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How to Buy Glasses Online: Find Your Perfect Pair in 6 Simple Steps!

For many people, buying glasses online can seem like a balancing act of convenience and uncertainty. The idea of ordering frames with just a few clicks is fantastic, but there’s always the lingering question: Will they look and work as expected? If you’re new to purchasing eyeglasses online or have concerns about the process, fret not! This comprehensive guide will walk you through the six simple steps to confidently order prescription glasses online, ensuring you find the perfect frames and lenses for your needs.

Why Order Eyeglasses Online?

Ordering glasses online offers numerous advantages. First and foremost, online retailers can accommodate almost any prescription, ensuring you can find the right glasses to improve your vision. Whether you require single-vision, bifocal, or progressive lenses, reputable online optical retailers have you covered.

Beyond convenience, there are other compelling reasons to buy glasses online. Let’s explore some of the key advantages:

1. Wide Selection of Frames

When you shop for glasses online, you gain access to a vast catalog of frames. Unlike physical stores limited by space, online retailers can showcase a broader range of styles, colors, and materials. You can explore different frame shapes, sizes, and designs, allowing you to find the perfect pair that matches your personal style and enhances your facial features.

2. Competitive Pricing

One significant advantage of buying glasses online is the potential for cost savings. Online retailers often offer more affordable prices compared to traditional brick-and-mortar stores. This difference in pricing can be attributed to various factors, such as lower overhead costs and direct-to-consumer business models. By purchasing glasses online, you can enjoy significant savings without compromising on quality.

3. Convenient Shopping Experience

Shopping for glasses online eliminates the need to visit multiple physical stores, saving you time and effort. You can browse through various frames, compare prices, and read customer reviews at your own pace and convenience. With online shopping, you have the freedom to explore different options and make an informed decision without feeling rushed or pressured.

4. Home Try-On and Virtual Try-On

One of the unique features of buying glasses online is the ability to try on frames in the comfort of your own home. Many online retailers offer home try-on programs, where they send you a selection of frames to try before making a purchase. Additionally, some retailers provide virtual try-on tools that allow you to see how different frames will look on your face using augmented reality technology. These options enable you to make confident choices and find the perfect frames that suit your style and facial features.

5. Easy Prescription Verification

Ordering glasses online is a straightforward process, especially when it comes to verifying your prescription. You typically only need three things to shop for glasses online:

  1. Your eye prescription: If you already have a current prescription, you can use it to order your glasses online. Make sure the prescription is still valid and matches your current vision needs.
  2. Your pupillary distance (PD): PD is the distance between the centers of your pupils, and it helps ensure that your lenses are correctly aligned for optimal vision. You can easily measure your PD at home or ask your optometrist for the measurement.
  3. Your insurance information (if applicable): If you have vision insurance, it’s essential to have your insurance information on hand when purchasing glasses online. This information will help you determine if your insurance covers any portion of your eyewear expenses.

Step 1: Prepare Your Eyeglass Prescription

Before you begin shopping for glasses online, it’s crucial to have your eyeglass prescription ready. If you’re unsure about your prescription or it has expired, reach out to your optometrist’s office to obtain a copy. Reputable online retailers like JingZi Optical can also contact your optometrist on your behalf to verify your prescription.

Step 2: Find a Trusted Online Optical Retailer

Choosing a reputable online optical retailer is essential to ensure a seamless and satisfactory shopping experience. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting an online retailer:

Aesthetics

Consider whether the retailer offers styles that align with your preferences and self-expression. Browse through their website and check if their frame designs and brand aesthetic resonate with your personal style.

Affordability

Determine your budget for eyeglasses and compare prices across different online retailers. Look for retailers that offer frames at reasonable prices without compromising on quality.

Quality and Materials

Check if the online retailer emphasizes quality and durability in their frame offerings. Look for information on the materials used in their frames and any quality assurance tests they conduct to ensure longevity.

Ethics

If ethical manufacturing and sustainability are important to you, research the retailer’s commitment to these values. Look for brands that prioritize ethical production practices and contribute to the community and the environment.

Customer Service

Consider the level of customer support provided by the online retailer. Are they accessible and responsive to inquiries? Ensure there is a customer service representative available to assist you if you encounter any issues with your order.

Shipping and Returns

Review the retailer’s shipping and returns policies. Check the estimated delivery times and if they offer free shipping or expedited options. Additionally, ensure they have a hassle-free return or exchange policy in case you need to make adjustments to your order.

Reviews and Testimonials

Take the time to read customer reviews and testimonials about the online retailer. Look for positive feedback and indications of customer satisfaction. A loyal following and high ratings are good indicators of a reputable online optical retailer.

Step 3: Pick the Best Style of Eyewear for Your Face Shape

Selecting the right style of eyewear is crucial to enhance your facial features and express your personal style. Here’s a guide to help you choose the best frames for your face shape:

1. Determine Your Face Shape

Identify your face shape by examining the proportions of your forehead, cheekbones, and jawline. The common face shapes include round, oval, square, heart, and diamond.

2. Match Your Face Shape to Frame Styles

Once you know your face shape, you can choose frame styles that complement your features:

  • Round Face: Angular frames with sharp lines and bold designs can add definition to a round face.
  • Oval Face: Most frame styles suit an oval face shape, so feel free to experiment with different designs.
  • Square Face: Curved or round frames can soften the angles of a square face and add balance.
  • Heart Face: Frames that are wider at the top or have decorative details can complement a heart-shaped face.
  • Diamond Face: Look for frames that balance the widest part of your face, such as cat-eye or oval shapes.

3. Consider Frame Size and Fit

In addition to face shape, consider the right frame size for your facial proportions. Frames that are too wide or narrow for your face may not provide optimal comfort or aesthetics. Pay attention to the frame width, bridge size, and temple length when making your selection.

Step 4: Determine the Best Frame Width

Frame width is an essential factor to ensure a comfortable and proper fit. It’s determined by the distance between the outer edges of the frames. To determine the ideal frame width for you, measure the width of your face across the temples and choose frames with a similar width.

Step 5: Choose Your Lenses and Coatings

When purchasing glasses online, you have a range of lens options to consider:

  • Single-vision lenses: These lenses correct vision at a single distance, whether for distance, intermediate, or near vision.
  • Bifocal lenses: Bifocals have two distinct areas of vision correction, typically for distance and near vision.
  • Progressive lenses: Progressive lenses, also known as multifocal lenses, provide seamless vision correction for distance, intermediate, and near vision without visible lines.
  • Lens coatings: Consider adding lens coatings for enhanced functionality and protection. Popular coatings include anti-reflective coating to reduce glare, scratch-resistant coating to increase durability, and UV protection coating to shield your eyes from harmful UV rays.

Step 6: Place Your Order

Once you’ve selected your frames, lenses, and any additional coatings, it’s time to place your order. Follow the online retailer’s instructions to input your prescription and any other necessary details. Double-check all the information to ensure accuracy.

You’ve Received Your Glasses: What’s Next?

Congratulations! Your glasses are on their way to you. Once they arrive, it’s essential to take a few steps to ensure a smooth transition:

  1. Try Them On: Put on your new glasses and check if they fit comfortably. Ensure the frames sit properly on your face and the lenses are aligned with your pupils.
  2. Adjustments: If your glasses feel tight or loose, most online retailers offer adjustment guides or instructions to help you make minor adjustments at home. However, if you’re unsure or uncomfortable making adjustments yourself, it’s best to seek the assistance of an optical professional.
  3. Get Accustomed: It may take a few days for your eyes to adjust to your new prescription. Give yourself some time to adapt to the clarity and any changes in vision.
  4. Enjoy Your New Glasses: Once you’ve familiarized yourself with your new glasses, it’s time to enjoy the improved vision and style they provide. Take pride in your smart online purchase and revel in the convenience and affordability of buying glasses online.

Remember, ordering glasses online opens up a world of possibilities, allowing you to explore different styles and find the perfect pair that suits your taste and vision needs. So, embrace the ease and convenience of online shopping and discover your next favorite eyeglasses from the comfort of your home.

How to Choose Eyeglass Lenses: A Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to buying eyewear, choosing the right lenses is crucial for optimal vision and overall satisfaction. With a vast array of options available in the market, selecting the best eyeglass lenses can be a daunting task. However, fear not! This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various lens treatment options, helping you make an informed decision based on your visual needs and lifestyle.

Understanding Your Visual Needs

Before delving into lens materials and coatings, it’s essential to determine the type of prescription lenses that will best correct your vision. The two primary categories of prescription lenses are single-vision and multifocal lenses.

Single-Vision Lenses

Distance Correction

If you have nearsightedness (myopia) and struggle with blurry distance vision, single-vision lenses are typically the right choice. These lenses are concave, curving inward to correct your distance vision effectively. Nearsighted prescriptions are denoted by a negative number (-) in front.

Reading Correction

For individuals with farsightedness (hyperopia) and difficulty seeing objects up close, single-vision reading lenses are recommended. These lenses are convex, curving outward to properly correct near vision. Farsighted prescriptions start with a positive number (+). They are designed to enhance vision for objects located approximately 30 cm to 40 cm (11.8 to 15.8 inches) away.

Multifocal Lenses

If you struggle with both near and far distances, multifocal lenses offer a comprehensive solution. Here are two popular types of multifocal lenses:

Progressive Lenses

Progressive lenses provide seamless vision correction for near, intermediate, and far distances. Unlike bifocals, they don’t have a visible horizontal line and offer a more youthful appearance. Although it may take some time to adjust to progressive lenses, many people find them more comfortable and enjoy clear vision at all distances.

Bifocal Lenses

Bifocal lenses are another option for individuals who need both distance and reading correction. These lenses incorporate two prescriptions into a single lens, with the upper part designed for distance vision and the lower portion for up-close vision. Bifocals eliminate the need for carrying multiple pairs of glasses and are an excellent alternative for those who struggle with adapting to progressive lenses.

Lens Coatings, Tints & Other Options

In addition to lens materials, various coatings and tints can enhance the performance and appearance of your eyeglass lenses. Let’s explore some popular options:

Anti-Scratch Coating

Everyday wear and tear can lead to scratches on your lenses. An anti-scratch coating helps protect your lenses from such damage and reinforces them against accidental drops. This coating is particularly useful for safety glasses and goggles. At Eyebuydirect, we include anti-scratch coating for free with all our glasses.

Anti-Reflective Coating

An anti-reflective (AR) coating is a must-have for eyeglass lenses. It reduces glare, halos around lights, and reflections on the back of your lenses, resulting in improved visual clarity. AR coating is especially beneficial for night driving and viewing digital screens. Additionally, it enhances the appearance of your lenses by reducing light reflections from the front, making them almost invisible in photographs and video calls.

Light-Adjusting Lens Technology

Lenses with light-adjusting technology change their tint based on the amount of UV light they are exposed to. They darken when you’re outside and become clear indoors, offering protection from harmful UV rays and providing clearer vision. While light-adjusting coatings cannot be added to sunglasses, most eyeglass lens materials can incorporate this technology. Eyebuydirect offers premium Transitions™ lenses and basic photochromic lenses, both of which are excellent options for those seeking light-adjusting lenses.

Color Tint

If you’re looking for extra visual clarity or want to add some flair to your eyewear, color tint coatings can do the trick. Eyebuydirect offers over ten colors and three intensities for you to choose from. Color tints can enhance your vision and give your glasses a personalized touch. However, keep in mind that color tints are not compatible with polarized or photochromic lenses.

Gradient Tint

Gradient-tint lenses are particularly popular for sunwear. These lenses feature a dark tint at the top, gradually lightening as they move towards the bottom. They offer sun protection while allowing different levels of incoming light. Gradient tints are an excellent choice if you prefer sunglasses that aren’t uniformly dark. It’s important to note that gradient tints are only suitable for lenses with a frame height greater than 36 millimeters.

Polarized Lenses

Polarized lenses are designed to reduce glare reflected from surfaces like water, snow, and roads. This glare reduction enhances visual comfort, making them ideal for activities like driving, water sports, and snow sports. Eyebuydirect offers polarized lenses in standard dark green, dark brown, or dark gray tints. Apart from reducing glare, polarized lenses can add a touch of style to your sunglasses, making them a popular choice for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts.

Mirrored Tint

If you want to add a little extra flash to your sunglasses, consider mirrored lenses. These lenses have a reflective coating available in gold, silver, and blue. Mirrored tints are not only fashionable but also functional, providing additional glare reduction. Athletes, in particular, favor mirrored tints for sports and performance sunglasses.

Water-Repellent Coating

Water-repellent coatings keep rain, water droplets, dirt, and smudges off your lenses, making them easier to clean and maintain. This coating is especially beneficial in rainy weather when droplets can obscure your vision and require frequent cleaning. Lenses with water-repellent coating stay crystal-clear for longer periods, reducing the need for regular cleaning.

UV-Protective Coating

Exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays can lead to various eye problems, including cataracts and macular degeneration. It’s crucial to protect your eyes from UV radiation, and a UV-protective coating on your eyeglass lenses can help. This invisible coating deflects harmful UV rays, acting as sunscreen for your eyes. UV protection is an essential feature for both eyeglass and sunglass lenses.

Blue Light Filtering Coating

Blue-violet light, emitted by digital screens and the sun, can potentially damage our eyes over time. Blue light filtering coatings help reduce our exposure to this harmful light, protecting our eyes from potential long-term damage. These coatings are particularly beneficial for individuals who spend extended periods in front of screens or are sensitive to blue light. By minimizing blue-violet light, these coatings promote visual comfort and eye health.

Lens Index Options

The index of a lens refers to how much light bends as it passes through the material. Higher-index lenses have a higher refractive index, meaning they bend light more efficiently. This results in thinner and lighter lenses, particularly beneficial for individuals with stronger prescriptions. Here are the lens index options available:

1.5 Index — Standard Lens

Standard plastic lenses with a refractive index of 1.5 are an economical option suitable for weaker prescriptions. They are included for free with all Eyebuydirect frames and provide excellent visual correction for SPH (sphere) corrections ranging from +/-2.25 and below and CYL (cylinder) corrections of +/-2.00 and below.

1.57 Index – Thin and Light Lens

For individuals with slightly stronger prescriptions, 1.57-index lenses offer a thinner and lighter alternative to standard lenses. These lenses can handle SPH corrections between +/-2.50 and +/-5.00 and CYL corrections of +/-3.00 and below.

1.59 Index – Polycarbonate Lens

Polycarbonate lenses are renowned for their durability and impact resistance, making them an excellent choice for active individuals or children. These lenses come with a 100% UV-protective coating. Polycarbonate lenses are suitable for SPH corrections ranging from +/-4.25 to +/-6.75 and CYL corrections between +/-2.25 and +/-3.00.

1.6 Index – Super-Thin Lens

Super-thin lenses with a refractive index of 1.6 are a stylish option for people with strong prescriptions or thin frames. They offer exceptional visual correction for SPH corrections between +/-4.25 and +/-6.75 and CYL corrections between +/-2.25 and +/-3.00.

1.67 Index – Ultra-Thin Lens

Ultra-thin lenses with a refractive index of 1.67 ensure that your high-prescription lenses don’t appear bulky. These lightweight lenses provide optimal visual correction for SPH corrections between +/-7.00 and +/-9.00 and CYL corrections between +/-3.25 and +/-4.00.

1.74 Index – As-Thin-as-Possible Lens

Eyebuydirect’s thinnest corrective lenses have a refractive index of 1.74, making them ideal for the highest-powered prescriptions. These lenses are designed to reduce the “coke bottle” appearance that can occur with high-prescription lenses. They are suitable for SPH corrections of +/-9.25 and above and CYL corrections between +/-4.25 and +/-6.00.

Choosing the Best Eyeglass Lenses for You

Your vision is essential to your daily life, so it’s crucial to choose eyeglass lenses that provide optimal visual comfort and clarity. By considering your visual needs and exploring the various lens treatment options available, you can make an educated decision. If you’re still uncertain, we recommend scheduling a comprehensive eye exam with an eye care provider who can assess your eye health and determine the lenses that best suit your vision needs. Take a look at Qingzi Optical’s wide range of glasses and explore the variety of lens options to find the perfect fit for you!

How To Fill Out The Glasses Prescription?

Filling out a glasses prescription involves the following steps, depending on the type of prescription:

  1. Single Vision Prescription: Choose the single vision type and fill in the required information as per the prescription details.

  2. Single Vision Prescription with Prism: In addition to the regular details, you also need to include prism information. Note that Pupillary Distance (PD) is not usually included in the prescription, so you will need to measure and fill in your PD value.

  3. Progressive Prescription: Similar to other prescriptions, ensure to fill in all required details. Again, the PD value needs to be measured and included if it’s not already in the prescription.

  4. Reading Prescription: Fill in the information as per your prescription. Include your PD value if it is not mentioned in the prescription.

  5. Understanding Terms:

    • OD (Oculus Dexter) refers to the right eye.
    • OS (Oculus Sinister) refers to the left eye.
    • PL (Plano) indicates no spherical correction in the eye.
    • DS (Diopter Sphere) means no astigmatism correction is required for the eye.
    • If PL or DS is mentioned in your prescription, the value should be 0​​​​​​​​.

Ensure all the information is filled out accurately to get the correct glasses as per your vision needs.

 

How To Measure Your Frame Size

To measure your glasses frame size effectively, follow these steps:

  1. Starting Point: If you have a pair of glasses that fit well, start by measuring them. The measurements are usually found on the inside of the temple (or arm) of the glasses.

  2. Understanding Frame Measurements: Frame measurements are usually displayed as three numbers separated by dashes (e.g., 48-19-140), indicating:

    • Lens Width: The horizontal width of each lens at its widest point, typically ranging from 40 mm to 60 mm.
    • Bridge Width: The distance between the two lenses, or the space where your frames fit against your nose, usually between 14 mm and 24 mm.
    • Temple Length: The length of the temple (arm) from the hinge to the tip, including the part that sits on your ear, typically 120 mm to 150 mm long.
  3. Lens Height: Sometimes, a fourth number indicates the lens height, which is the vertical height of your lenses measured at the widest point within the frame. This measurement is particularly important for bifocal or progressive lenses​​​​​​​​​​​​.

These measurements help ensure that your glasses fit comfortably and suit your vision needs properly. Remember, all these measurements are in millimeters.

Lenses And Coatings

Here’s an overview of the common types of eyeglass lenses and lens coatings:

Types of Eyeglass Lenses

  1. Glass Lenses: Offer excellent optics but are heavy and break easily, leading to potential eye injuries. They are not widely used today.
  2. Plastic Lenses: Introduced in the 1940s as CR-39 plastic lenses. They are lightweight, inexpensive, have good optical qualities, and are more impact-resistant than glass lenses.
  3. Polycarbonate Lenses: First used in the 1970s for safety glasses. They are lighter and significantly more impact resistant than regular plastic lenses, making them ideal for children’s eyeglasses, safety glasses, and sports eyewear.
  4. Trivex Lenses: Introduced in 2001, these are lightweight, impact-resistant, and a good alternative to polycarbonate lenses.
  5. High-Index Plastic Lenses: Thinner and lighter than regular plastic lenses, introduced over the past 20 years, they have a higher index of refraction and are available in aspheric designs​​​​​​​​​​.

Lens Coatings

  1. Anti-Reflective (AR) Coating: Eliminates reflections from the front and back surfaces of lenses, making them nearly invisible and improving vision for night driving and computer use. It’s highly recommended for polycarbonate and high-index lenses, as well as aspheric lenses.

  2. Scratch-Resistant Coating: While no lenses are 100% scratch-proof, this coating makes the surface harder and more resistant to scratches. Most lenses today, including polycarbonate and Trivex, have built-in scratch-resistant coating.

  3. Anti-Fog Coating: Useful in cold climates to prevent lenses from fogging up when transitioning from cold to warm environments. It can be applied to various types of lenses, including plastic, polycarbonate, and high-index lenses.

  4. Ultraviolet (UV) Treatment: An invisible dye that blocks UV light, protecting eyes from harmful rays. Most plastic, polycarbonate, and high-index lenses have built-in UV protection​​.

  5. Hydrophobic and Oleophobic Surface Treatments: These treatments on AR lenses make them easier to clean by repelling water and oil, similar to nonstick cookware, enhancing the ease of maintenance and lens longevity​​.

Choosing the right lens material and coatings can significantly enhance the performance, durability, and comfort of your eyeglasses.

Blue Light Blocking Lens

Blue light glasses, also known as blue light blocking or filtering glasses, are designed to filter out a portion of the high-energy blue-violet light emitted by electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, and TVs. This type of light is known as high energy visible (HEV) light and can contribute to digital eye strain. The filtering is accomplished through a special coating on the glasses that reflects some of the blue light away from your eyes.

How They Work

  • Blue Light Filtering: The glasses filter out blue-violet light, which is higher energy, but not blue-turquoise light, which impacts sleep/wake cycles. The amount and type of blue light filtered depends on the glasses you choose.
  • Appearance: Some blue light glasses have a yellow tint, while others appear clear. Lenses with a more yellowed appearance tend to filter more blue light than the clearer ones.

Consultation and Usage

  • Consultation: It’s recommended to consult with an eye care professional to determine the right type of blue light protection needed for your specific situation.
  • Screen Hygiene: Regardless of whether you use blue light glasses, practicing good screen habits, like the 20-20-20 rule (looking at an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes of screen time), can help reduce eye strain and the effects of computer vision syndrome.

Symptoms of digital eye strain include blurry vision, headaches, and dry eyes. Making lifestyle adjustments like regular screen breaks and using your phone’s dark mode can supplement the benefits of blue light filtering glasses​​​​​​.

How To Adjust Your Eyeglasses?

Adjusting your eyeglasses at home can be done by addressing common frame problems. Here’s how to handle some typical issues:

  1. Crooked Glasses:

    • Adjusting the Arms: If one side of the frames is higher, gently bend the lower arm at the hinge or where it bends behind your ear.
    • Warm Water Method: Run the arms under warm tap water (not boiling) to make them easier to adjust.
    • Caution: Adjust a little bit at a time to avoid damage.
  2. Glasses Pinching Your Nose:

    • Metal Frames: Widen the plastic nose pads using your thumbs.
    • Plastic Frames: Soak the arms in warm water for 30-60 seconds, then gently apply an upward and outward pressure on the arms.
  3. Glasses Sliding Down Your Nose:

    • Metal Frames: Narrow the nose pads using your thumbs.
    • Plastic Frames: After soaking the arms in warm water, apply a gentle downward and inward pressure on the ends of the arms.
  4. Glasses Too Loose or Tight on Temples:

    • Metal Frames: Use gentle pressure on the frame corners between the arm hinge and the lens to adjust. Apply outward pressure to loosen and inward pressure to tighten.
    • Caution with Rimless, Semi-Rimless, or Plastic Frames: Adjusting these types can be risky and may require professional help.

Always handle your glasses carefully during adjustments and consult a professional if needed, especially for significant adjustments or delicate frames​​.

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