My Experience Buying & Using Clearly Glasses: A Candid Review
As someone who has worn prescription eyeglasses and contacts for over 20 years, I‘ve tried just about every major brand and retailer. My vision insurance would cover a basic pair of glasses every two years. But I almost always paid extra out of pocket to upgrade frame styles and lens options better suited to my lifestyle.
You see, as an accountant constantly looking at screens, I need durable frames with specially coated lenses to reduce eye fatigue. I also simply appreciate having options to change up my look.
In the past, I used to visit the local Lenscrafters and Pearle Vision chains near my office in Toronto. But the designer frames I preferred would run $300+, even with insurance subsidies.
So a colleague at work recommended I check out Clearly.ca after he had a good experience ordering glasses online. The convenience and prices seemed promising.
In this detailed review covering my journey as a Clearly customer, I‘ll evaluate whether the quality, service and value delivered ultimately lived up to expectations.
Let‘s jump in!
Overview of My Vision Needs
As I mentioned upfront, my eyesight suffers from near-sightedness and astigmatism making screens, driving and tasks requiring close-up focus challenging without correction. These are my current lens parameters:
| Right Eye | Left Eye |
|---|---|
| Sphere -2.50 | Sphere -2.25 |
| Cylinder -1.25 | Cylinder -1.25 |
| Axis 180 | Axis 180 |
In the past, I‘d always stuck with plastic frames because of durability during frequent use 12+ hours daily at my desk. I preferred classic rectangular lens shapes. For coatings, anti-reflective was mandatory plus blue light filtering became a more recent addition.
When discovering Clearly, the promise of designer quality frames and fully-loaded premium lenses attracted me. The convenience of home delivery felt like an added perk.
Now it was time to put the experience to the test!
Trying On Clearly Glasses Virtually
Ordering glasses online inherently poses some sizing risks. So I appreciated that Clearly incorporated a virtual try-on feature allowing previewing frames using my device‘s webcam.
After entering my current frame dimensions, the tool served up a recommended starting place identifying similar sizes from Clearly‘s catalog. This felt familiar as my last pair measured 49-20-140.
From there I filtered selections to metal square frames within my $150 budget. It rendered 20 options fitting my criteria. Scrolling through, I tapped 5 appealing choices to virtually test.
Holding my phone at arm‘s length, I enabled the webcam and aligned my nose bridge centering my eyes into view. The 3D glasses model digitally overlaid my face with surprising accuracy!
Turning my head side to side, the frames stayed locked in looking like a mirror reflection. Zooming in let me inspect hinges and curve angles that would sit atop ears.
The Albertain model felt most natural based on webcam overlays. And blue light filtering lenses seemed like an easy $30 upgrade choice.
After completing the order, I looked forward to glasses arriving to compare virtual try-on to reality.
Customized Premium Lenses
With plastic frames costing only $95 on sale, Clearly eyewear definitely saves money versus local retailers without insurance discounts.
But Clearly‘s competitive advantage became most apparent when configuring lenses.
My last glasses purchased locally had anti-reflective coating (AR) for $60 and 20% blue light filtering for another $30. Lens essentials added $120 to already pricey designer frames.
Comparable Clearly lenses start with AR, scratch protection and full blue light reduction already included! Optional upgrades covered premium tints and treatments otherwise unavailable.
For just $30 extra, I added polarization to reduce screen glare. Now I could gaze for hours without eye strain headaches that sometimes plagued long workdays.
All said, Clearly‘s value prop delivered better features for 13% less total cost than my last setup. Not bad!
Unboxing First Impressions
A week after ordering, my Clearly package arrived. Inside the box, glasses came packaged in a snug custom case.
Removing the protective film revealed fashionable gunmetal frames with electric blue polarized lenses that really made them pop!
Trying them on, fit aligned almost exactly to the virtual preview. Albeit the metallic bridge felt more angular than expected causing slight discomfort on my nose. But overall aesthetic appeal looked sharp!
Lens height and width also accurately captured my prior dimensions with room to spare keeping edges in peripheral view. That tricky measurement Clearly‘s algorithm got perfectly right when I entered my old specs.
Vision quality and zooming in on text and apps to check alignment and focus delivered crystal clarity thanks to precise prescribed measurements programmed into fabrication.
So first impressions overwhelmingly positive. Comfort needed minor adjustment to bend metal bridge into better contour against nose. But initial clearly eyewear experience promising!
Daily Wear Review
Over the first weeks wearing my new Clearly glasses daily, I evaluated comfort, lens performance and durability compared to previous eyewear.
Comfort
Adjusting the bridge resolved most early nose discomfort when wearing for long stretches. Occasional slipping still occurs requiring quick pressing back into place.
But ear grip and weight feel comparable to more expensive frames purchased locally. No fatigue or pressing behind ears even when worn 8+ hours straight.
Vision Quality
The optometrist confirmed lens prescription matched my latest exam with real world vision clarity better than previous glasses. Colors and brightness feel more vibrant.
And my added blue light filtering and polarization make screens easier on eyes without distorting images. Definite improvement!
Durability
With daily use commuting and in the office, the frames held up well to drops and being tossed in my bag. A few superficial scratches added character without damage.
Their metallic properties make them naturally prone to showing wear. But so far no bent arms or other malfunctions I‘ve experienced breaking cheaper frames over years of heavy use.
Pleasantly surprised how these budget glasses withstand daily punishment!
Reactions
Multiple colleagues and friends commented on liking my new glasses style. The blue polarized lenses elicited most remarks as a distinct modern look.
Being metal frames instead of my usual black plastic also projects noticeably different aesthetic. So the Clearly specs draw positive reactions suggesting they nail mainstream styles.
Ongoing Use Review
Now having worn my Clearly glasses for close to 6 months, I want to evaluate longer term use.
Recently I started having trouble reading screens and menus at restaurants after a certain age we all experience near vision decline. So I decided to try Clearly‘s progressive no-line multifocal lenses adding strength for computer and phone work.
Ordering was a breeze by entering my latest prescription along with smartphone and laptop typical viewing distances.
When the upgraded lenses arrived, switch out took minutes following provided toolless video instructions. Magnetized arms detached easily before clipping new lenses into wire frames. Total operation under 5 minutes without any eyeglass repair shop needed!
Over two months of wearing progressive no-lines for near vision coupled with my single vision distance portion, I achieved seamless clarity regardless of focal length. No more stretching out arms or tilting heads to read screens and menus!
And upgrading renowned Shamir digital freeform lenses only increased cost by $120 over basic single vision. Savings versus local shops with equivalent upgrades would run into the hundreds.
Since pleased with comfort and performance, I also ordered a second Clearly frame style for styling versatility. Swapping lenses between metal and plastic frames creates two distinct looks depending on my outfit.
All said, the value proposition Clearly delivers members double to triple savings based on quality and features alone. Factoring in convenience and selection makes the decision practically a no-brainer!
Cost Breakdown
Here‘s how my total life cycle costs compare over 2 years between Clearly versus local retailers.
| Expense | Clearly | Local Retail | Savigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frames | $95 | $320 | $225 |
| Lenses | $240 ($30 coatings + $120 progressives + $90 extra set) | $300 | $60 |
| 2 Year Total Cost | $335 | $620 | $285 |
As the math illustrates, choosing Clearly eyewear over locally purchasing from LensCrafters or similar premium providers offered 45% savings amounting to almost $300 extra leftover in my pocket!
Final Verdict
Considering the outcomes of testing Clearly eyeglasses both initially and long term compared to my alternatives, I rate the overall customer experience 5 out of 5 stars.
The combination of designer quality frames, customized lens options and leading edge tech like virtual try-on earns top marks for product quality and innovation.
Competitive pricing measured 45% below retailers with equivalent solutions demonstrates Clearly‘s value leadership.
Enjoyable shopping experience from user-friendly web interface to quick delivery and easy exchanges cement Clearly‘s position as a top eyewear e-commerce disruptor.
For me personally, purchasing from Clearly instead of national optical chains over the past two years has saved nearly $300 even after paying for separate optometrist exams. Just the cost savings alone makes me a customer for life!
While lack of a physical store limits ability to try frames on exactly before buying, the generous return policy provides more than adequate safety net to experiment with sizes and styles. So the rare miss here or there barely detracts from long run cost and frustration savings.
In summary, I rate Clearly eyewear 5/5 stars and recommend friends, family and colleagues dealing with vision needs give them a try to potentially save huge money and love their glasses! I certainly speak from personal experience having been won over as a delighted customer.
