Buying glasses over the net?
Discussion
Total fail for me.
My IPD is large and as soon as I stuck my internet specs on it I felt 11 feet tall and it was too dangerous to walk down stairs. I assumed IPD is in a prescription but maybe it isn't.
Even high street places took 3 attempts to get glasses that weren't a total menace and they're still not as A1 as the ones they replaced.
And that's before you get to frame fitment. You may have the right measurements but that doesn't mean it's a fit you'll like.
Plus they promised 48 hours and took well over a week.
It's a nice idea but I certainly won't ever bother again.
My IPD is large and as soon as I stuck my internet specs on it I felt 11 feet tall and it was too dangerous to walk down stairs. I assumed IPD is in a prescription but maybe it isn't.
Even high street places took 3 attempts to get glasses that weren't a total menace and they're still not as A1 as the ones they replaced.
And that's before you get to frame fitment. You may have the right measurements but that doesn't mean it's a fit you'll like.
Plus they promised 48 hours and took well over a week.
It's a nice idea but I certainly won't ever bother again.
I use www.goggles4u.co.uk
Cheap, take about a week to arrive and can't complain. They're decent almost throwaway spare glasses.
Edited to put the UK Url.
Cheap, take about a week to arrive and can't complain. They're decent almost throwaway spare glasses.
Edited to put the UK Url.
Edited by Jordie Barretts sock on Tuesday 5th March 10:20
Once again this subject.
If you have a relatively simple and not particularly strong prescription then buying specs off the net can work for you.
Otherwise the risk of having issues increases. This is because with complicated and strong prescriptions, and especially with varifocals it gets ever more important for a good dispenser to measure you up with the frames you are choosing to ensure that the lenses end up in exactly the best position and orientation in front of your eyes to give a good result.
There is a lot more than just giving the pupillary distance to the online seller. Fitting height, vertex distance, pantoscopic tilt, facial wrap, are all relevant. The online sellers will use population average figures for these but everyone is different, even sometimes ears aren't at the same height, or patient holds their head at an odd angle, whatever.
Most problems where people find issues are not with the test or the prescription but an issue with .measurement, glazing or fitting.
Net purchasing can work OK, equally it can be a disaster. In interest of full disclosure high street opticians can screw up too, the key is to find one with really knowledgeable staff who do their job properly. Some are great, some are really not.
If you have a relatively simple and not particularly strong prescription then buying specs off the net can work for you.
Otherwise the risk of having issues increases. This is because with complicated and strong prescriptions, and especially with varifocals it gets ever more important for a good dispenser to measure you up with the frames you are choosing to ensure that the lenses end up in exactly the best position and orientation in front of your eyes to give a good result.
There is a lot more than just giving the pupillary distance to the online seller. Fitting height, vertex distance, pantoscopic tilt, facial wrap, are all relevant. The online sellers will use population average figures for these but everyone is different, even sometimes ears aren't at the same height, or patient holds their head at an odd angle, whatever.
Most problems where people find issues are not with the test or the prescription but an issue with .measurement, glazing or fitting.
Net purchasing can work OK, equally it can be a disaster. In interest of full disclosure high street opticians can screw up too, the key is to find one with really knowledgeable staff who do their job properly. Some are great, some are really not.
FiF said:
Once again this subject.
If you have a relatively simple and not particularly strong prescription then buying specs off the net can work for you.
Otherwise the risk of having issues increases. This is because with complicated and strong prescriptions, and especially with varifocals it gets ever more important for a good dispenser to measure you up with the frames you are choosing to ensure that the lenses end up in exactly the best position and orientation in front of your eyes to give a good result.
There is a lot more than just giving the pupillary distance to the online seller. Fitting height, vertex distance, pantoscopic tilt, facial wrap, are all relevant. The online sellers will use population average figures for these but everyone is different, even sometimes ears aren't at the same height, or patient holds their head at an odd angle, whatever.
Most problems where people find issues are not with the test or the prescription but an issue with .measurement, glazing or fitting.
Net purchasing can work OK, equally it can be a disaster. In interest of full disclosure high street opticians can screw up too, the key is to find one with really knowledgeable staff who do their job properly. Some are great, some are really not.
Not wrong. But the OP is looking for some cheap spare glasses.If you have a relatively simple and not particularly strong prescription then buying specs off the net can work for you.
Otherwise the risk of having issues increases. This is because with complicated and strong prescriptions, and especially with varifocals it gets ever more important for a good dispenser to measure you up with the frames you are choosing to ensure that the lenses end up in exactly the best position and orientation in front of your eyes to give a good result.
There is a lot more than just giving the pupillary distance to the online seller. Fitting height, vertex distance, pantoscopic tilt, facial wrap, are all relevant. The online sellers will use population average figures for these but everyone is different, even sometimes ears aren't at the same height, or patient holds their head at an odd angle, whatever.
Most problems where people find issues are not with the test or the prescription but an issue with .measurement, glazing or fitting.
Net purchasing can work OK, equally it can be a disaster. In interest of full disclosure high street opticians can screw up too, the key is to find one with really knowledgeable staff who do their job properly. Some are great, some are really not.
I'm not an expert, but seeing as he only spent £85 on two pairs at Specsavers, I'd venture he doesn't have anything too complicated.
An Internet pair to throw in his glovebox for £15 isn't going to be a problem I would have thought.
Jordie Barretts sock said:
Not wrong. But the OP is looking for some cheap spare glasses.
I'm not an expert, but seeing as he only spent £85 on two pairs at Specsavers, I'd venture he doesn't have anything too complicated.
An Internet pair to throw in his glovebox for £15 isn't going to be a problem I would have thought.
No argument, but isn't it better for people to be slightly more fully informed?I'm not an expert, but seeing as he only spent £85 on two pairs at Specsavers, I'd venture he doesn't have anything too complicated.
An Internet pair to throw in his glovebox for £15 isn't going to be a problem I would have thought.
Thing is these threads tend to go one way, there are the "Well I've gone online and not had an issue" but usually with very little further context.
Wind in a few with the accusations of "Rob dog high st optician just trying to preserve thief level margins." Not true, no personal skin in that game.
As earlier post high st shops can screw up. Minded of the CET workshop where 100+ optometrists and dispensing opticians were asked to measure PD on a model. Around half got it wrong by up to 11mm. What chance a lay person squinting into a mirror? Of course there are the ones where you take an image wearing sample frames. No real experience with that personally, either online or in a store. Can understand the logic though it only deals with part of the requirements, important parts admittedly.
I had great success replacing a pair of Tom Ford frames with these guys:
https://www.opticiansdirect.co.uk/
The lenses were varifocal and reactive. There were several exchanges getting them the photos of my head that they needed and were happy with but the end result was half the price and just as good as the broken ones they replaced.
Maybe I just got lucky, but my wifes had several pairs from them without issues.
https://www.opticiansdirect.co.uk/
The lenses were varifocal and reactive. There were several exchanges getting them the photos of my head that they needed and were happy with but the end result was half the price and just as good as the broken ones they replaced.
Maybe I just got lucky, but my wifes had several pairs from them without issues.
bloomen said:
Total fail for me.
My IPD is large and as soon as I stuck my internet specs on it I felt 11 feet tall and it was too dangerous to walk down stairs. I assumed IPD is in a prescription but maybe it isn't.
IPD is not included in the prescription they give you, I assume its to prevent you getting them from somewhere else/online. If you buy glasses from the high street they'll measure your PD as part of the ordering process. My prescription came from Asda and they included my 'intermediate distance' so I could order a pair for PC use. I think at at the time you could get two pairs from them for less than £100 single lens. I didn't buy from them just took the prescription.My IPD is large and as soon as I stuck my internet specs on it I felt 11 feet tall and it was too dangerous to walk down stairs. I assumed IPD is in a prescription but maybe it isn't.
I think my prescription is quite straightfoward and I used one of the sites online that worked out my PD via webcam using it to order a few pairs from Glasses Direct. Discount code GDTV used to get you two pairs for £15.
I’ve lost so many pairs of glasses leaving them on the dash of the lorry I just buy the cheap £1 / £1.50 for work & have best ( spec savers ) for home / driving the car .
The last time I did my hgv eye sight test I passed without even wearing driving glasses , strange as I always needed them in past to pass , maybe the cheap glasses improve your eye sight , or diabetis under better control is the reason .
The last time I did my hgv eye sight test I passed without even wearing driving glasses , strange as I always needed them in past to pass , maybe the cheap glasses improve your eye sight , or diabetis under better control is the reason .
YorkshireStu said:
I've used RXSport for many years, never a problem. I get my prescription from Specsavers or similar and then upload to my Account on RXSport.
Regular glasses and Oakley's for cycling etc.
Another vote for RX Sport. They sent me multiple frames on loan so I could try them on and see how they looked. When the prescription pair first arrived, something was slightly off. Called them up, sent them a few photos of me wearing the glasses before sending them back for adjustment. They even let me change the frames at this point as I wasn't sure about the colour I'd chosen.Regular glasses and Oakley's for cycling etc.
When the corrected replacements arrived, they were perfect. Their customer service was top notch throughout the entire process.
Been buying from Glasses Direct since ~2020, always delivered quickly and not had a problem with them. Currently have distance and reading glasses following recommendation from high street optician after my last sight test, pleased with the glasses I got especially as they're under £40 for a pair.
I’ve used glasses direct a few times, last time I got 2 x pairs for about £40. You can order a few sample frames to try on at home, to help you choose, then send back free of charge.
I’m about to buy some varifocals but as they are expensive I want to buy them from a bricks and mortar opticians in the hope of getting a decent fitting.
I’m about to buy some varifocals but as they are expensive I want to buy them from a bricks and mortar opticians in the hope of getting a decent fitting.
Edited by The Gauge on Thursday 7th March 19:52
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff