Most of us have become accustomed to the ease and convenience of shopping online. The choices seem endless; it’s easy to compare brands and prices, and you can do it without leaving the comfort of your favorite chair (or having to get dressed!) But is it always a good idea?
When it comes to prescription eyewear, the answer is no.
Although online options for buying your eyeglasses and contacts have increased dramatically, it is still better to visit your optometrist in person for this service.
That’s because getting the best quality, style, and fit for your face is not as easy as uploading your prescription and choosing some frames.
Except when involving the most basic corrective lenses, ensuring your prescription works as intended requires precise measurement of your pupil and analysis of your eye shape and movement – something that is hard, if not impossible, to do on your own. Not only that, a fitting specialist can advise you on the best size and shape for both your face and your specialized prescriptions, such as progressives.
Eyeglasses should do much more than flatter the face of the wearer, but a lot of skill goes into ensuring this happens. If prescription placement is not precise, vision will still be blurred leading to eyestrain and headaches. As much as 50% of eyewear ordered online is incorrect on the initial order.
Even in-person appointments can require the refitting or reshaping of frames and refining of prescriptions. Imagine the online back-and-forth necessary in tweaking prescriptive lenses. Returning and exchanging eyewear ordered online is not always easy — or even possible — and must be done through the mail. When this happens, the process doesn’t seem nearly as easy and convenient as promised.
And while many list saving money as a top motivator for shopping for their eyeglasses online, they often find lower quality the biggest reason behind cheaper frames and lenses. All aspects of eyewear from lens quality to the materials and hinges used in the frames can affect not only how long your frames will last, but how they will sit on your face.
Having to replace or repair your eyewear more often is a major hassle, and it can end up costing more.
Even if you are willing to accept the of risk buying your eyewear from an online retailer, one thing you should never do is let an online eye test provided by some of these brands substitute for an annual eye exam.
A licensed eye specialist from King & Rose Optical uses state-of-the-art digital technology to not only ensure you have the best vision possible, but to monitor your overall eye health. We can watch for signs of developing or existing ocular conditions and common eye diseases, such as dry eye, glaucoma and cataracts, and track changes over time, which is very important to your long term vision prospects.
King and Rose Optical provides excellence in eye care to patients across the greater Austin area. Our in-house optical store allows you to see, touch, feel and try on frames from designer eyewear brands from around the world, and our optical team will assist you in selecting the perfect pair for your face. Our goal is to ensure you look and see your best with precision lenses and the highest quality frames.