Ordering glasses online

Ordering glasses online

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Discussion

8bit

Original Poster:

5,003 posts

162 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Anyone here used OpticiansDirect.co.uk? I need some new varifocals and the ones I like seem very well priced on this website, to the point of seeming too good to be true. Trustpilot reviews seem overwhelmingly positive. I have my prescription from a local optometrist which I got a couple of weeks ago so what could possibly go wrong, as they say?

Alternatively, the frames I want are from Oakley. I can order direct from them and they do lenses as well, are their lenses much/any better than high-street opticians or other online ones?

Actual

1,035 posts

113 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
I have ordered from Glasses Direct a few times.

I sent them a Specsavers prescription and an older pair of Specsavers fitted glasses for them to take off physical eyeball measurements.

Specsavers were a bit pissed when I told them.

Slowboathome

4,460 posts

51 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Glasses Direct have been excellent when I've ordered from them.

They got my varifocals right first time - something the local high street optician couldn't manage.

AndyAudi

3,265 posts

229 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
I ordered a replacement set of oakleys from then early 2021,
No probs at all,

Just checked at they’ve a deal on the ones I have so about £100 cheaper!!

Speed Badger

2,944 posts

124 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Yes I always use online glasses companies, just upload your prescription and they will do the rest. Only downside is you can't try on the frames, but some have a virtual try on where it scans your head on your phone and uploads a 180° view if the frames on you. I got a pair of carbon fibre Ray Bans for just over £100, would've cost near £250 going through the opticians bricks and mortar shop.

a340driver

304 posts

162 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
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.

AndyAudi

3,265 posts

229 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
8bit said:
Anyone here used OpticiansDirect.co.uk?

Alternatively, the frames I want are from Oakley. I can order direct from them and they do lenses as well, are their lenses much/any better than high-street opticians or other online ones?
FYI

They probably saw me coming !
(I do have a small Oakley logo etched on my lenses)


8bit

Original Poster:

5,003 posts

162 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
Thanks all. OpticiansDirect don't seem to do Oakley varifocal lenses, only reading or distance, whereas Oakley.com will let you specify varifocals. The part I'm unsure about is whether or not Oakley prescription regular lenses are worth the premium or not. For my prescription sunglasses I will stick with Oakley though.

Actual

1,035 posts

113 months

Monday 15th April
quotequote all
A couple of years ago I was shocked to find out that many many glasses logos are owned by one global company.

What company owns the glasses industry?
The global eyeglasses industry was worth $105.56 billion in 2020, of which Luxottica controlled 80 percent. The company estimates that over half a billion people worldwide are currently wearing their glasses.13 Aug 2022

Who is the largest eyewear provider?
The Luxottica Group is the largest eyewear company in the world. As a leading name in the eyewear industry, Luxottica designs, manufactures, and distributes a wide array of eyewear brands.29 Jan 2024

Hugo Stiglitz

38,038 posts

218 months

Tuesday 16th April
quotequote all
Glassesdirect here- no issues. Used them for 10+ years

SlimJ

393 posts

236 months

Tuesday 16th April
quotequote all
Actual said:
A couple of years ago I was shocked to find out that many many glasses logos are owned by one global company.

What company owns the glasses industry?
The global eyeglasses industry was worth $105.56 billion in 2020, of which Luxottica controlled 80 percent. The company estimates that over half a billion people worldwide are currently wearing their glasses.13 Aug 2022

Who is the largest eyewear provider?
The Luxottica Group is the largest eyewear company in the world. As a leading name in the eyewear industry, Luxottica designs, manufactures, and distributes a wide array of eyewear brands.29 Jan 2024
You'll find quite a few of the online players are also owned by EssilorLuxottica, including Glasses Direct - https://www.essilorluxottica.com/en/brands/direct-...

8bit

Original Poster:

5,003 posts

162 months

Tuesday 16th April
quotequote all
SlimJ said:
Actual said:
A couple of years ago I was shocked to find out that many many glasses logos are owned by one global company.

What company owns the glasses industry?
The global eyeglasses industry was worth $105.56 billion in 2020, of which Luxottica controlled 80 percent. The company estimates that over half a billion people worldwide are currently wearing their glasses.13 Aug 2022

Who is the largest eyewear provider?
The Luxottica Group is the largest eyewear company in the world. As a leading name in the eyewear industry, Luxottica designs, manufactures, and distributes a wide array of eyewear brands.29 Jan 2024
You'll find quite a few of the online players are also owned by EssilorLuxottica, including Glasses Direct - https://www.essilorluxottica.com/en/brands/direct-...
After my last post I did some more reading and found pretty much that - Essilor/Luxottica just about own the whole show. The lenses I'd selected on OpticiansDirect are "Crizal Prevencia", which are made by Essilor. I'm presuming therefore that the Oakley "own-brand" lenses will probably be the same thing, more or less.