Eyemart Express: Affordable Same-Day Glasses and Eye Exams

Eyemart Express is a doctor-founded national optical retailer headquartered in Farmers Branch, Texas, ranking among the top 10 optical retailers in the United States. Founded in 1990 by Dr. Doug Barnes, the company operates over 270 stores across 42 states and is the only US optical retailer with an in-house lens lab at every location, enabling same-day prescription eyewear delivery in as little as 30 minutes. In January 2025, VSP Vision completed its acquisition of Eyemart Express, further expanding access to affordable eye care across rural and underserved communities nationwide.

Overview and Company Background

Eyemart Express was founded in 1990 by optometrist Dr. Doug Barnes with the mission of making prescription eyewear accessible, affordable, and fast, pioneering same-day glasses service before it became a retail standard.

The company is based at 13800 Senlac Drive, Suite 200, in Farmers Branch, Texas, and operates as a VSP Vision company following its January 2025 acquisition. VSP Vision is a not-for-profit vision benefits company serving more than 85 million members nationwide. Eyemart Express CEO Mike Nuzzo now reports to VSP Vision Chief Network Officer Jeff Koziel as the two organizations assess future integration opportunities while Eyemart Express continues to operate under its existing model.

Over its 35-year history, Eyemart Express has grown from a single-store concept into a 272-location national chain. According to the American Optometric Association, access to affordable eyewear remains a significant public health challenge, and retailer-based optical models like Eyemart Express play a meaningful role in closing that gap for price-sensitive patients across the country.

Same-Day Glasses and In-Store Lens Labs

Eyemart Express is the only optical retailer in the United States that has a lens lab in every store, allowing skilled lab specialists to produce prescription glasses in as little as 30 minutes and delivering over 80% of orders within one hour.

The Local Lab Advantage is the defining feature that separates Eyemart Express from competitors. Lab specialists use advanced precision lens-cutting and finishing equipment on-site to craft glasses to meet each customer’s prescription specifications. Complicated prescriptions that cannot be completed in-store are handled through the company’s central American labs and shipped the next day, a service the company calls “Made Today, Shipped Tomorrow.”

For online orders, glasses are typically delivered within three days with free shipping to any US address. In-store orders that require special lens treatments or non-standard prescriptions may take 7 to 14 business days. Expedited services are available in-store for an additional fee when same-day turnaround is needed on more complex prescriptions.

Frame Selection and Products

Eyemart Express carries more than 2,000 frame styles across men’s, women’s, and children’s eyewear, with prices starting at $19.95 and ranging up to $400, including designer brands and specialty eyewear options.

Designer frames available at Eyemart Express include Ray-Ban, Coach, Nike, and Disney, alongside the company’s own value-focused private labels such as Canny Vision, Horizon, Success, Legit Vision, Boulevard Boutique, and Enhance. The Express Value collection provides entry-level frames suitable for nearly any age or style preference at accessible price points. A Virtual Try-On tool on the Eyemart Express website allows customers to preview frames on their own face before purchasing.

Lens options available at Eyemart Express include single-vision lenses, progressive lenses, bifocals, UltraxHD high-definition lenses, blue-light blocking lenses, photochromic lenses, polarized lenses, anti-reflective coatings, and UV-protective lenses. Safety eyewear for workplace use is also stocked at most locations. Two-pair specials on single-vision and progressive lenses are offered as everyday promotions.

Eye Exams and Optometrist Access

Eye exams are available at or next door to every Eyemart Express location, provided by independent doctors of optometry in most states, with walk-in appointments accepted and same-day availability at most stores.

In some states, optometrists are employed directly by Eyemart Express LLC. In the majority of locations, the eye doctor operates as an independent practitioner whose office is adjacent to the retail optical store, keeping the exam and eyewear purchase as separate transactions. Routine eye exam pricing starts at approximately $39 at most locations, though exact fees vary by doctor and market. Contact lens exams and fittings are also available, with pricing starting at a similar level and varying by complexity.

Comprehensive eye exams at Eyemart Express-affiliated practices cover visual acuity testing, refractive error assessment, eye health evaluation, and prescription writing. Patients who already have a valid prescription may bring it in-store without booking an exam and proceed directly to frame and lens selection.

Patients comparing optical retail options may also review Clarkson Eyecare, a multi-location optometry practice with comprehensive eye care services, or America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses, another top-10 US optical retailer with 1,000-plus locations offering exam and eyewear bundles.

Insurance, Discounts, and Pricing

Eyemart Express accepts most major vision insurance plans in-store and offers competitive out-of-pocket pricing for uninsured patients, along with dedicated discounts for military personnel, first responders, and school faculty.

Insurance benefits cannot be applied to online orders; in-store visits are required to use vision coverage. Customers using insurance should contact their nearest Eyemart Express location to confirm which specific plans are accepted, as coverage acceptance may vary by optometrist. For online purchases, some insurers may reimburse customers upon submission of a purchase receipt, and customers are encouraged to verify this option directly with their vision plan.

Special discount programs are available in-store with a valid ID for active duty and veteran military personnel and their families, school faculty and staff, and first responders. The ExpressCare+ plan provides an additional layer of protection beyond the standard one-year manufacturer’s warranty, covering frame and lens replacements for damage occurring during normal use. Returns are accepted within 30 days of purchase under the company’s satisfaction guarantee.

Sister Brands and Family of Companies

Eyemart Express operates a family of optical retail brands alongside its flagship stores, including Vision 4 Less, Visionmart Express, and Eyewear Express, all offering the same same-day lens lab model at varying price tiers.

Vision 4 Less targets price-conscious shoppers seeking maximum affordability while retaining the in-store lab speed model. Visionmart Express and Eyewear Express extend the Eyemart brand into different regional markets and retail formats. All brands under the Eyemart Express Holdings umbrella share the Local Lab Advantage infrastructure and are now part of the broader VSP Vision network, which includes VSP Vision Care, Marchon Eyewear, Visionworks, Eyefinity, Eyeconic, and VSP Optics.

Community outreach is a consistent priority across the Eyemart Express family. In 2025, the company donated nearly $100,000 worth of eyewear to support children in Arizona and partnered with the University of Houston College of Optometry with a $43,000 eyewear donation to support optometry students and underserved patients in Texas. Store teams across the country participate in local health fairs, school events, and nursing home visits as part of ongoing community engagement efforts.