Buying designer glasses online has become much easier, but comparing the actual cost of prescription eyewear can still be surprisingly difficult.

A frame may look competitively priced, but once prescription lenses, thinner materials and coatings are added, the final price can look very different.

Two UK retailers you may come across when shopping for designer prescription glasses online are Burghley & Co and Pretavoir. Both offer genuine designer eyewear and branded prescription lens options, but there are differences in lens pricing, coatings and the way the service is structured.

So rather than simply saying one retailer is cheaper than another, we thought it would be more useful to look at the numbers.

Below, we compare Burghley & Co's HOYA clear single-vision lenses with Pretavoir's published Essilor single-vision lens package.

Prices were checked in September 2026. Competitor prices, promotions and eligibility can change, so always check the final price before ordering. Lens designs, prescriptions and coatings may also differ between retailers.

Burghley & Co vs Pretavoir: single-vision lens prices

For a straightforward comparison, we have looked at clear single-vision lenses across the four most common refractive indexes: 1.50, 1.60, 1.67 and 1.74.

At standard 1.50 index, the prices are the same. The difference becomes more noticeable as you move into thinner high-index lenses, particularly 1.74.

You can see our full current pricing on the Burghley & Co Lens Options & Pricing page.

HOYA vs Essilor: does the lens brand matter?

Price isn't the only thing worth comparing.

Burghley & Co uses HOYA lenses for our clear single-vision range, while Pretavoir offers several lens brands, including Essilor and ZEISS.

HOYA and Essilor are both established international ophthalmic lens manufacturers, so this isn't a comparison between a branded lens and an unknown generic product.

That matters because when comparing online glasses prices it is very easy to compare two products which aren't genuinely equivalent.

A £20 unbranded basic lens and a branded lens with anti-reflection coating are not necessarily like-for-like products.

Our aim at Burghley & Co is therefore fairly simple: use a recognised lens manufacturer, keep the pricing transparent and avoid turning the ordering process into a long list of confusing upgrades.

If you want to understand the different options before deciding, our guide to choosing prescription lenses explains what actually matters when selecting your lenses.

What is included with Burghley & Co single-vision lenses?

Every clear single-vision lens at Burghley & Co includes an anti-reflection coating as standard.

That coating is also backed by a two-year coating guarantee.

The same price applies whether your single-vision prescription is required for:

• distance vision;
• reading;
• or intermediate/computer vision.

You can read more about how these lenses work in our single-vision lens guide.

Pretavoir also states that its standard single-vision lens options include hard and anti-reflection coatings. It also offers enhanced coating upgrades on selected lens ranges.

This is an important distinction because the cheapest advertised lens price doesn't always tell you what the finished glasses will actually cost once the coating and lens material you want have been selected.

Why does lens thickness change the price?

One of the biggest differences in prescription glasses pricing appears when somebody needs — or chooses — a thinner lens.

The numbers 1.50, 1.60, 1.67 and 1.74 refer to the refractive index of the lens material.

In simple terms, a higher-index material can bend light more efficiently, allowing the lens to be made thinner for a given prescription.

At Burghley & Co we currently offer:

• 1.50 Standard – £40: generally suited to lower prescriptions.
• 1.60 Thin & Light – £65: a thinner and lighter option and our most popular index.
• 1.67 Super Thin – £90: often considered for stronger prescriptions where thickness becomes more noticeable.
• 1.74 Ultra Thin – £115: our thinnest clear single-vision lens option.

However, buying the thinnest available lens isn't automatically the right decision.

Your prescription is only part of the equation. Frame size, lens shape, pupil distance and how your eyes sit within the frame can all affect the finished lens thickness.

That's why we recommend reading our Thin & Light lens guide before automatically choosing the highest index.

You can also read our guide to understanding your glasses prescription if terms such as SPH, CYL, AXIS and ADD are unfamiliar.

The biggest difference appears at 1.74

The most significant price difference in the current comparison is with 1.74 high-index lenses.

At the time of checking, Burghley & Co's HOYA 1.74 clear single-vision lenses are £115, compared with £150 for the Pretavoir Essilor option used in our comparison.

That's a difference of £35 on the lenses.

For someone with a stronger prescription who genuinely benefits from a 1.74 lens, that becomes a meaningful difference.

But we'd still rather recommend the right lens than automatically sell the most expensive one.

If your prescription and chosen frame would look perfectly good in 1.60 or 1.67, there may be very little benefit in paying extra for 1.74.

What about the price of the frames?

This is where online comparisons can become misleading.

Both Burghley & Co and Pretavoir sell designer eyewear, but frame prices vary depending on brand, model, colour, availability and current promotions.

So rather than assuming one retailer will always have the lowest complete price, compare the same frame where possible and then add the prescription lenses you actually need.

At Burghley & Co you can browse our full designer glasses collection, including separate collections of men's glasses and women's glasses.

The price that matters is ultimately the cost of the finished pair of glasses, not simply the headline frame price.

A quick warning about 'free' or promotional lenses

Online eyewear retailers regularly change promotions, including offers where certain basic prescription lenses may be included with selected optical frames.

These can be genuinely good deals, but check what lens material, brand and coating the promotion actually includes.

If your prescription requires a thinner material, or if you want a particular branded lens or coating, the final basket price may be different from the headline offer.

That's why this comparison focuses on specified branded clear single-vision lens options rather than attempting to compare promotional headlines.

Prescription checking and professional support

Price matters, but prescription eyewear isn't the same as buying an ordinary fashion accessory.

At Burghley & Co, every prescription order is personally reviewed before glazing.

I'm Scott Phippen, a UK Registered Dispensing Optician, and if something doesn't look right — whether that's the prescription, lens choice, measurements or suitability of a frame — we can check it before the glasses are made.

That doesn't mean every customer needs a lengthy consultation. Most don't.

It simply means professional support is available when it is needed.

If you'd like help before ordering, you can ask Scott directly.

Can I order now and send my prescription later?

Yes.

One of the reasons people delay buying glasses online is that they don't have their prescription sitting in front of them when they find a frame they like.

At Burghley & Co, you can place your order and send your prescription afterwards. We won't manufacture your prescription lenses until the required information has been checked.

Our How It Works guide explains the full process from choosing your frame through to glazing and delivery.

So, is Burghley & Co cheaper than Pretavoir?

For the HOYA versus Essilor clear single-vision lens comparison shown above, Burghley & Co is currently:

• the same price at 1.50;
• £5 less at 1.60;
• £10 less at 1.67;
• and £35 less at 1.74.

That doesn't mean Burghley & Co will be cheaper for every possible frame, prescription or promotion.

It means that when comparing these particular branded clear single-vision lens options, our current pricing is especially competitive as prescriptions move into thinner lens materials.

And that's exactly why we believe comparing the finished specification matters more than comparing a headline price.

What about varifocals?

The comparison above is specifically for clear single-vision lenses.

Varifocals are more complicated because the design of the progressive lens is just as important as its index. Two varifocal lenses can both be 1.60, for example, while offering very different usable fields of vision and levels of personalisation.

Burghley & Co currently offers Standard, Premium and Elite varifocal designs, starting from £145.

You can compare them in our full varifocal lens guide.

How to compare prescription glasses properly

Before deciding where to buy your next pair, compare these five things:

1. The frame price – ideally compare the same model and colour.
2. The lens manufacturer – branded and generic lens packages aren't necessarily equivalent.
3. The lens index – check whether you are comparing 1.50, 1.60, 1.67 or 1.74.
4. The coating – establish whether anti-reflection and scratch-resistant treatments are included or charged separately.
5. The professional support – particularly if you have a stronger or more complicated prescription.

Our wider prescription lens guide explains the different lens types available, while the Burghley & Co Advice Centre contains guides covering everything from lens thickness to varifocals and prescription sunglasses.

Our approach at Burghley & Co

We didn't create Burghley & Co because the eyewear market needed another website selling glasses.

The aim was to combine the convenience and pricing of buying eyewear online with something that can sometimes disappear from online retail: real optical advice from a real person.

That means transparent lens prices, recognised lens manufacturers and someone available to help if you're unsure what your prescription actually requires.

Sometimes that means recommending a thinner lens.

Sometimes it means telling somebody they don't need to spend more.

That's how we think prescription eyewear should be sold.

Browse all designer glasses →

Compare our lens prices →

Ask Scott about your prescription →

Frequently asked questions

How much are prescription lenses at Burghley & Co?

Clear HOYA single-vision lenses currently start from £40 for 1.50 standard index. 1.60 Thin & Light lenses are £65, 1.67 Super Thin lenses are £90 and 1.74 Ultra Thin lenses are £115. Anti-reflection coating is included as standard.

Does Burghley & Co use branded lenses?

Yes. Burghley & Co uses HOYA for its clear single-vision lens range. You can see the available options on our lens pricing page.

Does Pretavoir use branded prescription lenses?

Yes. Pretavoir offers a number of lens options including Essilor and ZEISS, as well as other packages. This article compares Burghley & Co's HOYA clear single-vision range with Pretavoir's Essilor option.

Are anti-reflection coatings included?

Anti-reflection coating is included with Burghley & Co clear single-vision lenses and is backed by a two-year coating guarantee. Pretavoir also states that hard and anti-reflection coatings are included with its standard single-vision index options, with additional premium coating upgrades available.

Should I choose 1.60, 1.67 or 1.74 lenses?

Not necessarily the thinnest one. The most suitable index depends on your prescription, frame size, eye position and other measurements. Read our guide to Thin & Light lenses or contact us before ordering if you're unsure.

Can I send my prescription after ordering?

Yes. You can place your Burghley & Co order first and send your prescription afterwards. Your prescription is checked before the lenses are made.

Pricing note: Prices and competitor information in this article were checked on 27 September 2026 using publicly available UK pricing. Retail prices, promotions, lens specifications and eligibility may change. Always check the current product and checkout information before purchasing.