With almost everything available at the click of a button these days, it’s easy to see why buying your glasses online is a convenient and cost-effective option. It’s no wonder that purchasing your prescription glasses online is appealing. They are cheaper to start, and there is a wide variety of frames available. When it comes to your vision, there are a few crucial points to keep in mind before placing that order.
A Prescription Still Requires a Visit to the Optometrist
Even in our digital world, getting a valid prescription still requires an eye examination. Online platforms can’t assess the health of your eyes or detect changes in your vision. Most prescriptions are valid for two years. If yours is close to expiring, it’s best to get a check-up with your optometrist in Canberra before purchasing new glasses. Wearing your prescription lenses with an outdated prescription could lead to blurred vision, discomfort, and eye strain. It is logical to ensure you’re wearing the correct prescription before spending your hard-earned cash on a new pair of glasses. But even with an accurate prescription, we need to consider other factors which may affect how your vision is through your new glasses.
The Importance of Proper Lens Alignment
Prescription lenses provide the sharpest vision when the optical centre of each lens lines up with your pupils. If they’re off even slightly, you may experience blurriness, headaches, or even double vision. Misaligned optical centres with your pupils enhances the prismatic effect of your prescription, especially if you have a higher prescription.
This alignment is usually achieved through two critical measurements:
- Pupillary Distance (PD): The distance between your pupils
- Lens height (or fitting height): Where your pupil sits within the frame of your glasses
Your PD generally stays the same over time, but the lens height varies depending on the frame you choose and how it sits on your face. When ordering glasses online, they often rely on average or default values for these measurements, which may not be accurate for your unique facial structure or frame choice. As a result, ordering glasses online may lead to uncomfortable vision or a longer adaptation period when you use your new glasses.
Other factors, such as frame tilt and the distance between the lens and your eye, are essential and influence how well your glasses perform. At Capital Eye, your optometrist in Canberra, all these factors are considered when dispensing your new pair of glasses. Detailed, precise measurements are taken with the frame sitting on your face to ensure the lenses are dispensed accurately and customised to how you wear your glasses. These measurements are not possible when ordering glasses online.
Online glasses can certainly save money, but there are trade-offs. These include:
- Uncertain lens quality – You might not know which brand or material is being used.
- Inconsistent coatings – Anti-glare or scratch-resistant layers may be lower quality or missing altogether.
- Poor fit for complex prescriptions – Progressive and multifocal lenses especially benefit from precise fitting, which is hard to achieve without in-person measurements.
Even slight inaccuracies can result in visual discomfort, particularly for those with high or complex prescriptions or patients with unique vision requirements.
Love an Online Frame? Here’s the Best of Both Worlds
If you’ve found a frame online that you love, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on lens quality or fitting accuracy. A great option is to purchase the frame and bring it into our practice.
We can:
- Professionally fit your lenses
- Offer lens options that suit your lifestyle and vision needs
- Ensure every measurement is done correctly
- Fit and adjust the frame for maximum comfort
- Use a reputable Australian-owned lens company
The Bottom Line
Online shopping is great for many things. When it comes to your eyes, precision matters. Choosing to have your lenses fitted by your optometrist in Canberra ensures that your glasses not only look good but perform exactly as they should. At Capital Eye, your optometrist in Canberra, our qualified optical dispensers are committed to delivering custom-fit eyewear using trusted lens manufacturers and advanced technology.