Archive for the ‘Eyewear purchasing guidance’ category

What Should I Know?

What is pupillary distance? Pupillary distance, also known as “PD,” is the distance between your pupils, and the measurement that is necessary to ensure the correct positioning of your lenses within the frame you have chosen. Your PD is essential to making your glasses and important because it greatly affects the way you see comfortably through your lenses.

How do I Obtain my PD?

When you get your eye exam done, your eye care provider will typically measure your PD for you. When asking for a copy of your prescription, you can also ask for your PD. However, only a few states in the U. S. are required by law to provide you with your PD. But not to worry — firmoo.com gives you a step-by-step guide on how to measure your own PD hassle-free, straight from your home or office.
What is a Normal PD Number?Most adults have a PD between 55-65 millimeters. Most kids’ PD’s are between 42-54 millimeters. You may notice two numbers on your prescription — this is perfectly normal and common. If the first number is higher, like 62/59, then the first number is your Distance PD and the second is your Near PD (for reading-only glasses).
If the numbers are smaller, this means you have a monocular PD; therefore, you have two separate numbers for each eye. In the case that you have two of the same numbers such as “31/31,” you can add the two numbers together to get 62 as your PD. The two numbers do not have to be the same; you may also have two numbers like 32/31, which would add to 63.

Where Can I Find More Information About PD’s?firmoo.com takes pride in being informative and helpful when it comes to all aspects of the optical world. We have our own PD help page on our website with a ton of information and facts to make the measuring process a lot easier. We also offer a printable ruler, which you can download straight from our PD page and you can measure your PD quickly and efficiently without moving away from your computer. If you need help, we have created a tutorial video, which you can use as a guide to learn the proper way to measure your PD.
Overall, your pupillary distance is partially responsible to experiencing clear, comfortable vision in your new glasses. Without a proper PD, your vision may feel off and distorted. Measuring your own PD may seem overwhelmingly to some at first, but with these helpful tools at your side, you’ll become an expert in no time! Come check out all the low prices and quality eyewear at firmoo.com and start measuring!

You might be able to get a lower price for your eyeglasses by ordering online, but is the end result worth the savings?

It is true that some online sites show lower prices on the product, allow you to shop at any time, and have a larger stock than what an optical store might have. However, you aren’t able to try on the eyeglasses so you don’t know if they fit well, are too heavy, pinch your nose or ears, or compliment your facial structure. In addition, the lenses in your frame need to be positioned correctly based upon a measurement of the distance between your pupils which is near impossible to do without the appropriate equipment. Return policies can make it hard to exchange or correct a mistake online too. Ordering bifocals and progressive lenses create another set of challenges if ordering online since they have additional measurements to ensure the end product is accurate.

Instead of dealing with an online unknown, come in to one of our three (3) convenient optical shop locations in Spokane and let the opticians at Spokane Eye Clinic take care of you. Try on as many pair of eyeglasses as you like, make sure the style compliments and fits you, and get measured for accurate lenses. We can even order a specific frame or color of frame for you if necessary. We pride ourselves on making our customers happy with their purchase.

If you’re running into the same issues (and you will when you visit your local optometrist), here’s how you can go about buying your glasses online:

1. You’ll Need your Eyeglass Prescription

If your old eyeglass prescription is still bring clear vision in your present lenses, then call up your optometrist to get your prescription. Note that you will not be able to use a contact lens prescription (the two are different). If your prescription is outdated, then you will have to go to an optometrist to get a new one. General eye exams are usually covered by your vision insurance, if you have one. Check with your vision insurance provider to be certain.

Here are some terms you’ll need to be aware of when ordering.

• OD (Oculus Dexter) means your right eye
• OS (Oculus Sinister) means your left eye
• The Sph or Spherical correction is how near (-) or far (+) sighted you are. If you have ‘PL’, that means you are at zero.
• Add is for bifocals
• Cylinder and Axis is for astigmatism, meaning that your eyeball is not perfectly spherical.

2. You’ll Need your Pupillary Distance

Pupillary Distance (PD) is the distance between your pupils, usually measured in millimeters. Pupillary distance generally falls between 54 and 68 mm. Optometrists will usually take this measurement during your exam, but if they don’t, then you can measure the distance yourself with a mirror and a ruler.

Most optometrists will not write this number on your prescription, because they know that it gives you the ability to shop online. Ask them to write this number in, if they haven’t.

The image below represents an example of a pupillary distance of 62mm.

3. Be Careful of Add-Ons

Eyeglass retailers online will often suck you in with extremely low advertised prices (i.e. ‘Complete set of glasses for only $9!’, however they have add-ons that really crank up the price – anti-reflective coating, anti-scratch, poly-carbonate lens, etc.

The best thing to do is to figure out exactly what you want, and then find out what 3 or 4 different online retailers would sell for that exact same model, so that you are comparing apples to apples. For instance, if you know you want a memory titanium frame with a slight tint and anti-reflective coating then shop around for that exact same pair elsewhere. Some include the add-ons and others don’t, so go with the final price, not the advertised price that gets you in.

4. Shopping for Glasses Online? You Need to Really Look Around for the Best Deal!

When shopping for glasses, don’t worry about the brand. A pair that I purchased under a generic brand was much better than any of the designer comparables that I saw at the optometrist. There are a few retailers that seem to have extremely competitive prices, that I’d recommend comparing to the others:

Personally I do not recommend you to buy varifocal glasses online, because it simply cannot be done due to the complex measurements that would need to be taken by a fully trained dispensing optician. However, most internet based varifocal glasses retailers cannot provide such a service as their businesses are purely based online. Most of the sales staff who work in high street optical stores are more than capable of taking varifocal measurements. The reason that these measurements are required Is because the lens technician, who makes your spectacles, has to align the centre of the varifocal so it sits in front of your pupils. If this measurement was not taken then it is highly likely that you would not be able to see through your varifocal glasses correctly.

The bright frame is the most popular in this year. I would like to note here is the one having been formed by the colorful frames and creative design solutions applied to the frames of the sunglasses. For instance, you can discover the all-black sunglasses with yellow and black patterns like it was in case of Dries Van Noten or the darker eyewear options from Charlotte Ronson, which also added a little bit of mystery to the image of the lady.Moreover, over sunglasses form 2015 eyewear trend I would like to note, focusing on the peculiar and quite creative design interpretations and looks, which are all united in the general group of retro-inspired yet absolutely stylish and cool oval eyewear options. This is what we spotted during the fashion show of Dries Van Noten that came up with the combo of yellow and black tones, Burberry with the frameless reddish options, Rochas with the classic forms of both frames and the glasses putting all in dark tones, Nicole Miller and many others. Hope this helpful.

I don’t know where you got your progressives from but I know at some places they have various types of progressive lenses. Essentially, the higher quality lenses have less distortion at the side so you can focus more in the periphery, but distortion is never completely eradicated and you will have always have some left.Another problem might be that the measurements weren’t taken properly, which is why you may find that you have difficulties focussing. Sometimes even 1 or 2 mm off in the measurements can have an effect on how you see in progressives. Also, maybe the frame you chose may have also played a role in your loss in peripheral vision? If you had a relatively small frame, then you will lose quite a bit of peripheral vision.I think that’s a bit drastic, many people have issues with progressives all the time. Some people will adapt to progressives better than others and some may not really notice the loss in peripheral vision at all and you usually can get a refund or a lens change to see if it works any better for you.

There are lots of great reasons why designer sunglasses are a much better buy than cheap as chips sunglasses from the local Pound Shop. For one thing, you get what you pay for, which means a pair of designer sunglasses will almost certainly last a lot longer than a cheap and nasty pair. And for another, designer sunglasses are just a lot more fashionable than generic cheap shades, which if you care about your appearance is not something to sniff at. With this in mind, here are the top three brands worthy of your cash this year.

Any type of glasses would look perfect with bangs! Only thing is knowing which glasses look ideal with you. To choose what glasses suits you best you have to consider the shape of your face.A long face has a high forehead that bangs cover. The face shortens with an illusion of more width to the face. For a perfect look the wider the glasses the better. Oversized frames work great with your features. Choose a bold shape that compliments your style. Standout by playing with colors and textures!Bangs gives length to a round face. To make it appear thinner and longer, angular narrow glasses lengths the face. Sharpen your softer features with rectangular frames. Choose frames that have bold angular lines. Ensure the bottom hits just above your cheekbones! Hope this helpful.

Keep in mind three basic rules of thumb:

Frames should be in proportion to your face size (a petite woman with delicate features will want a smaller, lighter frame).

Rounder faces look best in frames with some angles.

Angular faces look best in frames with some curves.

Here are five basic face types, with suggestions for the best frame shapes for each:

Round – Full cheeks and lots of curves; looks great in a frame with a little geometric interest — modified rectangles, gently angled teacup shapes, some cat eyes or soft squares.

Square – Angled, perhaps with chiseled features, defined cheekbones or strong jaw; looks best in a frame with gently rounded looks — ovals, almonds, curved cat eyes or aviators.

Oval – Well-balanced from top to bottom; can carry any look. Feel free to try the new and trendy. Just keep the frames in proportion to your face size.

Base Down Triangle – Wide at the bottom (jaw area and cheeks) and narrow at the top (forehead); try frames with strong horizontal lines, or details and accents that draw attention to the top half of the frame and face.

Base Up Triangle/Heart – Wide cheeks and a

– See more at: http://resources.samsclub.com/health-and-wellness/Eyeglass-Frame-Buying-Guide/#sthash.iOkcKyaq.dpuf

Keep in mind three basic rules of thumb:

• Frames should be in proportion to your face size (a petite woman with delicate features will want a smaller, lighter frame).
• Rounder faces look best in frames with some angles.
• Angular faces look best in frames with some curves.

Here are five basic face types, with suggestions for the best frame shapes for each:

• Round – Full cheeks and lots of curves; looks great in a frame with a little geometric interest — modified rectangles, gently angled teacup shapes, some cat eyes or soft squares.
• Square – Angled, perhaps with chiseled features, defined cheekbones or strong jaw; looks best in a frame with gently rounded looks — ovals, almonds, curved cat eyes or aviators.
• Oval – Well-balanced from top to bottom; can carry any look. Feel free to try the new and trendy. Just keep the frames in proportion to your face size.
• Base Down Triangle – Wide at the bottom (jaw area and cheeks) and narrow at the top (forehead); try frames with strong horizontal lines, or details and accents that draw attention to the top half of the frame and face.
• Base Up Triangle/Heart – Wide cheeks and a narrow chin; try frames that are wider at the bottom or rimless styles in very light colors or materials.

Purchasing prescription eyeglasses can be an overwhelming process especially with the large amount of options potentially involved: frames, lenses, coatings, tints, quality of materials, warranties, and return policies.  Price, in-office wait time and turnaround time also come into play.

One of the most important decisions involved in this process is decidingwhere to purchase eyewear.  Will an online optical retailer or a traditional, brick-and-mortar optical retailer provide you with the best eyewear purchasing experience?

Here’s an infographic to assist you and/or your employees with deciding which type of optical retailer may be the best choice.  Enlarge the infographic for easier viewing.

Online
Based on the results from using the infographic or in a quest to save time and money, you may decide to purchase eyewear online.  If so, you are not alone, U.S. eyewear consumers purchased 2.3 million pairs of prescribed eyewear online between September 2012 and September 2013.

The ease of being able to shop 24/7 from home, a tablet or even a smart phone is alluring.  And there’s even the added bonus of being able to comparison shop in just a few clicks to get the item you are interested in at the lowest price available.

Purchasing eyewear through an online optical retailer works well for individuals who require minimal assistance.  You can select lenses, coatings and tints.  Although you will not be in an optical retailer’s brick-and- mortar location, you can still enjoy the key step of trying on frames to determine which will look good on your face, fit your individual lifestyle and meet your prescription lens needs.  Depending on the online optical retailer, you can:

• select from frames recommended based on the shape of your face,
• virtually try on different frames by uploading a photo or using a webcam to see frames superimposed onto your image, or
• select frames for the online retailer to ship to you to try on at home.

As with other online purchases, you should be aware of online optical retailers’ warranty and return policies.  Some online optical retailers do not accept vision insurance, so you should be prepared to submit a claim for out-of-network benefits reimbursement.  You should also verify the online optical retailer’s process for using a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for payment.

Brick and Mortar
Based on the results from using the infographic or in an effort to make the decision-making process more simplified, you may decide to purchase eyewear from a traditional, brick and mortar optical retailer.  This approach may work well for individuals who prefer face-to-face interaction and guidance to assist them throughout the eyewear-purchasing process.

You are able to try on frames at the optical retailer’s brick-and-mortar location. An experienced eyecare professional can help you select the right frames and lenses that will look good and fit correctly on your face, fit your individual lifestyle and meet your prescription lens needs.

These eyecare professionals provide advice and make recommendations on the spot, while an online retailer may not provide access to someone who can answer questions as quickly. Eyecare professionals can alsoprovide additional insight on specific eyewear concerns and product updates.

Once your eyeglasses are ready, you will be able to have adjustments made right in the office to ensure proper fit and comfort along with being able to confirm you are able to see clearly prior to leaving the office.  You can also return to the eyecare professional’s office to resolve any issues you may experience with your eyewear.  Many common issues can be resolved in the office in a matter of minutes.

With vision insurance, you may enjoy greater cost savings on materials when using an in-network provider.  You can also enjoy the convenience of using your FSA for your exam and/or purchase(s).

Although it may be easy to get caught up in the numerous options, it is important to remember that eyewear is a medical device.  Using the infographic and the information in this post, you and/or your employees will be able to potentially identify which type of eyewear retailer will work best for you.  Whether you choose to purchase eyewear online or at a brick-and-mortar retailer, it is possible to have a less overwhelming, more positive experience and, ultimately, improved vision.

Which type of optical retailer  is right for you–online or a traditional, brick-and-mortar location? And what tips do you provide your employees to encourage vision benefits utilization?

Translated from http://blog.alwayscarebenefits.com/purchasing-eyewear-retailer-infographic/