3 Little-Known Perks of Costco Optical

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As a bespectacled American, I have spent many, many hours of my life in optical centers and ordering glasses and contacts. There's not really anything fun about it. But as it turns out, Costco has its own optical center, which I literally did not realize until I started researching this article.

The good news is that these optical centers have a lot of perks that many Costco members have no idea about. Let's take a closer look!

1. Universal Fit frames

One of the hardest things about choosing glasses is finding a frame that actually fits. Personally, I have an incredibly narrow bridge, which generally puts me dangerously close to having to pick children's frames. The problem with that, of course, is that I have a fat adult head and generally, those frames don't fit my head's width.

The solution usually ends up being having to choose one area or the other to not fit quite right, or to endlessly dig through frames until I find the three oddly proportioned options available to me.

So when I saw that Costco Optical offers Universal Fit frames, I was intrigued. These are frames that have a wider front to set the temples further apart, curved temples to accommodate more head sizes, and a narrow(!!) bridge that works for people like me, while still being adjustable for people with more common proportions. All in all, a big win for everyone who has ever struggled to find glasses that fit them properly.

2. Virtual try-on

Not gonna lie, I hate going places and doing things, especially when those things involve trying on glasses until my face is raw. I spent a solid three decades of my life doing that before I discovered online glasses companies that offered virtual try-ons. At first, they were pretty primitive, but the technology has gotten better in the last few years.

Costco Optical uses the most advanced technology I've yet come across to help ensure the virtual try-on is truly a good fit. With face scanning technology and a view from all the angles of each frame, it's easy to see how they're going to look in person, which is fantastic. I will happily sit in front of my computer with snacks choosing frames -- it's finally as fun as I was always told it should be!

3. One set price for Kirkland frames

Glasses wearers everywhere can tell you just how disappointing -- even crushing -- it is to find a frame that works for you in all the best ways, one you might even love wearing, only to discover that it's priced as if it were actually made of gold. When you've got a Costco hot dog budget and Costco caviar taste, the world is a tricky place to be.

Fortunately, all of Costco's Kirkland Signature frames available online are priced at $59.99, no matter which pair you choose. And there are tons to choose between -- 151, to be exact, as of July 30, 2024. You may find pricing to be a bit different in-store or your specific location, so be sure to ask before you fall in love with the last pair of frames you'll ever want to wear.

Costco Optical is itself a little-known Costco perk

I've been a Costco member for many years and had no idea that Costco even had an optical center. Clearly, that's not what's been on my mind when I was in the store, and it must not be close enough to the cakes for me to have taken any notice before.

The store can be overwhelming. It has so many different items and so many different sections, shelves, and samples, it's easy to miss things. That's why I'm declaring Costco Optical a little-known perk of Costco in and of itself, as well. Long live Costco, and long live your vision options!

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