Same-Day Glasses in Waterloo
Broken your only pair? Lost your glasses the week before a trip? Bring your prescription to our Phillip Street store and, for most prescriptions, you can walk out wearing your new glasses the same day. We cut, edge and fit them in our own lab on site — nothing gets shipped anywhere.
SUNGLASSES
LUXURY COLLECTION
Waterloo Sunglasses are more than just a fashion statement. Their primary purpose is to protect your eyes and the skin around them from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
Why we can do it when most stores can't
Most optical shops in Kitchener–Waterloo take your order and send it to an outside lab. That handoff is where the three-to-ten-day wait comes from — your glasses spend most of that time in transit and in someone else’s queue.
Premier Optical owns its lab. It is in the same building as the frame boards, staffed by our own opticians, and equipped to surface, edge and mount lenses to finished eyewear. When your prescription and lens choice are in stock, the job never leaves the building — which is why same-day is a normal Tuesday for us rather than a special favour.
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How same-day glasses work here
Bring your prescription
Any valid prescription works, including one written by another optometrist. Don't have a current one? Book an eye exam with us and we'll do both in the same visit.
Choose your frame
Pick from our full wall — designer and everyday. An optician takes your measurements at the same time, which is the step online retailers skip.
We cut your lenses on site
Your lenses are edged and mounted in our lab while you wait. Most jobs take about an hour.
Fit, adjust, walk out wearing them
We fit the finished glasses to your face and adjust them before you leave. Adjustments and minor repairs stay free for the life of the glasses.
Which prescriptions can be made the same day
We make the majority of prescriptions the same day — single vision, bifocal and progressive. Your lenses are cut, edged and fitted in our own lab, usually in about an hour.
There is no cut-off time. Come in at any time during opening hours and we will start the work.
A small number of lenses must be made to order. Those take one to two business days — not the week that an outside lab would take.
Call us with your prescription in front of you: (519) 888-1919. We will tell you what is possible today, before you make the trip.
Eye exam and new glasses in the same visit
You don’t need a prescription in hand to leave with glasses today. Premier Optical is both an eye care clinic and an optical store, so the exam and the eyewear happen under one roof — you are not sent across town and back.
A comprehensive eye exam with our optometrists takes about 30 to 45 minutes and covers far more than a prescription check: eye pressure, retinal health, binocular vision and a digital eye strain assessment for screen-heavy work. Choose your frames straight afterwards, and if your prescription qualifies for our on-site lab, your glasses are made while you wait.
Same-day exam appointments depend on availability — call ahead and we’ll tell you what’s open today.
Keep your frames — same-day lens replacement
If you like the frame you already own, you don’t have to replace it. Bring it in with your current prescription and we can re-lens it in our lab, usually the same day, provided the frame is sound enough to take new lenses.
This is the quickest option when a lens has cracked, when a scratch has finally become unbearable, or when your prescription has changed but your frame hasn’t. We’ll check the frame first and tell you honestly if the plastic has become too brittle to re-cut safely — old frames sometimes crack under the strain, and it is better to know before we start.
Same-day prescription sunglasses
Prescription sunglasses can usually be made the same day as well, on the same terms as clear lenses. The tint and the finish you choose can affect the time.
If you are travelling at short notice, call before you come and we will tell you what is possible today.
What it costs, and your insurance
You pay for the frame and the lenses you choose. The speed comes from owning the lab.
We direct bill most major insurance providers, including Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Green Shield, Blue Cross and Desjardins, along with student and staff plans from the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier. In most cases you pay only the portion your plan doesn’t cover, on the day.
FAQ
Can prescription glasses be made the same day?
Yes. At Premier Optical the majority of prescriptions are cut and fitted in our own Waterloo lab in about an hour, so you can collect them on the same visit. A small number of lenses must be made to order and take one to two business days.
Can I get my glasses on the same day if my prescription is from another optometrist?
Yes. Bring any valid, current prescription — it does not have to be written by our optometrists. We'll confirm it's still in date and check the lenses against our on-site stock.
How long does it actually take?
For most jobs, about an hour from the moment you have chosen your frame. There is no cut-off time — come in at any point during opening hours. You are welcome to wait in store or come back later the same day.
Can I get an eye exam and new glasses on the same day?
Yes. Book a comprehensive eye exam at our Waterloo clinic, choose your frames afterwards, and if your prescription qualifies for the on-site lab you leave wearing the finished glasses. Same visit, same day.
Do you make progressives or bifocals the same day?
In most cases, yes. Our on-site lab works with single vision, bifocal and progressive lenses. Call with your prescription and we will confirm before you come in.
Can you put new lenses in my old frames today?
Usually, yes — as long as the frame is still structurally sound. Bring the frame and your prescription and we'll assess it while you're here.
Do I need an appointment for same-day glasses?
No appointment is needed to order glasses. You only need one for an eye exam. Walk in during opening hours and an optician will look after you.