Buying online with high prescriptions?

[KF]

Hi guys,

Like a lot of readers (I'm guessing) I heard about buying online just
recently, after reading the Slate article. It was a godsend — I'm just
out of college, and trying to make ends meet is hard enough without
trying to work in contacts (expensive) and glasses (even worse). Just
days after fretting about the price of new glasses to a friend, I read
the article, and got excited. I even coughed up the money for an eye
exam, which was long overdue, because I knew that glasses were an
option.

I mentioned my plan to the optometrist I saw — and she was skeptical,
to say the least. She said that if I were looking at a low power
prescription, that would be one thing, but that mine was just too
strong and the risk of a bad pair too high. (I'm -4.25 in one eye, -5
in another.) Then, speaking with the women in the front of the office,
getting my prescription — let alone my PD — was like pulling teeth. I
walked out of the office with both, but felt a little sick and
stressed out about the whole thing.

Have people have good (or bad) experiences with high prescription
glasses bought online? Any tips or tricks? I have a couple of pairs on
Goggles4U that I was interested in but now I have cold feet.

I appreciate the help (and the service this web site provides!),
K

[Ira Mitchell]

K,

I'm a -4.25 / -3.75 and used to get suckered into the high index
lenses for all of my glasses. I can afford them now online, but with
the narrower lenses rarely get them. You might want them mid-index at
least, bit your prescription does't appear to be that high. I know
there are many people who have ordered online with stronger
prescriptions than yours.

Sounds a bit like another instance of a frightened optometrist to me.

- Ira
http://glassyeyes.com

[Chuck Knight]

First off, your prescription is hardly that strong  We have members here who have much stronger corrections...and they buy glasses, online, successfully.

The trick is to provide the dispensary with accurate information...and as much of it as you can.  You have your PD and your prescription, so you have all the information you're going to need.  Check the dimensions of your current frames and stay somewhat close to that...certainly for a first pair.

Accuracy.  My own glasses, though nowhere near as strong as yours, are an *exact* match to my prescription.  My ophthalmologist tested them for me, and was shocked that they got the axis exactly right...usually this is where any lab can mess up, from what he was telling me.  He also told me that he's tested quite a few pairs this year...most were within tolerances, but mine were the only pairs (he has tested several pairs for me) this year that were absolutely perfect...well, at least through the first 6 months of this year.

After your first successful pair it gets easier to trust the online merchants. 

My usual suggestion is to skip a few coffees this week, and save the pennies.  When you have about $10 or $20 saved up, go someplace and buy the least expensive pair you can, as a practical test.  There are retailers that sell complete pairs for as little as $7.95...  Do pay the extra couple of dollars for the anti reflection coating, though...it's a very nice extra.  You really can get a darned nice pair of glasses for $8-20.

Oh, and let me just say that I practice what I preach.  I'm wearing a pair of $8 glasses, as I type this, and they work great.

     -- Chuck Knight

[Paul]

I had no problem getting an accurate prescription from two places
(Zenni and Eyebuydirect) for a -6.50 prescription. The Zenni lenses
were 1.57 index, and the EBD lenses were 1.50.

Unless you get lenses much larger than maybe 45 mm, I don't think
you'll have much of a thickness problem with a -5.00 prescription,
even with 1.50 index lenses, which are made from a material (CR-39,
which is usually called "standard plastic" at the stores) with
especially good optical properties.

[Fred Di]

-5 perscription is hardly strong. Zenni goes up to -19, and they
don't have a surahcge until its over -8 Order one pair from Zenni, if
you don;t like them your only out $13 ($8 plus $5 s/h) But you'll
like them, and want to order them in many different styles and colors.

Optical shop people are highly threatened by On-LIne glasses. The
reaction is an emotional one, and behaviour is bizzarre. They have
been raping the public for 100 years and getting away with it. I
imagine they all have a big laugh after the store close at all the
fools who paid $250 for glasses that cost $5 to make.

An option is not to mention on-line, but tell them that your brother
owns an optical shop on the other side of the country, and your going
to call him with your scirpt and he'll mail you your glasses for free,
thats why you need to PD.

[Chuck Knight]

Or, assuming you don't actually have an optometrist brother, you could just tell them the truth...tempered, of course.  Something like:

"Ouch, sticker shock!  I think I want to shop around before committing to anything *this* pricey."

Then, turn and start to walk out...but, oh, you remember something and turn back towards the salesgirl.

"Oh, and before I leave, let me check something...  (Look at your prescription)  I want to make sure you wrote down my PD.  That way I can be sure that I have *all* my information, while I'm price shopping..."

That type of approach always worked for me...anywhere from WalMart to a highfalutin specialist.

     -- Chuck Knight