Patient Guides / How to See a Doctor
A Foreigner's Guide to Eye Care and Getting Glasses in China
Summary: Losing or breaking your prescription glasses while traveling or living abroad can feel like a disaster. Fortunately, if this happens in China, you are in exactly the right place. The optical industry here is fast, highly advanced, and incredibly affordable — offering both rapid in-store services and lightning-fast online delivery.
Author: China Medical Info Published or updated: May 2026 Read time: 7 min read
Editorial And Source Review
Editorial review: China Medical Info Editorial Team. Last content check: July 3, 2026. Educational scope, clarity, verification pathways, and safety disclaimers. Not clinical review, diagnosis, treatment guidance, legal advice, visa advice, or insurance advice.
Official Source Paths
Use these official sources to verify current rules, policies, services, or payment requirements before acting on this educational guide.
- National Health Commission - Official English-language public health, hospital, health policy, and service information.
- State Council health and policy resources - Official English-language public-service and policy resources for healthcare and living in China.
Eye care in China is delivered through two main channels: hospital ophthalmology departments for medical eye care, and physical optical shops or glasses malls for vision correction. For those who already know their prescription, China's powerful e-commerce and delivery apps offer an unbeatable layer of convenience, allowing you to order customized glasses or contact lenses directly to your door.
Where to Get Eye Exams and Glasses
Whether you need a quick replacement pair, a specialized medical eye exam, or want to order online, you have several excellent options: - Optical shops (眼镜店) — For standard prescription glasses, local optical shops found on any high street are the fastest option. They provide on-site eye exams, frame selection, and lens cutting — often delivering finished glasses in 1 to 2 hours - Glasses markets (眼镜城) — Major cities like Beijing and Shanghai have dedicated optical malls with multiple floors of vendors. These markets offer immense variety, from basic frames to designer styles, at highly competitive prices - Hospital ophthalmology departments (眼科) — If you need a comprehensive medical eye exam or have a complex prescription, visiting a public hospital or private eye clinic is the best choice. Hospitals provide highly accurate refraction tests (验光) - Online platforms (Taobao, JD, Meituan) — If you already know your exact prescription, buying glasses online via Taobao or JD.com is incredibly affordable with delivery in just a few days. For urgent needs, Meituan can deliver basic reading glasses or lenses from nearby pharmacies to your hotel in under an hour If you are unsure of your current prescription, visit a physical shop or hospital first for a free or low-cost eye test before exploring online options.
The Step-by-Step Process for Buying Glasses In-Store
Getting a new pair of glasses at a physical Chinese optical shop is straightforward, even if you do not speak fluent Chinese. - The eye test (验光) — Most optical shops will test your eyes for free if you buy frames or lenses from them. Show them your old glasses so they can measure your current prescription, or use a translation app to request an eye test - Choosing frames and lenses — You will find a vast selection of frames. For lenses, shops usually offer upgrades like blue-light blocking, transition lenses, or ultra-thin high-index lenses. Basic lenses are perfectly fine for most standard prescriptions - Waiting and fitting — Because lenses are usually cut and fitted on-site, standard prescriptions are often ready within 1 to 2 hours. Once ready, staff will adjust the frames to ensure they sit comfortably on your face If your prescription is particularly strong or complex (such as high astigmatism or progressive lenses), the shop may need to order lenses from a factory, which can take a few days.
Buying Contact Lenses and Supplies Online
If you wear contact lenses, replenishing your supply in China is remarkably easy and perfectly suited for online delivery — no doctor's prescription required. - Instant delivery (Meituan / Ele.me) — If you run out of daily lenses or contact solution at night, search for your brand on Meituan or Ele.me and a courier will deliver from a nearby pharmacy or optical shop within 30 to 60 minutes - E-commerce (Taobao / JD) — For bulk buying or specific international brands, Taobao and JD.com offer the widest selection at the lowest prices. Simply input your prescription details (power and base curve) during checkout - Knowing your prescription — The easiest way to buy the right lenses online or in-store is to have a photo of your old contact lens box. This ensures you match the exact power (diopter) and brand Major international brands like Acuvue, Bausch + Lomb, and Alcon are widely available across all these platforms, alongside high-quality domestic and Japanese/Korean brands.
Summary
Whether you need an eye exam and a custom pair of glasses from a local shop, or just want to use Taobao and Meituan to deliver contact lenses to your hotel, eye care in China is fast, modern, and highly convenient. By utilizing both physical stores and China's incredible delivery networks, you can easily handle any vision needs during your stay.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, treatment guidance, emergency triage, referral, or appointment booking. Verify current hospital procedures directly with hospitals and consult qualified healthcare professionals for medical decisions.