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The Best Eyeglass Brands for Men: Every Budget, Strength and Style

They’re an accessory, sure, but glasses, for those that wear them, are a foundational part of the wardrobe.

a man wearing glasses Garrett Leight

By Evan Malachosky

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According to the non-profit organization The Vision Council, 75 percent of American adults rely on vision correction — either glasses or contacts — each day. Of these more than 194 million adults, 85 percent choose glasses and 15 percent wear contacts, either exclusively or in tandem with their frames. But expect to see even more of both in years to come, researchers believe. Myopia (aka nearsightedness) impacted 1.4 billion people globally in 2016, The Vision Council reported. That number will likely reach over 5 billion by 2050, but we could get there even sooner, more recent studies suggest. Our hours of daily screen time multiplied exponentially during the pandemic, and overworked, blue-light-battered eyes deteriorate.

But don’t freak out. While all the aforementioned data serves as a warning, it’s also reassurance — you’re not alone.

Products in the Guide

How to Buy Glasses Online

For those familiar with how things work, meaning those that wear glasses or contacts already, it’s no stretch to say the way we buy glasses has changed. There are direct-to-consumer brands aplenty, companies galore that can swap out old lenses for you, and stores for every style that sell glasses at lower prices than ever. It’s sort of the Wild, Wild West out there; that’s why it can be so hard to pick the perfect frame for you. There are just so many options. But there’s an order of operations to all of it.

Consider Your Insurance Plan

Check if your vision insurance plan (if you have one). Most plans account for annual exams, lenses, frames and contacts, meaning you’ll likely be given up to a certain amount to spend on each. That amount might cover a full-price pair of frames; it might not. If you’re seeking out a pricier pair, it’ll probably only be a partial payment toward the full amount.

Get an Eye Exam

Before you shop for glasses, get an eye exam. There are national organizations — like The AOA Foundation and EyeCare America — that connect individuals to offices that do routine eye exams. And they’re completely covered, even if you’re uninsured.

It’s best to know your prescription and if you’ll need any add-ons ahead of time. These appointments will also give you pertinent info like your PD (pupillary distance) and your ideal frame width. Plus, it’s an opportunity to discuss whether you need bi- or trifocals, anti-fog or anti-reflective coatings, transition lenses or perhaps lenses tinted a certain color to help with headaches or block blue light.

Try Them On (in an Office or at Home)

A lot of eyeglass brands offer at-home (or in-person) try-on for free. In the case of Warby Parker, you can order up to five pairs to test out at home. Sure, they won’t have your prescription in them, but you can wear the clear lenses with contacts for a real-life test run. On the other hand, you can just model in front of the mirror — and close enough to see yourself if you really can’t without vision correction.

Invest in Quality Frames

If you already have your new prescription on hand, consider what kind of frame you want — classic and repeatable or refined and rare. From there, you can use these north stars in your search for a brand to buy from. If you buy nicer frames, you’ll own them longer. Cheap frames might save you a little money, but if they break, you’ll be forced to replace them and the lenses they came with. With nicer frames, you can just replace the lenses, which you should do every time your prescription changes. Services like Lensabl, for example, can do this for you.

You can always buy more, but it’s easiest to find a frame you can cling to forever and build your entire wardrobe around. It’ll be a style you can always return to — a signature if you will.

Worry About Your Warranty

Glasses are the rare purchase that gets used every second of every day. Sure, part-time wearers can get away with waiting to fix a broken pair, but those without contacts, glasses are a necessity. As such, you can’t really risk it with these. You should care about your warranty in order to know exactly what to do if yours break and how to get a new pair as fast as possible. Seek out 10-year or lifetime warranties. If you ultimately buy yours from your optician through your insurance, you’re probably protected by your plan, too.

The Best Glasses Brands for Every Budget

Warby Parker’s best-selling Elias frame is medium-width and fairly muted, making it an okay choice for most face shapes.

Persol has certainly grown, but its founding principles remain — and the PO3189V is a shining example.

A go-to for actor Jeff Goldblum, this all-black Jacques Marie Mage frame was made in Japan from fine acetate.

This muted gray iteration of Akila’s popular Luna frame features silver rivets on the front.

A classic Wayfarer shape, the WALL-E frame is semi-circular, adorned with decorative rivets and made from 100 percent acetate.

The Brower is a round titanium frame with ornate carved accents and acetate additions.

With ’50s flair, the Ray-Ban Clubmaster is an iconic style that hasn’t changed much since its debut.

Garrett Leight’s glasses are simple yet refined — like the Regent, which comes in several stylish colors.

Mr. Leight makes glasses that are a step up from the standard Garrett Leight designs. The Crosby C is made in Japan from cured cellulose acetate and titanium components.

Although Ace and Tate makes many acetate designs, the Neil, which is made from metal, proves lighter, thinner and available in more sizes.

The Cade is a rectangular frame with durable hinges, tacky arms and built-in nosepads.

Want luxe? Well, look no further. Native Sons’ rounded Carver Glasses come straight from Japan.

Some acetate frames are expensive. Raen’s are not, but that doesn’t mean they’re not nice. The Cy has triangle pattern rivets, exposed hardware in the arms and integrated nose pads.

Matsuda frames are fine art. The M2047 mixes titanium components with crystal acetate.

Although Retrosuperfuture has a penchant for pops of color, the brand also specializes in interesting shapes. Case in point? The retro-tinged Numero 83.

Moscot’s family-run business has been at it for over 100 years. As such, you should trust its classics — like the all-acetate Lemtosh.

Olivers Peoples’s Hollins frame is a little Clark Kent-ian, meaning they look like a little Superman, a little Office Space.

With a high profile and elevated internal components, Cutler and Gross’s 1305 glasses stand out — for good reason.

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