Can I Bring Prescription Glasses to China? (Plus: Get New Glasses for $15)

Yes, absolutely bring your glasses. There are no restrictions on bringing prescription eyewear into China.

But here's what most guides won't tell you: if your glasses break, get lost, or you just want a spare pair, China is one of the best and cheapest places in the world to get new prescription glasses.

What to Bring

Essentials

• Your current glasses (wear them or pack safely)
• A backup pair if you have one
• Your prescription (on paper or phone photo)
• Glasses case and cleaning cloth

Optional but Smart

• Clip-on sunglasses
• Prescription sunglasses
• Contact lenses as backup

If Your Glasses Break in China

Don't panic. This is actually good news.

Chinese Optical Shops: Incredibly Fast and Cheap

What	China	USA/UK
Basic glasses	¥100-300 ($15-40)	$100-400
Time to make	1-2 hours	7-14 days
Eye exam	¥30-50 ($5-7)	$50-100
Availability	Everywhere	Appointment needed

No joke: You can walk into an optical shop in China, get an eye exam, choose frames, and walk out with finished glasses in 2 hours for under $50.

Where to Get Glasses

Chain stores (most reliable for foreigners):

• 宝岛眼镜 (Baodao Optical) - Taiwan chain, professional
• 博士眼镜 (Doctor Glasses) - Nationwide
• JINS - Japanese chain, modern, some English
• 卫康眼镜 (Weikang) - Good value

Shopping mall optical departments:

• Usually in basement or ground floor
• Modern equipment
• Often have English-speaking staff in big cities

Local independent shops:

• Cheapest option (¥80-150)
• Quality varies
• Little to no English

The Process (Step by Step)

Step 1: Find a shop Open Amap (高德地图) or Baidu Maps and search: 眼镜店 (yǎnjìng diàn - glasses shop)

Step 2: Eye exam Point to your glasses and say: "验光" (yàn guāng) - eye test

They'll do a computerized refraction test. Takes 5-10 minutes. Usually ¥30-50.

Step 3: Choose frames Browse the selection. Prices are usually marked. High-end frames cost more but basic frames start around ¥50-100.

Step 4: Choose lenses They'll show you options:

• 普通镜片 (pǔtōng) - Basic lenses
• 防蓝光 (fáng lán guāng) - Blue light blocking
• 变色镜片 (biàn sè) - Transition/photochromic

Basic is fine for most people.

Step 5: Wait 1-2 hours They make glasses on-site. Go grab lunch. Come back.

Step 6: Fitting They'll adjust the fit. Done.

Useful Phrases

English	Chinese	Pinyin
Glasses	眼镜	yǎn jìng
Eye test	验光	yàn guāng
Nearsighted	近视	jìn shì
Farsighted	远视	yuǎn shì
Lens	镜片	jìng piàn
Frame	镜框	jìng kuàng
How much?	多少钱？	duōshao qián?
Too expensive	太贵了	tài guì le

Pro Tips

Bring your prescription Having your prescription on paper makes everything smoother. But if you don't have it, the eye exam is accurate.

Know your PD (pupillary distance) If you know it, tell them. If not, they'll measure it.

Haggle at independent shops Chain stores have fixed prices. At small shops, you can negotiate 20-30% off.

Check quality before leaving

• Look through lenses for distortion
• Check frames for straightness
• Test the hinge several times

Get a spare pair Glasses are so cheap here, consider getting a backup pair or prescription sunglasses.

Bringing Expensive Designer Glasses

If you're bringing expensive frames:

• No import issues for personal use
• Consider travel insurance that covers eyewear
• Pack in a hard case inside carry-on
• Keep receipts separately (for insurance claims)

Contact Lens Wearers

Bring enough supply for your trip. While you can buy contacts in China, finding your exact brand/prescription can be tricky.

See our separate guide: Buy Contact Lenses in China

Quick Comparison: Repair vs. Replace

Situation	Best Option
Frame broke, lenses OK	Repair or new frame only
Lens scratched/cracked	New glasses (it's cheap)
Lost glasses completely	New glasses + eye exam
Want prescription sunglasses	Get them in China (half the price of home)

Emergency: Lost Glasses, Can't See

If you lose your glasses and can't function:

1. Chain pharmacies sell cheap reading glasses (-1.0 to -4.0): 屈臣氏 (Watsons), 大参林
2. Taobao/JD delivery can get glasses to your hotel in 1-2 days
3. Any optical shop can make emergency glasses in 1-2 hours
4. Hotel concierge can point you to nearest optical shop

Summary

Question	Answer
Bring glasses to China?	Yes, no restrictions
Glasses break in China?	Not a problem—cheap, fast replacement
Need eye exam?	¥30-50 ($5), 10 minutes
Cost for new glasses?	¥100-300 ($15-40) basic
Time to make?	1-2 hours
Quality?	Good—same technology as everywhere

Bottom line: Bring your glasses, but don't stress if something goes wrong. China's optical industry is excellent, fast, and incredibly affordable.

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The China Survival Kit includes an emergency card with optical vocabulary, plus guides for navigating any situation when things go wrong.