- The Appeal of Buying Glasses Online
- The Risks of Buying Glasses Online
- Special Considerations for Kids Glasses
- Why You Should Consider a Reputable Source
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
In today’s fast-paced world, the convenience of online shopping has revolutionised the way we purchase everything from groceries to gadgets. This shift has also extended to eyewear, making it easier than ever to buy glasses online. Whether you’re looking for stylish frames, prescription lenses, or even kids glasses online, the digital marketplace offers a plethora of options at your fingertips.
However, with this convenience comes the need to make informed decisions. Whilst you are perfectly within your rights to purchase your eyewear from the supplier of your choice; the pros and cons of buying online glasses is crucial to ensure you get the best value and quality for your needs. Unfortunately, online glasses often fall short of this mark.
Let us take a look into this debate further. Please note, this information is targeting an audience in the UK – although many points do transfer to the purchase of glasses online in other countries.
Disclaimer
This post is written by an optometrist. Whilst I work within the eye care industry, my roles as a locum optometrist and associate lecturer mean that I have no financial incentive as to where you buy your spectacles from. The aim of this post is to cover the pros and cons of purchasing your eyewear online, allowing you to have the information to make an informed choice.
Whilst my professional opinion is that you should purchase your glasses from the location that you had your eye examination, I respect that there are reasons why you may choose not to do so.
The Appeal of Buying Glasses Online
There are several reasons why you may be tempted to buy glasses online. This section looks at some of them.
Convenience and Variety
One of the most significant advantages of choosing to buy glasses online is the unparalleled convenience it offers. Shopping from the comfort of your home eliminates the need to visit multiple stores, saving both time and effort.
With just a few clicks, you can browse through an extensive selection of online glasses, ranging from basic frames to trendy brand names. This vast array of options gives you a wide variety of choice to suit your style and needs.
However, it’s important to note that certain groups are protected under the Opticians Act 1989. Specifically, individuals under 16, those who are sight impaired or severely sight impaired, and those with complex prescriptions (that is when a pair of glasses requires a power in at least one direction of more than +/- 10 dioptres) must (by law) have their glasses dispensed and fitted by a registered professional. This legal requirement ensures that these individuals receive the appropriate care and attention necessary for their unique needs.
If you see an online marketplace selling to these protected groups in the UK, do realise they are breaking the law by doing so. This may even raise questions about other legislation that they may be breaking or failing to adhere to with regards to your rights going forward.
Cost Savings
Another compelling reason to buy glasses online is the potential for significant cost savings. Online retailers often have lower overhead costs compared to brick-and-mortar stores, allowing them to offer competitive prices.
Additionally, many online glasses retailers provide frequent discounts and promotions, making it even more affordable to purchase eyewear. Whether you’re looking for your main pair or a few spare pairs to keep around the home, the lower price can seem attractive.
Additionally, many online glasses retailers frequently provide discounts and promotions, making it even more affordable to purchase eyewear. Whether you’re looking for your main pair or a few spare pairs to keep around the home, the lower price can seem attractive.
That said, do keep in mind the phrase “you get what you pay for“. Whilst you may think that you are just paying for the glasses that you are buying; the majority of the price you are paying at your optician’s practice is for their recommendations, measurements, fitting and dispensing skills that you do not receive when you buy online. The price often accounts for the time and expertise required for future adjustments and for any further clinical time needed should you not adapt to the prescription.
Furthermore, it is general agreement from many within the eye care industry, that many online companies fail to deliver the high quality spectacles that meet your needs. Lower quality frame and lens materials, poorer lens coatings and, in some worse case scenarios, flimsy construction or being made up incorrectly to the prescription supplied (source: Which?, 2019). These not only result in a lesser quality product, but also pose a safety risk.
Advertisements and Promotions
It’s hard to not notice adverts for glasses are everywhere. Whilst Specsavers and Vision Express do a great job of offering their services; I often find there are more adverts for companies that allow you to buy glasses online than for their bricks-and-mortar counterparts.
2 for 1’s, buy-one-get-one-free, save 50% on a second pair and all these other promotions can be very tempting, especially as buying glasses can be a significant purchase in these tougher economic times.
That said, the offers and promotions aren’t only for the online glasses companies! Many opticians offer promotions on their glasses and, if it isn’t well advertised in store, there is no harm in asking if there are any offers to encourage you to buy that second pair!
You may also see celebrities or brands recommending these companies online, offering their own promotion code affiliate link. It can be quite tempting to follow the influence of these celebrities but remember, often there is a payment made for their shout-outs and they may not be promoting the product based on how they have found their shopping experience.
The Risks of Buying Glasses Online
We have covered the appeals of buying online and with that also touched upon some of the risks associated with those appeals. We now shall look at the more significant risks associated with buying glasses online.
Quality Concerns
When you choose to buy glasses online, one of the primary risks involves the quality of the lenses and the durability of the frames. Unlike purchasing from a physical store where you can inspect the product firsthand, online glasses may not always meet your expectations.
Issues such as subpar lens quality, which can affect your vision, and fragile frames that break easily are common concerns. Ensuring that the online retailer has a good return policy and reading customer reviews can help mitigate these risks, but they don’t eliminate them entirely.
Remember, when you buy online, you are removing the value of the dispensing team that not only perform the vital measurements, but also the significant time, expense and effort spent resourcing high quality frames and lenses to ensure your glasses meet your needs.
Fit, Comfort and Measurements
Ensuring a proper fit is a significant challenge when buying online glasses. Without the ability to try them on before purchasing, finding a pair that fits comfortably and looks good can be difficult.
Measurements like pupillary distance (PD) are crucial for the correct alignment of lenses. Incorrect PD can lead to visual discomfort, eyestrain, headaches, and even double vision. While some online retailers offer virtual try-on tools, their accuracy depends on various factors, including your ability to perform measurements accurately, the quality of your camera, and the alignment of any images you share.
A common question is, “What is my PD?” The answer is more complex than just a number. Many people think it’s simply the distance between the eyes, but it changes depending on whether you’re looking at something up close or far away. Additionally, a more precise measurement considers the distance each pupil sits from the nose, as faces aren’t always symmetrical. Ignoring this can lead to significant vision issues with the glasses, such as eyestrain, headaches and even double vision.
Please note: whilst it is a legal requirement that an optometrist provide you with a copy of your optical prescription following the eye examination – there is no requirement to provide you with other measurements that would be required to dispense that prescription into a pair of glasses.
(Optical Consumer Complaints Service).
The PD isn’t the only measurement to consider when dispensing glasses. Back vertex distance (how far the lenses sit from the eye), pantoscopic tilt (the angle of the lenses), and heights (the vertical position of the pupil in the lens) are also important. These measurements are nearly impossible to take without trying on the frame in advance, which is why it’s rare for online retailers to ask for these details when you buy glasses online.
Given these points, often the source of non-tolerance to a prescription does not lie within the prescription itself, but how it is dispensed. Keep this in mind when choosing who and where to buy your glasses from.
Prescription Accuracy
One of the most critical risks associated with buying glasses online is the accuracy of the prescription. Studies have shown that a significant percentage of online glasses have errors in their prescriptions.
For instance, UK consumer watchdog “Which?” (2019) found that 1 in 4 glasses bought online did not meet British Standards. The USA faired slightly better as the journal “Optometry and Vision Science” (2021) highlighted that almost 1 in 10 prescriptions from online vendors did not meet national standards for optical quality.
Errors in prescription accuracy can arise from various sources, including incorrect measurements entered during the ordering process and quality control issues at the supplier. This is also on top of the consideration that the prescription from the optometrist is accurate!
Errors in prescription accuracy can arise from various sources, including incorrect measurements entered during the ordering process and quality control issues at the supplier. The accuracy of the prescription provided by your optometrist can also be a factor.
With so many potential sources of error, purchasing glasses from the practice where you had your eye test can help centralise these factors, making it easier to rectify any problems that may develop. It is therefore no wonder that the College of Optometrists state “as prescribing and dispensing of spectacles are closely linked it is best to have your spectacles dispensed where you have your eyes examined.“
Special Considerations for Kids Glasses
To start, I will bring back the reference to the Opticians Act 1989 Section 27 regarding supply of prescription glasses and that they cannot be supplied to a person under the age of 16 unless under the direct supervision of an optometrist, dispensing optician or ophthalmic medical practitioner.
Therefore, any business that is selling prescription glasses to under 16-year-olds is breaking the law. As such, you may wish to consider any other laws these companies may be disregarding should they be deliberately ignoring this well-known rule within the optical industry.
So why do under 16s have special consideration?
Importance of Protected Spectacle Sales for Under 16s
Ensuring that children under 16 have protected spectacle sales is crucial for several reasons. One of the primary concerns is the risk of amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye.” This condition can develop if vision problems are not corrected early (or appropriately), leading to permanent vision impairment. The early years are a critical period for visual development, and timely intervention with properly fitted glasses can prevent long-term issues.
Additionally, children’s eyes and facial structures are constantly growing and changing. This means that the fit of their glasses needs to be regularly adjusted to ensure comfort and effectiveness. Poorly fitting glasses can cause discomfort, poor vision correction, and even hinder a child’s willingness to wear them consistently.
Professional adjustments are essential to accommodate these changes. A registered optician can ensure that the glasses fit well and that measurements like pupillary distance (PD) are accurate. This is particularly important for kids glasses online, where the risk of incorrect measurements is significantly higher.
By protecting the sale of spectacles for under 16s, we ensure that children receive the appropriate care and attention needed for their visual health, supporting their overall development and well-being – as well as the best chance of having great vision for life.
Why You Should Consider a Reputable Source
Many of these points will have been covered during the discussion of the appeals of buying glasses online, but I do want to provide this section for ease of reading.
Expert Guidance
When it comes to purchasing glasses, seeking the advice of a reputable optometrist or dispensing optician is invaluable. Dispensing opticians provide professional guidance tailored to your specific needs, ensuring you select the right frames and lenses.
This personalised advice is crucial for achieving optimal vision and comfort, something that can be challenging to obtain when you buy glasses online. Dispensing opticians can also help you understand your prescription in detail, ensuring you make informed decisions about your eyewear.
Quality Assurance
Choosing a reputable optician guarantees high-quality lenses and frames that meet industry standards. Dispensing opticians are committed to providing eyewear that is durable, effective, and safe.
This level of quality assurance is often lacking when you buy glasses online, where the risk of receiving subpar products is higher. By purchasing from a trusted optician, you can be confident in the quality and reliability of your glasses.
Accurate Measurements
Accurate measurements are essential for the proper fit and function of your glasses. Dispensing opticians have the expertise to take precise measurements, such as pupillary distance (PD) and heights, which are crucial for ensuring your glasses provide optimal vision correction.
These professional measurements reduce the risk of errors that can occur when guesstimating them yourself when you buy glasses online without expert assistance.
After-Sales Service
The ongoing support and adjustments provided by a reputable optician are invaluable. Dispensing opticians offer comprehensive after-sales services, including adjustments and repairs, ensuring your glasses continue to fit well and function correctly over time.
This level of support is often missing when you buy glasses online, where after-sales service can be limited or non-existent. By choosing a reputable optician, you have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can rely on professional help if any issues arise with your eyewear.
This level of support is often missing when you buy glasses online, where after-sales service can be limited or non-existent. By choosing a reputable optician, you have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can rely on professional help if any issues arise with your eyewear.
Remember – all of these services are often included in the price of your spectacle purchase from your optician. Choosing to buy glasses online means you are opting not to pay for the professional services provided to ensure you get the best outcome from your glasses and can make things difficult to put things right should things go wrong.
Conclusion
In summary, while the convenience of buying glasses online is appealing, it’s essential to balance this with the need for quality and accuracy. The risks associated with online purchases, such as incorrect prescriptions, poor fit, and subpar materials, highlight the importance of professional guidance and precise measurements.
For the best outcomes, especially for children and those with complex prescriptions, it’s advisable to purchase glasses from the optician who conducted your eye test. This ensures you receive high-quality eyewear tailored to your specific needs, along with the ongoing support and adjustments that only a reputable optician can provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following section looks at frequently asked questions regarding buying glasses online. Please consider reading these prior to commenting questions below; although comments asking questions will be answered in due course.
Is it safe to buy glasses online?
While it can be convenient, there are risks such as incorrect prescriptions, poor fit, and subpar materials. It’s crucial to ensure the retailer is reputable and offers quality assurance.
It is NOT safe to buy kids glasses online, glasses for those with sight impairment or for complex lenses.
What are the benefits of buying glasses online?
The main benefits include convenience, a wide variety of styles, and often lower prices due to reduced overhead costs and absence of the professional advice and skills of registered optometrists and dispensing opticians.
What are the risks of buying glasses online?
Risks include receiving incorrect prescriptions, poor fit, lower quality materials, and lack of professional adjustments and after-sales service.
Why is it important to get glasses from the optician who did my eye test?
The optician who conducted your eye test can ensure accurate prescriptions, proper fit, and provide ongoing support and adjustments, which are crucial for optimal vision and comfort.
Additionally, as an aside, most optician practices provide eye examinations at a significant loss due to underfunding by the NHS and commercial competition. Therefore practices rely on cross-subsidy of glasses sales in order to operate. Failing to support the optician that provided your eye exam risks that optician not surviving the market conditions and as such may not be around to provide the service that you choose to visit them for. Please keep this in mind if you plan to take your prescription elsewhere.
Can I buy kids glasses online?
Whilst you can buy glasses for children online, any online retailer that does so is breaking the Opticians Act 1989 (i.e. breaking the law in doing so).
Online glasses for children may be cheap, but the risks of harming the development of their eyes and vision is much greater and MUST be avoided at all costs.
How do I ensure the correct fit when buying glasses online?
In short – you can’t.
You may be able to ask your optician to provide these measurements for you, but do not be alarmed if they charge for the service that they provide. Remember, these measurements are taken by professionals that may be accountable for the information/service they provide and as such ought to be compensated for appropriately.
What should I look for in a reputable online glasses retailer?
If you have made an informed choice based on this article and still wish to buy glasses online then look for retailers with good customer reviews, clear return policies, quality assurance, and options for professional adjustments.
What should I do if my online glasses don’t fit properly or have the wrong prescription?
Contact the retailer immediately to discuss return or exchange options. Reputable retailers should have policies in place to address these issues.
Some online retailers may provide credit towards the cost of having a local optician look at troubleshooting the lenses. It is often a sizeable credit (often more than what you may have paid for the glasses themselves…), of which should highlight the value that goes into obtaining these measurements in the first place.
The Optical Confederation advises that you should first discuss the difficulties with the dispensing practice (i.e. the retailer that sold you the glasses) rather than the prescribing practice (where the eye test took place) to remedy the issue.
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