My Seoul Souvenir: More Than Just a Pair of Glasses
Do you need glasses? Discover why so many travelers get their glasses in Korea. The country is a hub for high-quality, affordable eyewear, with optical shops on nearly every corner.
Depending on what country you come from, South Korea could be a great place to get new glasses. For example, I’m from the United States where I always struggled to afford my glasses because my eyes are terrible. The shops always said I needed special lenses that cost over $250 and took three weeks to make. After testing, lenses, and frames I was usually out between $500 to $600 and my glasses took about three weeks to make. I never understood it and bought glasses every 3-5 years.
Forget spending a fortune on glasses. In South Korea, I got a full eye exam, new frames, and lenses for a fraction of the price, all in an hour flat. I didn't hesitate to get a new pair, and I absolutely love them.
Best purchase ever!
That's how I'd describe my experience getting glasses in South Korea.
Acquiring Your Prescription
For your convenience, the shop can get the information they need in two simple ways. They can either scan your current glasses in a machine to read the lenses, or give you an eye exam right there on the spot.
Choosing Frames
You'll find a massive variety of frames at every price point imaginable. From different materials and manufacturers to designer brands, the choices are endless. I finally settled on a pair of horn-rimmed glasses, authentically 'Made in Korea.'
[Hanni 649 by VionGlasses]
Choosing Lenses
Getting glasses in South Korea is a breeze, and you'll find a wide range of lens options. For a simple single-vision prescription, you can easily upgrade to super-thin, hi-index lenses. Best of all, they've ditched those cheap plastic lenses entirely, so you're guaranteed quality.
If you have bifocals, the bifocal lenses cost around $130. Transition lenses will add an additional 100 to your cost as well. A full set of transition lenses + progressive lenses + frames might cost you around $400+ in Korea as opposed to $750+ in US. This is assuming you don’t have insurance in the US and aren’t buying your glasses from Wish.
Turn-Around-Time
Usually, your new glasses will be ready in about an hour. However, it can really depend on the shop—smaller places might need a day, and more complex prescriptions, like bifocals, could take a few days. It's always a good idea to confirm the turnaround time before you commit to anything.
Preparing to Shop Before You Go
Please, don’t try to figure out what you want once you arrive in the shop. At that point, you'll already have enough on your plate with any language barriers or new information. Instead, arrive prepared with samples and maybe even links they can easily reference.
Prices change based on a shop's overhead, including rent, staffing costs (like requiring all staff to speak English), and the brands they carry. While adding premium features to your glasses will increase the cost, they'll still likely be more affordable than similarly customized glasses in other countries.
Now you know the Korean way to get glasses—just with one difference. Since you can't be in Korea for an eye exam, you'll upload your prescription to Vion. From there, everything from crafting your lenses to shipping happens in a flash.
This is Korean way; lightning-fast, accurate, and perfectly secure.
Try your new pair of glasses at VionGlasses.