Looking for a glass bakeware set that is durable, easy to clean, and safe shouldn't be rocket science, but not all glassware is created equally. Certain glass bakeware can crack or even shatter at moderate to high temperatures, causing burns, cuts, or other serious injuries. Knowing what type of glass will hold up best to high heat from your oven is essential to picking out the brand that's right for baking the best casseroles, quick breads, and coffee cakes.
What are the different types of glass for bakeware?
There are three basic types of glassware: soda-lime, tempered, and borosilicate.
What is the safest glass for baking?
Because borosilicate is the most durable when it comes to withstanding temperature changes, it is generally considered the safest choice for glass bakeware. When it comes to purchasing new or used glass bakeware, it’s important to pay close attention to labels, since some brands, like Pyrex and Anchor Hocking once used borosilicate but now use tempered glass.
What should I look for when I shop for glass bakeware?
If you're determined to have the strongest stuff out there, consider purchasing from a brand still making glassware out of borosilicate, such as OXO. These bakeware dishes and glass meal prep containers come with or without lids in a variety of sizes for all kinds of food storage needs. They also make recognizable and resilient non-glass measuring cups.
If you’re considering buying Pyrex bakeware, look for the label in all-uppercase letters (PYREX), which generally indicates it is made with borosilicate glass.
Is borosilicate glass bakeware more expensive?
A bakeware set, as well as individual baking dishes, made with borosilicate are typically going to be pricier than cookware made with other glass, so look for sales or coupons to help lower the price. But keep in mind that borosilicate bakeware should be higher in quality as well. It doesn't hurt to search local antique shops for a lucky vintage Pyrex find or two, but don’t hesitate to treat yourself to a new set if top-notch quality is your thing.
What are some basic safety rules when cooking with glass bakeware?
Always make sure to read about proper handling, heating, cleaning, and storage of glass products to avert dinner disaster. Avoid putting hot dishes directly onto wet countertops or countertops without trivets. Another tip for preventing glassware from cracking is to avoid transferring glass dishes directly from the fridge to the oven and vice versa. Give your dishes time to reach room temperature. Remember: rapid changes in temperature will make the glass expand or contract, potentially resulting in breakage or damage to the dish. And when your dish has come out hot from the oven, been savored around the table, and the leftovers cooled and stored in the fridge for a lucky recipient, here’s how to make your prized glass bakeware shiny and clean as new.
Thanks to the internet, the best prescription glasses online are right at your fingertips. It’s easy to browse, customize and try on frames without taking a trip to the eyeglass store or optometrist’s office. You’ll need a current prescription, of course, but sites like GlassesUSA (our top pick overall) let you renew expired prescriptions with a virtual vision test. Buying prescription glasses online can save you cash, too, and many retailers—including Warby Parker—also accept HSA and FSA funds, meaning no out-of-pocket costs for you.
Our team tested (and re-tested) many pairs to find the best prescription glasses online.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: RetailersTo determine the best online prescription glasses, we enlisted three Forbes Vetted staffers to test out several retailers and share their in-depth feedback: Former branded content editor Dana Holmes, who wears progressive lenses; managing editor Emmy Favilla, a nearsighted, daily glasses-wearer; and associate insights architect Shan Newton, who requires a strong prescription. We also got advice from Dr. Sandra Young, O.D., an optometrist and eye health expert, and Dr. Inna Lazar, an optometrist and dry eye specialist, and style tips on the best frames for your face shape according to deputy fashion editor Kari Molvar.
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GlassesUSA
Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 14 days, no questions asked | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA/FSA | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: Yes
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GlassesUSA is one of the largest and best online prescription glasses retailers, offering hundreds of designer frames from Ray-Ban, Gucci and Oakley, along with less expensive house brands in every frame style and color you can imagine. “I felt a bit overwhelmed by the number of options, but it was easy to evaluate the frames,” says branded content editor Dana Holmes of shopping on the GlassesUSA website. Prices run the gamut from $39 up to $700, depending on which brand you choose. With its virtual try-on feature, you can upload a photo directly to the website and see what each frame looks like on your face before you commit. GlassesUSA also has an app that scans your prescription through your current lenses, and those with expired prescriptions can get a renewal via the company’s virtual vision test.
All lenses are made to order in-house and then put through a series of inspections to check for quality, clarity and proper alignment. You also have the option for upgrades like progressive lenses, anti-reflective coatings and transition lenses for up to $169 more. “The ordering process was simple and I felt confident making my complicated prescription order,” adds Holmes. Similarly, associate insights architect Shan Newton describes the selection and checkout flow as “sleek and intuitive,” and all three of our testers are pleased with the speedy delivery time. “My glasses arrived 9 days after my order, which was pretty impressive given that the window included Thanksgiving weekend,” says managing editor Emmy Favilla. If you’re unhappy with your new glasses for any reason, GlassesUSA has a 14-day, no questions asked return policy—but you can only take advantage of this for your first pair.
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Eyebuydirect
Turnaround time: 7 to 14 business days | Return policy: 14 days for a one-time replacement or refund | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: No
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Eyebuydirect’s wallet-friendly prices make clear vision affordable and accessible. To keep prices down on Eyebuydirect’s own styles, everything from concept to design to manufacturing is done in-house. You can also choose from name brand frames from Oakley and Ray-Ban, and the site makes it easy to locate options with specific features like frame shape (which is useful if you want to. “Since I only wear rectangular frames and can't wear small-sized frames, being able to filter on these preferences is super helpful,” says Newton. Frames start at $6 and standard lenses at $7 or you can opt for upgrades like advanced lenses and premium lenses, which go for $49 and $80, respectively. “I appreciated that there are a variety of options for blue light filtering as well as two choices for high-index frames,” says Favilla.
When you find a frame you like, you can click “try on” to upload a photo and see what it looks like on your face. The photo stays uploaded as you navigate the site, so you can quickly see what other options look like. Our testers note that their eyeglasses arrived promptly and safely in a compact cardboard box. “I like that the packaging was small enough to fit into my apartment's little mailbox in the lobby, rather than needing to be left out in a common area with bigger packages,” adds Holmes. Eyebuydirect offers a 14-day “no questions asked” return policy for a one-time replacement or refund, but its 365-Day Product Guarantee covers defects for a full year. Special savings: Take 30% off orders of $65 or more with code FORBES30.
Warby Parker
Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA/FSA | Virtual try-on: Yes, as well as in-home try-on | Virtual Rx renewal: Yes
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Warby Parker offers designer-style glasses at affordable prices. Favilla has been ordering her prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses from the site for over a decade. “The size accuracy, feel and fit are always excellent in my experience,” she says. All frames start at just $95, an impressive price that includes basic prescription lenses. You can try on virtually, but one of the brand’s biggest claims to fame is its at-home try-on program. Pick up to five frames to receive, for free, to physically try on before you buy. Holmes highly recommends taking advantage of this perk, as the frames she ordered based on her existing glasses’ measurements ended up being too small.
Once you have your frames picked out, you can add basic prescription lenses, which Newton describes as “perfectly accurate” and “not too thick,” despite his strong prescription. You can also choose from various upgrade options, like progressive lenses, blue light filtering or light-responsive lenses, which add up to $200 to the total price. “The frames I wear regularly are blue-light-blocking, which seem to do their job as far as I can tell to help prevent eye fatigue,” adds Favilla. If you don’t like your new glasses, you can return them for a full refund or exchange within 30 days of receipt. And if your lenses get scratched in the first 365 days, you can get new lenses made for free.
Frames Direct
Turnaround time: 11 to 14 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: No | Virtual Rx renewal: No
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Frames Direct claims to have the largest selection of designer eyewear online: There are almost 5,000 frames from high-end brands like Gucci and Prada, as well as Oakley and Ray-Ban (in a wide variety of colors, too). Favilla mentions that her Armani Exchange glasses arrived with a “certificate of authenticity” that guarantees the glasses are genuine. Most brands sell for 20% to 80% off the retail price, and you can often score prescription lenses at a discount. “The value of these name-brand eyeglasses, with all the additional add-ons to my lenses, is very impressive,” says Favilla.
As far as lenses go, choose single vision, no-line progressives or non-prescription readers. Holmes, who wears progressives, says, “The lenses themselves match my prescription and have one of the best fields of vision of any of the glasses that I tried.” You can also select different lens materials, from thin polycarbonate to lower-cost plastic, as well as optional upgrades like digital light protection or scratch-resistant coating. And before your order goes through, an optician will review everything to make sure you picked the best selections for your prescription.
ROKA
Turnaround time: 5 business days | Return policy: 30 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: Yes, and HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: Yes
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If you plan on wearing your prescription glasses while working outdoors or playing a sport, you’ll want a hard-wearing pair—and durability is Roka’s specialty. For example, its popular Hunter style is designed with spring hinges and grip technology to ensure the frames stay securely on your head. “Although Roka has a small selection, I was able to find a pair that looked great and fit my needs pretty quickly,” says Holmes. Favilla adds, “I like that you can shop for frames based on activity, which I could see being super helpful for various types of athletes.”
In addition, Roka offers a virtual try-on feature and an at-home vision test for renewing your prescription online. It accepts insurance plans from several major providers as well as HSA/FSA. However, both Holmes and Favilla note that Roka’s delivery speeds are slower than other brands, so keep this in mind if you need your glasses to arrive by a certain date.
Zenni Optical
Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 14 days for refund (excluding shipping costs) or 30 days for store credit | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Only for eyeglasses | Virtual Rx renewal: No
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Zenni is all about making prescription glasses affordable, with frames starting at just $7 and capping at $50—and that price includes standard prescription lenses. “With my complex prescription, the cost adds up fast so a lower priced frame is a nice bonus,” says Holmes. Its selection of prescription sunglasses is particularly impressive, and at such reasonable prices, it won’t sting if you happen to lose a pair on vacation.
While you won’t find any designer names among the selections, there are hundreds of designer-inspired frames in different shapes, sizes and colors. Once you select a pair you like, Favilla recommends taking advantage of the site’s virtual try-on feature. “It’s very advanced to give you a well-rounded view of what your glasses will look like,” she says. “It was a seamless experience from beginning to end.” In addition, Holmes appreciates how the site allows you to filter frames by pupillary distance. Zenni also offers low-bridge options and ANSI Z87.1 safety glasses with prescription single vision and progressive lenses. You can add upgrades, like polarization, that start at $33.
Felix Gray
Turnaround time: 6 to 10 business days | Return policy: 30 days for returns; one-year warranty against manufacturing defects | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: No
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Felix Gray is an eye-care leader known for its blue light glasses, which protect your eyes better than the average options. Each pair utilizes a proprietary technology that filters out 15 times more blue light than other lenses, which helps reduce blurry vision and tired eyes when staring at a screen for hours. You can purchase with or without a prescription, and request magnification as well—a good option for anyone fixated on spreadsheets all day.
Forbes Vetted contributor Becky Eaton swears by this brand for work. “I upgraded to Felix Grey readers from a cheapie bookstore pair and the difference is significant,” she says. “The Felix Grey frames feel super sturdy and high-quality, just like a pair of glasses from the optician, and the blue light-blocking lenses are totally clear. I wear them when I work at my computer all day, and I have less eye strain and headaches compared to my old readers.”
Look Optic
Turnaround time: 1 business day | Return policy: 90 days for a return or exchange | Insurance accepted: No | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: No
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For those who need a pair of non-prescription readers, Look Optic—named “most stylish” retailer in our Best Reading Glasses round-up—offers an array of chic styles you’ll actually look forward to wearing. Keep in mind that the site doesn’t offer any prescription lenses, but you will find tinted options for wearing in the sun as well as blue light blocking styles for working on your laptop. While Look Optic doesn’t accept insurance, the website frequently runs promotions that keep costs low.
GlassesUSA
Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 14 days, no questions asked | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA/FSA | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: Yes
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Kids and tweens are picky—really picky. GlassesUSA offers plenty of choice to satisfy different styles, at prices that won’t make you cringe if they drop or lose their glasses. Still, if sifting through hundreds of kids’ frames sounds overwhelming, there are easy-to-use filters—to sort by age, frame shape, brand, color, price and more. Most frames come with free single-vision prescription, with optional add-ons like blue light blocking and light transitioning. In our experience, you can regularly find discounts and clearance sales, which means you could spring for two pairs if you wanted. For added reassurance, GlassesUSA offers a 14-day, full money-back guarantee return policy, plus free shipping and returns.
At Forbes Vetted, we've reviewed dozens of glasses, putting them through a series of quality, style ... [+] and comfort tests.
Kari Molvar For Forbes VettedHow To Buy Prescription Glasses Online
If you’re new to buying prescription glasses online, it may seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. If you have the correct information handy—and you purchase from a trustworthy retailer that offers a fair return policy—you can shop with confidence at your convenience, and save money, too.
For new prescriptions: All online prescription glasses stores require a current prescription. In most cases, this means you’ll have to make an in-person appointment with your regular eye doctor first. It’s important for your eye doctor to get a close look at your eyes to make sure everything is healthy and functioning properly—for instance, an in-person eye exam can detect things like early signs of glaucoma and diabetes.
For renewing prescriptions: Some sites, including Warby Parker, let you renew your prescription via a virtual vision test, but only if your health qualifies and your current prescription is still working for you. It’ll likely cost you, but not much (Warby Parker’s exam is $15, and only if your prescription is renewed). GlassesUSA allows you to renew your prescription through an app called Visibly. Alternatively, if you already have another pair of glasses outfitted with your current prescription, GlassesUSA offers a free prescription scanner so that you can easily order a new pair of frames without having to reach out to your eye doctor.
In addition to a current prescription, you’ll also need your pupillary distance (or PD). Pupillary distance is the measurement between the centers of the pupils in your eyes, usually expressed in millimeters. “It is crucial for crafting prescription eyeglasses because it ensures that the lenses are positioned correctly in relation to the wearer's pupils, maximizing visual clarity and comfort,” says Dr. Inna Lazar. “An inaccurate PD measurement can result in eyestrain, blurred vision, or dizziness.”
For the most accurate results, have your eye doctor measure pupillary distance during your eye exam and make sure to make a note of it in addition to your prescription. Alternatively, you can use an app, like EyeMeasure, or online tools, like Zenni’s digital PD ruler or Warby Parker’s PD measuring tool.
Eyebuydirect has hundreds of chic and stylish frames, like this pair on our tester, at affordable ... [+] prices.
Emmy Favilla For Forbes VettedThere are three major types of lenses:
Most retailers give you the option to add different coatings to your lenses. They typically enhance the user experience and aesthetics of your glasses, but they will also add to their overall price.
Our tester loved these fashionable prescription aviator style sunglasses from Zenni.
Emmy Favilla For Forbes VettedHow To Find The Best Frames For Your Face Shape
“The rule of thumb is essentially to create contrast between your face shape and frames,” explains deputy fashion editor Kari Molvar. “Note that you can also be a blend of two types of face shapes.” That said, there are no hard and fast “rules” about which frames look best —you, after all, are the final judge on the matter and you should wear glasses that make you feel good. When giving advice on the topic, most style experts rely on the principles of natural symmetry and proportion. This means if you have a face with sharp, angular lines you should balance it with softer curves on your glasses, for example. Or if you have a longer face shape, you’d want to consider glasses with wide, square or rectangular frames. Meanwhile, the best glasses for round faces tend to have defined angles and straight lines.
These Roka prescription glasses are a classic wayfarer style that works well on most face shapes, ... [+] and the transparent-yet-durable frame style is on trend.
Emmy Favilla For Forbes Vetted“I find the best way to shop for glasses is to not get too overwhelmed,” says Molvar. “There are many pairs that will look good on you, and you can get lost in all the details of shapes and frame types after a certain point,” she says. A good tip if you’re stuck or feeing indecisive: Narrow your selection to five pairs and then ask a friend or someone whose advice you trust for their opinion, says Molvar. To get you started, you’ll find a handy visual guide, below.
Look for frames that contrast with your face shape, as a simple rule of thumb.
ILLUSTRATION: Ada Comonfort for FORBESYes, and having a current prescription is necessary for placing your online order. Thanks to advances in technology, you can also renew an expired prescription online via certain retailers. Sites like GlassesUSA, Warby Parker and Roka offer vision exams from your phone or computer screen for a small fee, and the results are reviewed by optometrists. Again, this is only for prescription renewals; if you need a new or updated prescription, you’ll have to make an appointment with your eye doctor.
Our tester loved GlassesUSA's wide selection of frames and impressive turnaround time.
Emmy Favilla For Forbes VettedThere are pros and cons to both options. Online shopping offers convenience, a wider selection of styles and brands, often at lower prices. It's ideal for those who know their prescription and measurements, as you can easily find the best online glasses for you in just a few minutes. Many online retailers provide virtual try-on features and generous return policies. However, it's harder to get a feel for the fit and quality of the frames if there isn’t a home-try option, and personal assistance can be limited.
In-person shopping allows you to physically try on frames for the best fit and get immediate professional assistance. Opticians can provide advice on lens options and frame adjustments. However, physical stores may have a smaller selection and higher prices compared to online options.
Ultimately, if you prioritize convenience and variety, online shopping is great. If you prefer a hands-on approach and professional guidance, buying in person is better.
The comfort of your eyeglasses is dependent on a few different things: First, the most comfortable prescription glasses are those with lenses in an updated prescription that won’t cause eye strain and headaches. Frame choice can significantly impact comfort as well. If you wear your frames for long periods of time, look for lighter weight styles that won’t sit heavily on your face and cause discomfort (retailers including Eyebuydirect and Zenni Optical list every frame’s weight). When ordering glasses, pay attention to the width of the nose bridge to be sure the glasses will accommodate the shape of your nose and sit properly without causing discomfort. Also look for frames with spring hinges at the temple that flex to prevent squeezing and excessive pressure at the temple or around your ears, and nose pads that can be adjusted at the bridge of your nose.