After years of litigation, LensCrafters customers who purchased prescription eyeglasses after being fitted with the company’s AccuFit Digital System between 2013 and 2023 may soon receive compensation from a $39 million class action settlement. The Final Approval Order was granted on September 27, 2024, with payments expected to begin distribution in April 2025.
This settlement resolves allegations that the eyewear retailer made misleading claims about its measurement technology, promising precision that allegedly wasn’t reflected in the manufacturing process. If you purchased glasses from LensCrafters during the class period, here’s what you need to know about this significant consumer settlement.
The Lawsuit Behind the AccuFit Class Action Settlement
The class action lawsuit, titled Ariza et al v. Luxottica Retail North America (Case No. 17-cv-5216), was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The litigation began in 2017 when several consumers accused Luxottica Retail North America, which operates LensCrafters, of engaging in deceptive advertising practices regarding its AccuFit Digital Measurement System.
The plaintiffs claimed LensCrafters violated consumer protection laws in multiple states, including California, Florida, and New York. Specifically, they brought claims under:
- The California Consumers Legal Remedies Act
- The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act
- New York General Business Law § 349
- New York General Business Law § 350
- Unjust enrichment under Florida law
Though the case progressed through several years of litigation, both parties ultimately chose to resolve the dispute through settlement rather than proceeding to trial.
Key Allegations Against LensCrafters AccuFit
According to court documents, the central allegations focused on specific claims LensCrafters made about its AccuFit technology, which was introduced around 2011. The company allegedly marketed the system as:
- “Five times more precise” than traditional measurement methods
- Capable of measuring “down to a tenth of a millimeter”
- Providing customers with “clearer, crisper vision”
- Helping customers “see the world more clearly”
The plaintiffs argued these representations were false and misleading because LensCrafters allegedly never updated its manufacturing process to produce glasses to a 0.1mm specification as implied. They further claimed such precision would not have been clinically significant even if implemented.
Importantly, the lawsuit did not allege that the prescription eyeglasses purchased from LensCrafters were defective or harmful. Rather, the plaintiffs claimed consumers paid more than they would have if these representations had never been made.
LensCrafters’ Response to Allegations
Throughout the legal proceedings, LensCrafters strongly denied all allegations of wrongdoing. The company maintained that it:
- Stands behind the quality of its prescription eyewear
- Did not make material misrepresentations about AccuFit or its manufacturing process
- Believes in the superiority of AccuFit measurements and the benefits provided to customers
- Offered AccuFit as a complimentary service without additional charge or price increases
LensCrafters argued that since customers didn’t pay extra for the AccuFit service, they couldn’t have suffered financial harm as claimed in the lawsuit. Despite these denials, the company agreed to the settlement to avoid further litigation costs and risks.
The court made no determination regarding which party was correct, as the settlement was reached before such findings would have been necessary.
Who Is Eligible for Compensation?
The settlement covers a nationwide class defined as:
“All U.S. residents who, from September 5, 2013 to September 20, 2023, purchased prescription eyeglasses in the United States from LensCrafters after being fitted with AccuFit.”
Several groups are specifically excluded from the class:
- LensCrafters employees, officers, and directors (and their immediate families)
- LensCrafters’ legal representatives, heirs, and successors
- Judges who presided over the matter (and their immediate families and judicial staff)
If you’re unsure about your eligibility, the settlement administrator can help verify your status through the official settlement website, by phone, or via email.
AccuFit Class Action Settlement Benefits and Payout Structure
The $39 million settlement fund established by LensCrafters will be used to:
- Provide payments to eligible class members who submitted valid claims
- Cover attorneys’ fees (up to 33â…“% of the settlement fund, or approximately $13 million)
- Reimburse litigation expenses (up to $2.75 million)
- Pay service awards to class representatives (up to $10,000 each)
- Fund notice and administration costs
After these expenses are deducted, the remaining amount (the Net Settlement Fund) will be distributed to class members who submitted approved claims. Each eligible claimant may receive up to $50 for each pair of prescription eyeglasses purchased from LensCrafters during the class period.
However, if the total value of approved claims exceeds the available funds, payments will be reduced proportionally on a pro rata basis to ensure all claimants receive some compensation.
Important Dates and Timeline
The settlement process has followed a structured timeline with several key dates:
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Approval | September 2023 |
| Objection Deadline | January 29, 2024 |
| Exclusion Deadline | February 5, 2024 |
| Final Approval Hearing Originally Scheduled | February 26, 2024 |
| Final Approval Hearing Actually Held | March 27, 2024 |
| Final Approval Order Entered | September 27, 2024 |
| Claim Deadline | 30 days after Final Approval (Oct. 2024) |
| Anticipated Distribution | April 2025 |
The claim filing period has now closed. Eligible class members who submitted valid claims should watch for their payments, which are expected to be distributed in April 2025.
The Claim Process Explained
For those who filed claims before the deadline, the process was designed to be straightforward. Claimants could submit claims:
- Online through the settlement website (AccuFitClassAction.com)
- By mail to the settlement administrator
To file a claim, class members needed to provide:
- Basic contact information
- Information about their LensCrafters eyeglass purchases
- Either proof of purchase or a statement under penalty of perjury confirming they purchased prescription glasses after being fitted with AccuFit
While initial notices suggested proof of purchase might be required, the updated claim process indicated that proof was not mandatory. However, class members had to certify the truthfulness of their claims under penalty of perjury.
What This AccuFit Class Action Settlement Means for Consumers
This settlement highlights the importance of accuracy in marketing claims, particularly for products that affect consumers’ health and well-being. While LensCrafters continues to deny wrongdoing, the substantial settlement amount demonstrates the potential consequences when companies face allegations of misleading advertising.
For affected consumers, the settlement provides some compensation, though the individual amounts may be modest. Perhaps more significantly, the case may prompt more transparent marketing practices in the eyewear industry going forward.
It’s worth noting that by participating in the settlement, class members gave up their right to sue LensCrafters separately over these specific issues. Those who wished to retain this right had to exclude themselves from the settlement by the February 5, 2024 deadline.
Next Steps for Class Members
At this stage, the claim filing period has ended, and the settlement has received final approval. Class members who submitted valid claims should:
- Keep their contact information updated with the settlement administrator
- Watch for communications regarding payment distribution
- Expect to receive their payment around April 2025
For questions or updates about the settlement, class members can:
- Visit the official settlement website: AccuFitClassAction.com
- Call the settlement administrator: (833) 933-8668
- Email: [email protected]
- Write to: Ariza et al v. Luxottica Retail North America, Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, PO Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324
The settlement administrator is the only official source of information regarding payment distribution and timeline updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is AccuFit?
AccuFit is LensCrafters’ proprietary digital measurement system introduced around 2011. It’s a technology that uses digital tools to measure various aspects of a customer’s eyes and face to help determine the optimal placement of lenses within eyeglass frames.
LensCrafters marketed AccuFit as a more advanced alternative to traditional manual measurement techniques, claiming it could measure with greater precision “down to a tenth of a millimeter.”
The system typically involves having customers sit in front of a specialized device that takes various measurements, potentially including pupillary distance (the space between your pupils) and other optical measurements needed for properly fitting prescription lenses. AccuFit was offered as a complimentary service to customers purchasing prescription eyeglasses at LensCrafters locations.
2. Why did I receive a notice about this settlement?
If you received a notice, it’s because LensCrafters’ records indicate you may have purchased prescription eyeglasses after being fitted with AccuFit during the class period (September 5, 2013 to September 20, 2023).
This doesn’t automatically mean you’re eligible, but it suggests you might be part of the affected class. If you received a notice with a Class Member ID, this would have helped streamline your claim process.
3. I missed the claim deadline. Can I still submit a claim?
Unfortunately, if you missed the claim deadline (which was 30 days after the Final Approval Order was entered on September 27, 2024), you generally cannot submit a late claim. The settlement agreement strictly enforces these deadlines to ensure timely distribution to validated claimants.
However, if you believe exceptional circumstances prevented you from filing on time, you might contact the settlement administrator directly to inquire about potential options.
4. How much money will I actually receive from the settlement?
While the settlement provides for payments of up to $50 per pair of prescription eyeglasses purchased, the actual amount may be less. The final payment depends on:
– The total number of valid claims submitted.
– The number of eyeglasses each claimant purchased.
– The amount remaining in the Net Settlement Fund after attorneys’ fees, expenses, and administration costs.
If the total value of all claims exceeds the available funds, each payment will be reduced proportionally to ensure everyone receives something. The exact payment amount won’t be known until all claims are processed and validated.
5. When and how will I receive my payment?
According to the settlement website, payments are anticipated to be distributed in April 2025. The settlement administrator will likely issue payments in the form you selected on your claim form—typically either check or electronic payment, depending on the options that were available.
Be sure to keep your contact information updated with the settlement administrator, especially if you move or change your email address before distributions begin.
6. Does this settlement mean LensCrafters’ AccuFit technology doesn’t work?
No, the settlement doesn’t make any determination about whether AccuFit works or not. The lawsuit alleged that specific marketing claims about the precision of AccuFit were misleading, not that the technology itself was ineffective or that the eyeglasses were defective. LensCrafters continues to deny all allegations and stands by both its AccuFit technology and the quality of its eyeglasses.
The settlement is simply a resolution to avoid further litigation, not an admission of wrongdoing or a court judgment about the technology’s effectiveness.
