Have you ever wondered why glasses cost so much? When you buy glasses from a traditional brick-and-mortar retailer, you're not just paying for the frame and lenses; you're also paying big money to cover the retailer's hefty outsourcing costs, which usually include manufacturing, licensing fees, warehousing, and more.

However, please keep in mind that while you do not need a Costco membership to see an independent doctor of optometry located in or near most Costco warehouses, only members can purchase optical items including glasses and contacts from Costco (just another reason to join!).

Eyeglass Lens Replacement Walmart | We use Essilor prescription lenses, the best brand for the sharpest vision.

After a visit by John F. Kennedy in 1958 to its original manufacturing site in Southbridge, Massachusetts, AO became a go-to brand of the president. in March 2020, STATE Optical Company, a division of Europa Eyewear, acquired the company and moved equipment and production to its facility outside Chicago.