First Time Buying Glasses in China: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

This page is a complete guide to getting glasses in China for the first time: the process, prices, and things to know, from walking into a shop for your eye exam to picking up your glasses and leaving.

Key Points on This Page

• Eye exam and prescription: usually done within 15–30 minutes; always ask for a written prescription (SPH/CYL/AXIS/PD)
• Frames and lenses: choose the refractive index according to your prescription; for brand-name frames, verify the brand authorization
• Reference prices and bargaining: complete packages in Shanghai range from ¥150–1500; Danyang is usually 30–50% lower
• Departure tax refund: purchases of ¥200 or more at designated stores qualify; the refund rate is about 11%
• Handover inspection and consumer rights: check every item before leaving, keep your documents, and call 12315 if there is a problem

1. Eye Exam

Most shops inside an eyewear market offer free eye exams (it is recommended to confirm before entering the shop). A complete eye exam takes about 15–30 minutes and includes computerized optometry, manual verification with a phoropter, and pupillary distance measurement. If a shop only does a 30-second computerized eye exam and then asks you to choose frames, ask them to do the manual refraction as well. Before leaving, be sure to get a written prescription: Sphere (SPH), Cylinder (CYL), Axis (AXIS), and Pupillary Distance (PD).

2. Frames and Lenses

Choose the lens refractive index according to your prescription. Shanghai reference prices (lenses only): 1.56 about ¥80–150; 1.60 about ¥120–250; 1.67 about ¥200–400; 1.74 about ¥350–700. Frame reference prices: alloy ¥30–100, TR90 ¥30–80, acetate ¥50–200, pure titanium ¥150–400, β-titanium ¥200–500, brand-name frames ¥300–1500.

3. Reference Prices and Bargaining

Shanghai reference prices for a complete pair: Economy (1.56 lens + alloy frame) ¥150–250; Standard (1.60 lens + acetate frame) ¥250–400; Premium (1.67 lens + pure titanium frame) ¥400–700; progressive multifocal ¥500–900; brand lenses (Zeiss/Essilor 1.67 + titanium frame) ¥800–1500. Danyang is usually 30–50% lower than Shanghai. You can start bargaining at 50–60% of the quoted price; paying in cash can sometimes get you another 5–10% off; buying 2 or more pairs usually earns a volume discount. All the prices above refer to an all-inclusive price covering the frame, the lenses, the eye exam, and the processing fee — before paying, confirm the written all-inclusive price.

4. Turnaround Time

Most standard single-vision glasses can be made while you wait and picked up in 20–60 minutes; high prescriptions, high astigmatism, or special coatings may take 1–2 days; custom brand lenses (Zeiss/Essilor) usually take 3–7 days. It is recommended to get your glasses on the first day of your trip, leaving time for any rework.

5. Departure Tax Refund

At designated tax refund stores displaying “Tax Free”, the same traveler spending ¥200 or more on the same day in the same store can apply for a departure tax refund (from April 2025, the minimum purchase threshold was lowered from ¥500 to ¥200). The refund rate is about 11%; after deducting the handling fee, the amount actually received is about 9%. To claim the refund the goods must additionally be unused and unconsumed, carried out of the country by you (on your person or in checked luggage), and the departure must be within 90 days of the purchase date. If your new glasses have already been worn before you leave, customs may refuse to verify them — so if you plan to claim the refund, it is best to start wearing them after departure. Show your passport at checkout and ask for the tax refund application form; when you leave the country, first get it stamped at airport customs (arriving 2 hours in advance is recommended), then collect your refund at the tax refund counter after security.

6. Handover Inspection and Consumer Rights

Before leaving the shop wearing your new glasses, check each item one by one: distance vision, near vision, whether you feel dizzy, whether objects look distorted, whether the pupillary distance is aligned, whether the frames are comfortable, whether the lens parameters match the packaging, whether there are scratches or coating defects, whether the brand anti-counterfeit code shows a first-time query, and whether the warranty card and the itemized receipt are complete. If you run into price fraud, inferior products passed off as higher quality, or false advertising, call the 12315 consumer complaint hotline to protect your rights.