receive.

Notably AC Lens doesn’t offer technology features that some competitors have like “virtual try on” tools or app-based sizing tools. What they lack in these virtual tools though, they make up for with an incredible return policy and terrific customer service which doesn’t funnel you through endless phone queues or online chat portals to resolve your problems. These tools can’t guarantee you’ll like how things fit and feel, so if you do need to make a return, AC Lens makes it as easy as it can be.

If you’re in the market for a new pair of glasses (or contacts) and want to try purchasing them online, it’d be hard to go wrong choosing one of the oldest companies online with one of the best return policies in the business.