In my ever-driven desire to find win-win situations, I’ve found a sweet one. There are lots of sites that coordinate with organizations to provide goods to those in need. Some attempt to tax the world a little less by offering “green” alternatives. Today, I’m highlighting one of my new favorite finds.

A recent discovery is the website, warbyparker.com, whose homepage says, “For every pair of glasses we sell we give a pair away to someone in need.” Working with the charitable group, RestoringVision.org, they have distributed glasses to 24 countries around the world. Pretty good idea, I think. For someone like me with “vision issues” (hereditary near-sightedness), having corrective lenses has to some extent, saved my life. Without glasses or contacts, I couldn’t legally drive. So I know the importance of glasses. But in addition to providing this humanitarian offering, Warby Parker offers 2 other compelling and unique things.

The first twist that WP offers is glasses at an unbelievably low cost. The last time I went to the optometrist, I was shocked at the prices. There’s one price for lenses and a separate cost for the frames. The total can easily be hundreds of dollars. To keep costs low at WP, they limit the frame offerings. There are just 27 styles, but they are trendy, fashionable frames that make you look like you’re wearing the latest, current frames of 2010/2011 rather than 1943. The glasses, lenses and frames sell for $95. Amazing!

But here’s the fun part: Warby Parker lets you try on the glasses before you buy them. What?! How?! Good questions. It’s pretty simple really. They have a page that walks you through how to upload a photo. Then you just browse through the collection and do a “virtual try on.” Click on your glasses of choice. The glasses that you’ve chosen will appear on the photo that you’ve uploaded. Voila! You get to see yourself as you will appear once your new glasses arrive.

Don’t like a particular style? Select another. The first pair disappears from your face and the second pair appears instead. If you don’t waste 20 minutes or so just laughing at yourself, you’re not trying. And finally, Warby Parker offers something really unique: a monocle.

Normally, I wear one contact lens for distance. My second eye takes care of the close up tasks. A monocle would be perfect for me. When I’m not wearing my contact, I could throw on my monocle. How fun is that? It’s called the Colonel and costs $50.

Posted on November 27, 2010

Related Story