Need Glasses? 2 Reasons not to Buy Online

Need Glasses? 2 Reasons not to Buy Online

These days, you can buy just about anything online, including eyeglasses. Instead of visiting a store in person and sorting through hundreds of frame options, you might be able to take advantage of your laptop's camera to virtually try on frames that meet your criteria. While shopping for glasses online might be convenient, that simplicity can come with a price - your vision and comfort.

Learn why you should meet with an eye doctor in person and skip the online shopping.

1. Buying Online Might Mean Skipping an Exam

Sometimes, people opt for online glasses shopping because it means that they don't need a current glasses prescription. Instead of visiting their doctor to have an eye exam, they might shuffle through old papers to find their numbers from a few years back, and order online based on that information.

However, meeting with your eye doctor regularly is crucial, especially if you have already been diagnosed with vision problems. Because doctors check for issues like degenerative vision problems, glaucoma, eye infections, color blindness, and even retinal detachment, skipping your exam in favor of an online ordering platform could cause you to develop serious issues that could have been prevented.

For instance, your vision may suffer because of a lingering eye infection or you may have floaters because of an impending retinal detachment. An eye doctor can catch these issues and take measures to prevent them from causing permanent vision damage. This can't happen if you skip your eye exam.

2. Increased Risk of Incorrect Prescriptions

Fabricating eyeglasses is more complicated than punching in a few numbers. In addition to using your exam results to order the right pair of lenses, each pair of glasses also sits slightly differently on your face, which is why professionals measure your pupillary distance before creating a pair of glasses.

Your vision is clearest when the focal point of glasses sits directly in front of your pupils, but unfortunately, pupillary distance can be tricky to measure on your own.

Oftentimes, online ordering platforms ask people to measure their own distance by making marks on their current glasses with dry erase markers or having a friend use a measuring tape to measure from eye to eye. However, getting the number wrong, even by a few millimeters, can significantly alter your prescription.

An incorrect prescription can cause issues like headaches, blurred vision, vertigo, and even nausea. Unfortunately, many people who order their glasses online end up with an incorrect prescription. In fact, one study showed that 44.8% of glasses ordered online contained incorrect prescriptions.

On the other hand, when you visit your eye doctor in person, your doctor will carefully prescribe and check your prescription. If you have problems with your glasses after they are fabricated, doctors can verify your pupillary distance and prescription and make a new set if necessary.

Additionally, opticians can help you to know which lenses will tackle your common vision complaints. For example, if you are severely nearsighted and are nervous about heavy glasses, they might suggest polycarbonate or high-index lenses. If you struggle with night vision, anti-reflective coatings might be best to minimize glare. By working with professionals, you can ensure that your glasses contain an accurate prescription and lenses that will keep you comfortable.

If you are thinking about investing in a new pair of eyeglasses, don't hesitate to reach out to the professionals. At Family Eye Care, we are dedicated to providing each and every one of our customers with the best service possible. In addition to helping with preventative vision exams and proactive treatments, our experienced, certified eye doctors can also help with vision-correction surgery. Stop by today to learn more.