What Eyeglasses.com does

Eyeglasses.com is a direct-to-consumer online optical retailer founded in 1999 by Mark Agnew and headquartered in Westport, Connecticut. The company sells prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and reading glasses through its owned e-commerce storefront, supplemented by a physical retail store at 191 Main Street in Westport. Its catalog spans more than 17,000 eyeglass products and 3,890+ sunglasses across authorized designer brands (Ray-Ban, Oakley, Gucci, Tom Ford, Prada, Versace, Persol, Maui Jim, Tiffany, Balenciaga) and proprietary house brands (Dolomiti Eyewear, Ernest Hemingway, Art-Craft, Shuron). Frames range from $95 entry-level to over $1,096 for premium designer brands, with the company claiming up to 50% lower prices than traditional optical shops.

The platform's underlying technology centers on digital lens surfacing, computer-controlled precision prescription manufacturing, and optical alignment using verified Rx data and pupillary distance (PD) measurement. Premium lens technologies are sourced through partnerships with Varilux (progressive lenses), Crizal (anti-reflective and blue-light coatings), Crystal Vision, and Transitions Optical (photochromic). Differentiated service features include a replacement lens program that lets customers mail in existing frames for new prescription lens installation, a virtual try-on tool for fit assessment, and licensed optician-led prescription verification. Go-to-market is DTC e-commerce with no subscription layer; transactions are one-time purchases with free US shipping and free international shipping to 17+ countries.

The business model is a one-time-purchase transaction model serving individual consumers across the US and international markets. Marketing channels include SEO-driven content (Vision Magazine blog), email newsletter, organic social (Facebook), affiliate programs, and earned media through third-party review platforms (Shopper Approved, Trustpilot, Sitejabber) where the company has accumulated over 18,000 five-star reviews and a 93% service approval rating. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investment, no parent company, and no M&A activity; it operates with a reported 1–10 person team, suggesting a lean operation that outsources lens lab work while retaining prescription verification and customer support in-house.

Name

Eyeglasses.com

Legal name

Eyeglasses.com

Website

https://eyeglasses.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Eyeglasses.com is a privately held, founder-led online optical retailer founded in 1999 that sells prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and reading glasses direct-to-consumer across 17+ countries, offering 17,000+ frames from $95 with licensed optician support and a unique replacement lens service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Optical Retail

NAICS

Optical Goods Retailers (45613), Optical Goods Retailers (456130)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Optical Dispensing & Eyewear Retail (Glasses/Frames/Lenses) (HLAKAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Prescription Eyewear Frames (Optical) (CRAAAKAA), Sunglasses (Non-Prescription) (CRAAAKAB), Reading Glasses (OTC) (CRAAAKAG), Luxury & Designer Eyewear (CRAAAKAD)

Keywords

• Prescription eyeglasses
• Designer sunglasses
• Online optical retail
• Prescription lenses
• Replacement lens service

Headquarters

HQ city

Westport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Eyeglass Frame Sales: Direct one-time sales of prescription eyeglass frames and sunglasses. Customers can purchase frames only or with prescription lenses. Revenue generated from the difference between retail price and cost, with premium frames (designer brands) commanding higher margins.
2. Prescription Lens Sales: Custom prescription lenses added to frames during checkout, including single vision, bifocal, progressive, high-index, and specialty coatings (anti-reflective, blue-light, UV protection). Lens options sourced from Varilux, Crystal Vision, Crizal, and Transitions.
3. Prescription Sunglasses: Sale of prescription and non-prescription sunglasses with UV400 protection, polarized options, and custom lens types. Available on thousands of styles.
4. Replacement Lens Service: Customers send existing frames back to have new prescription lenses installed, generating additional revenue from customers who already own frames.
5. HSA/FSA Payment Acceptance: Acceptance of HSA and FSA cards for payment, enabling customers to use pre-tax health dollars for purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Eyeglasses.com is an online direct-to-consumer optical retailer that sells prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, reading glasses, and replacement lenses across over 15 authorized designer brands (Dolomiti Eyewear, Ray-Ban, Oakley, Gucci, Prada, Tom Ford, Versace, etc.). The company customizes lenses with single vision, progressive, bifocal, and specialty options (Varilux, Crizal, Transitions, Crystal Vision) via its in-house U.S. lab, supports customers with virtual try-on, PD measurement guidance, licensed optician verification, and offers a replacement lens service for existing frames.

Product overview

Eyeglasses.com is an online optical retail platform founded in 1999, offering prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and reading glasses combined with custom optical lenses. The core offering centers on authentic designer frames (over 17,000 products across brands like Dolomiti Eyewear, Ray-Ban, Oakley, Gucci, Tom Ford, Versace, and Prada) paired with prescription lenses including single vision, progressive (Varilux), bifocal, and trifocal options. Key lens technologies include Crizal coatings (Prevencia for blue light, Rock for scratch resistance), Transitions photochromic lenses, and Crystal Vision premium lenses. The platform differentiates through lens customization (materials: polycarbonate, high-index, Trivex; coatings: anti-reflective, UV protection, scratch resistance), a replacement lens service for existing frames, virtual try-on capabilities, and PD measurement support. Notable house brands include Dolomiti Eyewear (Italian-made, positioned as luxury quality at moderate prices), Ernest Hemingway Eyewear (retro Americana styling), Art-Craft (American-made since 1918), and Shuron (browline inventor since 1865). The business model emphasizes U.S. lab finishing, 50% lower prices than traditional optical shops, free shipping, and satisfaction guarantees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dolomiti Eyewear: Italian-made eyewear brand crafted exclusively in the Dolomite mountains of Northern Italy, featuring frames developed with carefully selected materials, clean architectural lines, and balanced proportions.
• Art-Craft
• Shuron
• Ernest Hemingway Glasses

Products and services

• Prescription Eyeglasses Custom prescription eyeglasses built by combining chosen designer frames with single vision, bifocal, or progressive prescription lenses, plus optional coatings (anti-reflective, blue light, UV, polarized) and lens materials (polycarbonate, high-index, Trivex). Sold online to men and women with home delivery.
• Sunglasses (Rx and Non-Rx) Designer sunglasses sold with UV400 protection against UVA and UVB rays; available as non-prescription or upgraded with single vision, progressive, or polarized prescription lenses.
• Prescription Lenses Custom optical lenses configured with single vision, progressive, bifocal, or trifocal designs in materials such as polycarbonate, high-index, standard plastic, and Trivex, with coatings including anti-reflective, blue light filtering, scratch resistance, and UV protection.
• Varilux Progressive Lenses Premium progressive lenses sourced from Essilor's Varilux brand, positioned as the company's flagship progressive option for clear vision across distance, intermediate, and near.
• Crizal Lens Coatings Premium anti-reflective and protective lens coatings including Crizal Prevencia (blue light filtering), Crizal Rock (scratch resistance), and Crizal Sun (sunglass coatings) for clarity, glare reduction, and durability.
• Transitions Photochromic Lenses Adaptive photochromic lenses from Transitions Optical that darken in sunlight and clear indoors, providing combined vision correction and sun protection.
• Crystal Vision Lenses Premium lens material and technology option offered alongside Varilux and other top brands for customers seeking high-quality optical lenses.
• Reading Glasses Reading glasses for presbyopia and near-vision needs, sold as single vision, bifocal, progressive, computer, and specialty styles starting from $42 for non-prescription and higher for prescription versions.
• Replacement Lens Service Mail-in service allowing customers to update prescription lenses in their existing frames without purchasing new frames; a shipping label is provided and lens installation is performed in-house under the Perfect Lenses Guarantee.
• Vision Insurance and FSA/HSA Payment Processing Service that helps customers apply vision insurance benefits and accept Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards for eyewear purchases.
• Dolomiti Eyewear Frames Italian-made luxury eyewear frames crafted exclusively in the Dolomite region of Northern Italy, featuring architectural design and Venetian-influenced aesthetics; flagship house brand available at approximately half the price of comparable luxury designer frames.
• Ernest Hemingway Eyewear Frames Retro-inspired designer eyewear collection honoring Ernest Hemingway, featuring classic American styling with metal plaques, rivet designs, and signature faux distressed leather hard cases.
• Art-Craft Eyewear Frames American-made eyewear frames from Art-Craft Optical, established in 1918 and headquartered in upstate New York, featuring iconic models such as the Rimway and 100A.
• Shuron Eyewear Frames American-made eyewear frames from Shuron, established in 1865, famous for inventing browline glasses in 1947 with iconic styles such as Ronsir, Ronwinne, Freeway, and Nulady.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 50% cost savings compared to traditional optical shops
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Essilor (Varilux)coreTechnology or IntegrationEyeglasses.com offers Varilux progressive lenses — the world's best-selling progressive lens brand — as a premium lens option. Varilux lenses provide unparalleled clarity across distance, intermediate, and near vision, trusted worldwide for quality and innovation in vision care.
• Essilor (Crizal)coreTechnology or IntegrationCrizal coatings (Crizal Prevencia, Crizal Rock, Crizal Sun) are offered as premium lens coating options. Crizal Prevencia blocks blue light while providing anti-reflective coating, super-hard coating, and a two-year anti-scratch warranty.
• Crystal VisioncoreTechnology or IntegrationCrystal Vision lenses are offered as a lens material/technology option, positioned as a large selection of top-quality lenses alongside Varilux, Crizal, and Transitions.
• Transitions OpticalcoreTechnology or IntegrationTransitions photochromic lenses (adaptive lenses that darken in sunlight) are offered as a specialty lens option for customers seeking adaptive light protection.
• Dolomiti EyewearflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDolomiti Eyewear is the best-selling brand on Eyeglasses.com, crafted exclusively in the Dolomite region of Northern Italy. Eyeglasses.com is an authorized retailer. All Dolomiti frames are 100% Italian made, available at half the price of comparable designer brands.
• Multiple Designer Brands (Authorized Retailer)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEyeglasses.com is an authorized retailer of designer eyewear brands including Guess, Calvin Klein, Vera Bradley, Versace, Oakley, Ray-Ban, Gucci, Tom Ford, Silhouette, Nike, Balenciaga, Kate Spade, Flexon, Tiffany, Prada, Persol, Maui Jim, Ernest Hemingway, Art-Craft, and Shuron. All products are 100% authentic and backed by manufacturer warranties.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Warby Parker: Warby Parker is a leading direct-to-consumer prescription eyewear brand selling frames and lenses online with optional home try-on, plus a large retail store footprint. It is the most direct comparable to Eyeglasses.com on product, customer (millennial/consumer), and DTC business model.
• Zenni Optical: Zenni is the largest pure-online prescription eyewear retailer, competing head-to-head with Eyeglasses.com on affordable frames, online lens customization, and direct shipping. Closest peer on e-commerce-only model and aggressive pricing.
• GlassesUSA.com: GlassesUSA is an online prescription eyewear and contacts retailer serving US and international markets with a comparable frame-plus-lens value proposition, virtual try-on, and broad designer brand assortment.
• EyeBuyDirect: EyeBuyDirect is a value-oriented online eyewear retailer selling prescription glasses, sunglasses, and blue-light glasses globally. Directly comparable to Eyeglasses.com on e-commerce channel, frame+lens bundling, and value positioning.
• FramesDirect: FramesDirect is an online prescription eyewear retailer specializing in designer and luxury frames (similar authorized-retailer approach to Eyeglasses.com), with virtual try-on and ophthalmic lens customization.
• Clearly (formerly Coastal Contacts / Clearly Contacts): Clearly is an online retailer of prescription glasses and contact lenses serving North America, Europe, and APAC. Comparable on online prescription eyewear and international shipping footprint.

Broad incumbents

• LensCrafters: LensCrafters is the largest US retail optical chain, owned by EssilorLuxottica. It is the dominant brick-and-mortar incumbent Eyeglasses.com is positioned against on price; it directly competes for the same prescription eyewear consumer but through physical retail rather than e-commerce.
• Costco Optical: Costco Optical is a high-volume optical retailer operating inside Costco warehouses, offering prescription eyewear at value pricing and competing for the same price-sensitive consumer Eyeglasses.com targets. Comparable on product category and price band, different distribution model.

Emerging players

• Liingo Eyewear: Liingo Eyewear is a smaller direct-to-consumer prescription eyewear brand with an online try-on experience and home try-on kit - comparable emerging participant in DTC optical retail.

Others

• EssilorLuxottica: EssilorLuxottica is the vertically integrated eyewear conglomerate that owns Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, Prada (license), plus LensCrafters and EyeMed; it is a key supplier (Varilux, Crizal lenses, designer frames) to Eyeglasses.com and shapes the wholesale terms under which DTC eyeglass retailers compete.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mark.agnew.3975
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/mark-agnew-1572aa17
• Xx.com/eyeglasspro

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eyeglasses.com