The Zenni Story
Vision care can be surprisingly expensive. Concerned that the ability to see costs people hundreds of dollars, two visionaries founded Zenni in 2003 as one of the first online-only shops for affordable prescription glasses. They were able to provide affordable and accessible eyewear to everyone by cutting the middleman out and going directly to consumers. What started as a small, homegrown business in Northern California has morphed into an e-commerce success story with over 50 million frames sold to customers all over the world. In this journey, we continue to innovate but our commitment remains the same: Investing in vision care today means a brighter tomorrow for everyone.”
2003
Zenni was founded and we launched our website to disrupt the industry with affordable eyewear.
2005
Zenni lowers their starting price point from $19 to $6.95 to make eyeglasses more accessible to everyone.
2007
Zenni becomes the first online retailer to offer virtual try-on.
2016
Blokz® blue-light blocking lenses introduced for preventative eye care.
2018
Zenni becomes the Official Eyewear of the Chicago Bulls, the first of our exciting sports partnerships.
2019
Zenni becomes the Official Eyewear of the 49ers.
2020
Zenni gets into the MLB game with Red Sox partnership.
2020
Zenni donates over 2 million PPE during Covid-19 pandemic.
2020
Our new manufacturing facility in Ohio opens, giving us the ability to offer 2-3 day rush delivery.
2022
50 million pairs sold!
2023
Zenni and Columbus Crew launch their partnership together.
2023
We are embarking on a digital transformation to make eyewear and eye care even more accessible to our customers. Stay tuned...
Making an Impact
1,261,861
Glasses Donated
326
Vision Screening & Academic Scholarships Awarded
2,100,000
Personal Protective Equipment Kits Donated
At Zenni, we believe everyone deserves access to eye care. We are committed to providing vision and mental health resources, vision screenings and eyeglasses to children, families and communities.
This positive impact would not be possible without our long list of partners including UC Berkeley School of Optometry, Prevent Blindness, Chicago Bulls, 49ers, and Abiri Tours.
How we do it
Anytime, anywhere shopping
How do we make high-quality eyewear so affordable? We bring the shopping experience to you. You no longer need to make an appointment and drive to your optician. As long as you have a digital device and internet connection, you can find the perfect glasses for you.
We make it ourselves
We stand behind the quality of our eyewear because we make each pair. From frame design and manufacturing to lens edging, we employ the industry's most advanced optical machinery and software. Our state-of-the-art prescription lab produces lenses for every prescription with high-quality coatings, as well as lens tinting for sunglasses and blue light glasses.
We care
After manufacturing and checking your glasses, we carefully package them into a hard-shell case with a complimentary lens cloth. We work with the best courier services to ensure your glasses arrive safely to your door in over 80 countries around the world.
Zenni Awards
Celebrating excellence in innovation and customer satisfaction
United States