FramesDirect.com

Co-founders Dhavid Cooper, OD and Guy Hodgson, OD are both originally from South Africa where they moved from to the United States in the 1980s. The two business partners had several optometry practices in Houston, Texas operating from 1986 until 1994 when they had an opportunity to sell their offices. After taking a year off, the two co-founded FramesDirect in 1996 and launched FramesDirect.com later that year. In 2010, Essilor, a prescription lens manufacturing company, acquired the majority stake in FramesDirect.com. Shortly after, Essilor partnered with FramesDirect.com to create and launch MyOpticalOnline.com, an online service that allows independent eyewear practices to sell their products online. The company has been recognized by the MassMutual Financial Group and U.S. Chamber of Commerce with a Blue Chip Enterprise Award, and in 2000, FramesDirect.com was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. == Operations ==

Frames Direct sells over 250 brand name frames such as Ray-Ban and Oakley, which consumers can search for and purchase on their own at any time on the company's website. Consumers can purchase frames, prescription eyeglasses, prescription or plain sunglasses, and contact lens refills. FramesDirect.com has a customer service team staffed by opticians that are available on the phone or over online chat. == Armed Forces Eyewear ==

Armed Forces Eyewear (AFEyewear) is a division of FramesDirect.com that provides additional discounts to military personnel and their families, the national guard, reserve members, veterans, and first responders. AFEyewear uses the customer's name and birth date to verify his or her active or former military status and then offers eyewear products with a 30 percent discount off the listed retail price. AFEyewear.com was merged into FramesDirect.com and is now offered as discounts via AFEyewear Member rewards. ==References==