America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses Review (2024)

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There are plenty of choices when it comes to selecting your next pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses. So, it’s worth looking into several companies as you narrow your retailer search.

Here, we take a look at the products and services offered by America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses, including the purchasing process and the company’s reputation.

America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses offers their products and services in stores throughout the United States, which is ideal for people who value the in-person shopping experience. You also have the option to buy eyeglasses and contact lenses online.

This optical retailer has more than 700 stores in the United States. They offer eye examinations, eyeglasses, and contact lenses. There’s a wide selection of eyewear for men, women, and children, including discounted designer frames. America’s Best claims to offer prices lower than the competition.

America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses offers prescription glasses and contact lenses for women, men, and children. They also offer comprehensive eye exams free with the purchase of any two pairs of glasses:

• 2 pairs of glasses and a free eye exam: $79.95
• 2 pairs of children’s glasses and a free eye exam: $79.95
• 2 pairs of bifocals and a free eye exam: $99.95
• contacts and eye exams: $11 per month

You can take a visual field test for $15 or combine it with a retinal image screening for $20.

If you wear contacts, you can become a member of America’s Best Eyecare Club to receive discounts on contacts, eyeglasses, and accessories. Membership also includes up to two contact lens exams per year.

According to America’s Best, members save around $600 over 3 years on products and exams. The cost is $99 for 3 years and $139 for 5 years.

However, if you join this plan, you can’t use your insurance for your purchases.

This offer isn’t valid in California.

America’s Best offers eyeglasses at a range of prices and with different bundles.

The cheapest bundle includes two pairs of glasses plus an eye exam for $69.95. The most expensive glasses are designer frames at $199.95. Two pairs of lined plastic bifocal lenses are available at $99.95. Tinted, Verithin, or Verilite lenses cost more. You’ll also pay more for NeverGlare, the company’s antireflective coating.

America’s Best offers a “two for $69.95” special. It includes an eye exam, two pairs of glasses with single vision uncoated plastic lenses, and frames from their $69.95 selection. If you opt for more expensive frames or lenses, the eye exam is still included free of charge.

The company states you can’t combine this offer with your insurance plan, a coupon, or an additional discount offer. It’s also meant for one person.

Contact lenses range in price from $36.99 to $206.99.

For children, the least expensive option includes two pairs of glasses for $69.95. You can also purchase some frames for $79.95 and get a second pair for $48. The most expensive children’s option is one pair of glasses for $129.95 with a second pair for $78.

For in-store purchases, America’s Best accepts many national and regional vision insurance plans and can file insurance claims directly. For online orders, vision insurance isn’t accepted as payment. However, they’ll provide you with a receipt, which you can submit to your insurance company as an out-of-network purchase.

America’s Best also accepts CareCredit and funds from flexible savings accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs).

You can order eyeglasses or contact lenses at an America’s Best store or online. Both options require a current, valid prescription. If you already have a valid prescription, you can use it to buy eyeglasses or contact lenses online or in a store.

In store

To order at a store, schedule an eye exam or opt for a walk-in appointment. You can select your glasses on the same day. Usually, your glasses will be available for pickup within 7 to 10 business days.

Online

To order eyeglasses online, you can select glasses suited to your face shape. From there, you can choose the color, style, and shape. To make sure your glasses fit properly, you can use a pair of your well-fitting glasses to compare the measurements provided on the website.

Contact lens trials

If you’ve never worn contacts before, schedule an eye exam, which will include a training session. The optometrist will provide you with a pair of trial diagnostic lenses. Then you’ll need to return to the store for a contact lens evaluation before receiving your final prescription.

For online purchases, America’s Best offers free standard shipping within the United States. Most items will ship within 48 hours of purchase. Contact lens orders usually arrive within 5 to 7 business days. Prescription eyeglasses usually arrive within 9 to 14 business days.

Sunglasses and contact lens orders to Canada and Mexico usually arrive within 7 to 14 business days. Prescription eyeglasses usually arrive within 11 to 21 business days.

America’s Best offers a 30-day return policy for glasses as long as you have your original receipt. All glasses are under warranty for the first year, which covers manufacturer defects, including material and workmanship. It doesn’t cover scratched, broken, or lost glasses.

For an additional cost, you can buy their 1-year Product Protection Plan or their KidsGear Protection Plan for children’s glasses. Each provides coverage of one replacement pair of eyeglasses per year. These plans cover broken glasses only. It does not cover scratched glasses, lost glasses or stolen glasses. Scratching is considered a normal result of use by America’s Best.

America’s Best provides a prescription guarantee, which replaces your lenses for free if your prescription changes within 60 days of your eye exam.

America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses has a D- rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and they’re not BBB accredited.

Customer reviews on the BBB site, which aren’t used in the BBB rating calculation, average 1.18 out 5 stars. According to the BBB, there have been 374 complaints closed in the last 3 years. The types of complaints logged focus on a number of issues, including customer service and the quality of eyewear.

Many customers note that their glasses or contacts were unwearable, and may have been the wrong prescription.

America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses has a poor Trustpilot rating of 2.6 out of 5 stars.

In 2019, America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses was involved in a lawsuit relating to the WCAG 2.0, Section 508 accessibility standard, which requires businesses to make electronics, communications, and information technology accessible to people with disabilities.

The plaintiff alleged that the graphics, links, and buttons are not labeled, incorrectly labeled, or lack alternative text.

In 2021, America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses was involved in a lawsuit accusing the company of pregnancy discrimination. The suit alleges that the company discriminated against a former employee by not giving her an appropriate area to express breast milk.

The suit also alleges that the company cut her hours from full time to part time upon return from maternity leave, which resulted in the loss of eligibility for employer-provided healthcare coverage.

Positive customer reviews report positive experiences with friendly, helpful employees and local optometrists. Some people report satisfaction with the low price of the eyeglasses, which allows them to try out new styles often.

Negative customer reviews of America’s Best complain about poor customer service, including unanswered calls or emails, as well as impolite employees. Several people received incorrect prescriptions, waited a long time for their glasses to arrive, and were unhappy with the poor quality of the glasses.

Many customers incurred hidden costs and reported insurance-related deception.

One customer reports that America’s Best wouldn’t initially issue their prescription to use somewhere else. Once they gave it to them, it was backdated. Be aware that by law, your eye care prescriber must give you a copy of your prescription at no extra charge.

If you want to check out other companies offering in-store vision tests, eyeglasses, and contact lenses, there are lots of choices.

Here are a few options:

• Costco Optical. If you’re a Costco member, you may have noticed a full-service Costco Optical inside your local store. Not every Costco offers this service, but most do. Here you can get your eyes examined by an independent Doctor of Optometry. You can also purchase eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses. Costco members can also buy eyewear online. Their selection includes designer frames, and ranges from $25 to $200.
• Vision Source. Vision Source is a national network of private practice optometrists. You can get an in-person examination plus purchase eyeglasses and contact lenses at the same time. Many in-network optometrists carry a large selection of high fashion and designer frames.
• Visionworks. Visionworks sells glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses online and in stores. They carry a large selection of brand name and designer frames. A large selection of eyewear is available for under $100. You can schedule an eye exam in person at any of their locations. A prescription is required to purchase glasses and contacts online.
• Warby Parker. Warby Parker offers a wide selection of trendy and fun, signature eyewear at a low price point. You can use their in-house optometrist, or bring your own prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses. You can shop at a brick-and-mortar store, or purchase eyewear through their website. Virtual try-on and a free at-home try-on service is included, if you wish to buy glasses online.

There are plenty of places to buy glasses and contacts online if you decide to go that route. There are also retailers with physical locations, including Warby Parker, Costco, Walmart, Target, and LensCrafters.

You can always work directly with a local eye doctor through their private practice for your eyeglasses and contact lenses. Need an eye doctor? Search for eye doctors near you.

If you prefer shopping for eyeglasses and contacts in person, America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses might be worth a visit. It’s an acceptable choice if you want to try out inexpensive frames before committing to a more expensive pair, or if you want to have an inexpensive vision test.

However, America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses doesn’t have a good reputation in terms of business practices and customer service. There are plenty of retail stores and online options available, so you’re likely to find what you need from a more reputable brand.