Buying spectacles online.

[RogerM]

I mentioned on this threada couple of year back that I would be tempted to buy specs online the next time I needed them. That time came a couple of months back. I have a simple and fairly weak correction for both long and near sight, and both eyes are the same. I did a lot of research online and eventually bought 2 pairs.

The first came from Spex4less. I have previously tried varifocals and couldn't get on with them. When I nearly clipped a car in a carpark I threw in the towel and went back to single prescription lenses, but I find that I can't watch TV and read a newspaper and magazine at the same time without switching specs, so I have opted for bifocals. I got a new prescription from a high street optician, and the best price that they could come up with for very ordinary frames was £162 inc non scratch, non reflective coatings. Spex4less have provided a very comfortable pair of semiframeless bifocals, with the same coatings for £65.

I then wanted a second pair of distance glasses for driving with clip on polarised sun specs, and having heard great things of
Zennioptical bought a lovely lightweight pair of semiframeless distance glasses with polarised clip ons that fit to the bridge with tiny magnets so no problem with heavy clips damaging the lenses. These set me back $37.90, which appeared as £26 on my visa bill, and arrived in 8 days from China.

I am delighted with both pairs. They are a massive improvement on the old pair they replaced which had been provided at great expense on the high street and wouldn't hesitate to use either company again. The only reason I went for Zennioptical for my 2nd pair was that spex4less didn't do the magnetic clip ons. I can wear both for hours at a time without any eyestrain, headaches etc, which is more than can be said for my previous pair.

I now expect to be shot down in flames by the opticians here, but I am very happy with the results, and the extra £200+ I have in my account.

 

[ste_5150]

Thanks for the info - I'm due new specs soon so I'll be trying one of the companies. My prescription's a bit awkward because of astigmatism, but I'm sure at least one of them will cater for that.

Cheers

 

[BMac]

Ste_5150,

Let us know how you get on please because I am in the same boat as you and glasses cost me a fortune - especially the 2 for 1 deals because I've discovered too late that the deal only applies to the frames!

Brendan

 

[newt]

Roger I have not tried verifocals as they are not cleared for flying, I have also heard they are a problem when going down stairs. It looks as though you have a good deal, may give that a try.

 

[ByronBlack]

How did you supply the hight measurment for the bifocal to the online company? Do they advise you how to measure it, or do they use a 'default' height?

I'm just intrigued, because all my years in optics, the heights of the segment have always been measured as each frame sits differently on the face, and a few mm high or low can have a large impact on the use of the addition segment of the bifocal.

Despite being in optics myself, i'm not going to lambast you, even I've purchased from an online spec supplier (note: most aren't opticians, and many don't even have to have one in their company to supply glasses).

Also, just another side note. There's a large difference in lens quality from the online suppliers to high-street suppliers (depending on the invidual company of course). The online places usually use the bottom end of lenses and rarely offer the advice/info required for all prescription and frame choices. So, although I think for basic presriptions these places are a good choice, there is still no good alternative to the advice from a real optical practice.

Newt - varifocals are fine for stairs, driving etc.. there are many types of lens design, and in all my years, I've yet to meet anyone that can't get on with atleast one type of design, it's just a case of figuring out the patience's requirements and dispensing the correct lens type, this is where the large chains fail beacuse they are usually tied into just one or two types of design, whereas the smaller independent practices (like where I work currently) can offer a range of almost any lens type.

ste_5150 - Astigmatism shouldn't be an issue, its' the most common eye defect, most companies cater for a range of +/- 3.00 cylinder in stock (the astigmatism correction).

 

[Paul Chapman]

I have not tried verifocals as they are not cleared for flying, I have also heard they are a problem when going down stairs.

Pete, the only "problem" with varifocal glasses, in my experience, is that there is no clear dividing line between close-up and distance, so your brain/eye co-ordination takes a while to get used to which part of the lens to look through. This probably takes up to a month when you first use them and then a week or so every time you get a new pair with a different prescription, but after that it all becomes automatic and you don't even think about it. Having had them for several years now, I wouldn't go back to bifocals.

The falling down stairs problem is usually an old man thing or too much alcohol :lol:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[RogerM]

How did you supply the hight measurment for the bifocal to the online company? Do they advise you how to measure it, or do they use a 'default' height?

I'm just intrigued, because all my years in optics, the heights of the segment have always been measured as each frame sits differently on the face, and a few mm high or low can have a large impact on the use of the addition segment of the bifocal.

Byron - I had already tried on loads of frames, and by a process of elimination concluded that a lens depth of less than 33mm would put the bifocal too high. I also ensured that I had the correct bridge measurement and arm length, and measured the pupil distance myself. I had never used bifocals before, but find what I have are just right. What I wanted was an all purpose pair of specs - but if I want to sit down and have a lengthy read, or peruse plans etc, I will still use a normal pair of reading glasses. The bifocals just enable me to go out with one pair rather than have to keep changing over.

One of the reasons I chose specs4less was their no quibble exchange or money back policy if I decided to reject the specs for any reason - including just not liking them.

Pete - my brother-in-law is a retired Airbus captain and needed both distance and reading prescriptions. He had problems reading switches on the panel above the windscreen and overcame it with have a pair of executive bifocals with a very high cut - about 50% as I recall. This is far higher than usual and the optician made him sign a disclaimer in case they were not right as they were against his recommendation, but it solved the problem for him.

 

[oddsocks]

How did you supply the hight measurment for the bifocal to the online company? Do they advise you how to measure it, or do they use a 'default' height?
.

Last year i had laser surgery so now only use glasses for computer /reading (sainsburys +1 off the peg ones) as laser cannot correct for old age close up weakness.

Before that I had varifocal (never went for bifocals) and in virtually every case I had to get them changed because the 'invisible' transition was 2mm out and gave me neck ache as I was always looking down to see long distance. This was with a number of different optician.

The other thing I discovered with varifocal was that (take specsavers as an example) they have 3 lense prices - the more you pay, the more of the lens actually stays in focus (particulary at the sides).

 

[woodbloke]

I'm just intrigued, because all my years in optics, the heights of the segment have always been measured as each frame sits differently on the face, and a few mm high or low can have a large impact on the use of the addition segment of the bifocal.

I had a decent pair of varifocals made up at a place in town (he undercut SS's price) and the guy altered this distance by making the depth of the lense bigger than standard. The specs when they came looked great but I had to tip me bonce right back to use the bottom part of the lens...never again :x Even though SS's cost both arms and legs for their gogs, at least you can see what you're getting and they don't mess about with them - Rob

 

[thomvic]

As a full-time specs wearer for nigh on 50 years (changing approx every two years) I have tried them all.

I had varifocals as soon as they were available and still swear by them. I have had a few 'wrong uns' along the way but got them corrected (or replaced) with little hassle.

You will have no problems with well prescribed lenses, well fitted to your choice of frames and well fitted to your face. Reading, driving, going up or down stairs, watching TV should all be quite natural without tipping your head back or forward unnaturally in any situation. But only if your varifocals are right.

You cannot hope to get them right without a good professional optician.

Richard

 

[ByronBlack]

I'm just intrigued, because all my years in optics, the heights of the segment have always been measured as each frame sits differently on the face, and a few mm high or low can have a large impact on the use of the addition segment of the bifocal.

I had a decent pair of varifocals made up at a place in town (he undercut SS's price) and the guy altered this distance by making the depth of the lense bigger than standard. The specs when they came looked great but I had to tip me bonce right back to use the bottom part of the lens...never again :x Even though SS's cost both arms and legs for their gogs, at least you can see what you're getting and they don't mess about with them - Rob

Rob, that is a classic example of the guy dispensing you not getting the fitting heights correct, it sounds like they were fitted to low in the frame, or you needed a shallower corridor of progression, so that the distance between the reading and distance isn't so long.

It's not really anything to do with it being SS or not, in my experience, the staff in the chains aren't all trained before they are allowed to dispense, it takes 2-3 years to become a dispensing optician, and the chains mostly hire sales staff and give them a few weeks training before they are let loose on the public (I know this as I was one of them, before I saw the light).

At the end of the day, the only way to get a correctly fitted pair of varifocal or bifocal or even an unusually high single vision prescription is to go to a professional practice with experienced professional staff who know what they are doing, and of course a capable lab technician like my good self

 

[Digit]

What would I want with new specs? There's nothing wrong with the old ones. It's my eyes that are buggered! :lol:

Roy.

 

[2020]

I agree with thomvic and Byron Black.

Buying specs. is neither an impulse purchase nor should it be a "shopping around" affair. The profession is well trained and highly regulated ( unlike the internet sites ) no matter if you attend a multiple practice or an independent.

There is no sustitute for an experienced professional dealing with your problems on a long-term basis. This applies to most professions from electricians to G.P.'s