Trying on eyeglass frames is certainly more fun than trying on a pair of jeans or a bathing suit, but after checking out more than a dozen or so pairs, the experience can begin to grate on your nerves. I recently decided to treat myself to new glasses after my prescription changed and while I relished the alone time (if you have two young kids, I know you can understand me), suddenly the designer labels were all beginning to blur together. Not good if your vision is as bad as mine. The Design Your Own Eyewear Web site puts the rather tedious chore into perspective by letting you “try on” different frames virtually. The process is relatively straightforward: upload a photo from your desktop, choose a frame style (tortoise shell or Clark Kent?), select frame color and lens color and voila! Instant design. What’s cool is that you can experiment with different sizes and shapes to best fit your face…all in the comfort of your own home before you go shopping. And if you plan on laying out extra bucks for a designer label like I did–hey, moms like us need to look our best–then this extra perk makes all the difference. Did we mention that this service is free of charge?

In a Nutshell: If you’re in the market for a new pair of glasses and can do without the glare of a pressuring salesperson, this site will open your eyes to the possibilities.

Tags: design your own eyeglasses, eyeglasses