Getting glasses and saving money
_ Ordering
eyeglasses online is a way to get glasses and save money doing so. My family
wears glasses. I have bifocals, my wife has bifocals and my teenage kid wears
glasses, probably on her way to bifocals. All together that can make the
eyeglass experience both expensive and memorable. I had my doubts about ordering
online at first. We as a family have been ordering online for a while. Here is
what that looks like. I go to the optometrist and get checked out. I always
hope they say it’s all good, have a nice day however; that is not what happens
though. Turns out my eyes need stronger prescriptions each time. Do you know
anybody else that happens to?
I have learned that when you get you prescription filled out, to ask for your Pupillary Distance or “PD”. This comes up when you order glasses online. This info has not been on multiple prescriptions I have seen, so ask for it. There are two values for pupillary distance. The second value is your near measurement, used in the cases of bifocals. More on prescriptions later.
Now that I have a written out prescription in my hand, I am on my way. Now it’s time to sit in front of the computer and pick out some glasses. We use Zenni optical and plan on trying others out as well. I picked 20 or so different frames I like and put them in “my favorites”. I do this while listening to music of my choosing. So far this is working pretty well. Now I choose a frame. A stainless steel half-rim frame with matching polarized, snap-on magnetic sunshade included. I could not find the built in compass feature.
I now come to the point that I can enter the prescription info. This is very easy as long as you have the PD number. As I mentioned I need bifocals, so I chose progressive, no line type. I also added 10% gray tint to the glasses. This is something I have wanted to do for some time and finally did it. The glasses, as ordered also came with UV protection, anti-scratch coating, a hard case and micro fiber cloth. All that, and free shipping. Grand total, $54.00. I have to tell you, that is a way better price than what I got quoted from the eye doctor. Fact is, you can get bifocals cheaper with these guys, but this is what I did. At this rate if I buy 6 pair of glasses I would save about $1800.00. All of us wear glasses, two of us wear bifocals. This is working out.
So what do I think so far? Well, I had problem loading my picture on the web site so I could use the “virtual try on” feature. To be candid, with the money I saved it didn’t bother me that much. I will fix the picture so it works right though. Now the ball is in their court. They have to put it all together and get it to me. So I wait. I don’t think there is a way around that waiting thing.
The day comes when I get the glasses. US post office. (Not sure what that looks like in 2012). It took about 1 ½ weeks longer then expected. The glasses, that’s what it’s about, are what I expected. I love the 10% tint. And the glasses only needed slight adjustment. I am going to focus on adjustment later. We had already ordered from Zenni optical before this time I am referring to, but that was for my wife and kid. This is the first set of glasses for me, from them. My point is they already set my expectations, and maintained them. Over all I am happy with our online experience. And with the savings will absolutely order online again.
I have learned that when you get you prescription filled out, to ask for your Pupillary Distance or “PD”. This comes up when you order glasses online. This info has not been on multiple prescriptions I have seen, so ask for it. There are two values for pupillary distance. The second value is your near measurement, used in the cases of bifocals. More on prescriptions later.
Now that I have a written out prescription in my hand, I am on my way. Now it’s time to sit in front of the computer and pick out some glasses. We use Zenni optical and plan on trying others out as well. I picked 20 or so different frames I like and put them in “my favorites”. I do this while listening to music of my choosing. So far this is working pretty well. Now I choose a frame. A stainless steel half-rim frame with matching polarized, snap-on magnetic sunshade included. I could not find the built in compass feature.
I now come to the point that I can enter the prescription info. This is very easy as long as you have the PD number. As I mentioned I need bifocals, so I chose progressive, no line type. I also added 10% gray tint to the glasses. This is something I have wanted to do for some time and finally did it. The glasses, as ordered also came with UV protection, anti-scratch coating, a hard case and micro fiber cloth. All that, and free shipping. Grand total, $54.00. I have to tell you, that is a way better price than what I got quoted from the eye doctor. Fact is, you can get bifocals cheaper with these guys, but this is what I did. At this rate if I buy 6 pair of glasses I would save about $1800.00. All of us wear glasses, two of us wear bifocals. This is working out.
So what do I think so far? Well, I had problem loading my picture on the web site so I could use the “virtual try on” feature. To be candid, with the money I saved it didn’t bother me that much. I will fix the picture so it works right though. Now the ball is in their court. They have to put it all together and get it to me. So I wait. I don’t think there is a way around that waiting thing.
The day comes when I get the glasses. US post office. (Not sure what that looks like in 2012). It took about 1 ½ weeks longer then expected. The glasses, that’s what it’s about, are what I expected. I love the 10% tint. And the glasses only needed slight adjustment. I am going to focus on adjustment later. We had already ordered from Zenni optical before this time I am referring to, but that was for my wife and kid. This is the first set of glasses for me, from them. My point is they already set my expectations, and maintained them. Over all I am happy with our online experience. And with the savings will absolutely order online again.