Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone has had a first-hand experience of buying prescription glasses online? I've seen this site: http://goggles4u.com around and have marvelled how they can sell a complete pair of glasses for less than $50 delivered.
Has anyone here ever tried and vouch for quality? Any tips on buying online? Any other sites recomended? I probably need a 1.67 index as my prescription is quite high.
Thanks for the useful info. I'll get my PD measured next time I go to the optometrists. I did a mock purchase on Zenni Optical, just to see the delivery costs to Australia, but allowed delivery method is only US shipping.
Do you remember how much shipping was?
PS. 3 pairs, not at the same time, I presume? :)
You can order from Zenni being overseas or at least I did a few years ago.
But I have ordered from Select Specs and found their service great. As for PD you can order from Select a little measuring device to do this.
Or if you have a healthfund you can check out ausspecs
A great tip is to use the SEARCH function here and you'll find many comments on various companies and Ozbargainers experiences
Just type "glasses" and see
goggles4u has free shipping, and I just got this coupon code sent to me if you decide to go with them: 4t5r33r should get you 30% off.
edit: found this guide to buying glasses online: http://www.selectspecs.com/info/glasses-guide-buying-glasses…
I've ordered from goggles4u twice and found them to be excellent. Shipping was relatively fast (I think the website is American but the glasses ship from Pakistan?), and I couldn't believe the quality.
I paid hundreds of dollars for my glasses at the optometrist and extra to "grind the lenses down" to fit in my frames (I have a strong prescription), but are still too thick and stick out the sides. The goggles4u glasses are perfectly thin and fit in the frame fine. So i'm starting to think I have been ripped off by my local optometrist!
Also they tend to have coupon codes. Check out http://glassyeyes.blogspot.com for the latest ones. I got free frames with my order both times, even though the coupon was supposed to have expired it worked.
I'm going to attempt to order some prescription sunglasses next, hopefully they turn out as good.
I don't think getting your glasses online will be such a good idea. There are just so many lens design involved. If they've buggered up the lens design, you will have a hard time adapting to the glasses especially if you have a high script. You might experience bowing effects and the floor coming up at you and stuff. With getting your gls at the optometrist, at least they give you a peace of mind by explaining the most suitable lens for you. And you can always stroll back into the optom to get them to fix it up for you. Because generally, they have a warranty of 1yr and if you can't adapt into them. They'll either refund fully or swap you into another lens design free of charge.
And plus, what if the glasses you get online doesn't fit well on your face. Are you ready to twist and bend the arms of the glasses and risk breaking them in half and also not being able to line your pupil up with the actual optical centre? If your're looking for just a pair of spares, sure why not. But if it's your main pair that you wear around all day, then I strongly suggest against it. Especially if you require progressive/multifocal lenses.
That's what your PD is for (should be on the script, if not you can measure it yourself), and with my high script the lenses have turned out fine.
Yep you are correct about the inability to return these items because the frame doesnt suit, unless they have made an error in making these up.
But returning frames isnt that easy here if you make an error in judgement after they have made them up.
AND the cost differential is massive. I got my glasses which I have been wearing for almost 2 years for $55.00 shipped. This was after I had a major fight with a local "discount" retailer here where I had paid $300 AFTER my health fund rebate where I am on max benefits.
Why did I have the fight? like acidburn2 I have a high index prescription and this twerp at the budget retailer couldnt bevel the lenses or have them place in the centre of the frame so they wouldn't look so large on the edges.
To my way of thinking I could order 5 different frames and still be ahead, AND I could drop my healthfund level down to basic, and save save save.
We have so many optometrists in this country each major shopping has about 5 or more. Each pays these centres enormous rents and most have hardly anyone in them when you go past - how do they survive? Yep they charge us. The mark up on these glasses in Australia are enormous.
And we do support the local optometrist by having our prescriptions paid for here.
It's so expensive to do them here I just paid $600+ @OPSM for my glasses (frame + lenses). I'm thinking of getting another spare.
Here's a copy of my prescription…is this enough info to do an order online?
Right:
Addition: 1.75
PD Far: 29.5
PD Near: 0.0
Sphere: +1.50
Cylinder: - .50 X 95
Prism Up(+) Dwn(-): + .00
Prism In(+) Out(-): + .00
Left:
Addition: 1.75
PD Far: 31.5
PD Near: 0.0
Sphere: +1.50
Cylinder: - .50 X 95
Prism Up(+) Dwn(-): + .00
Prism In(+) Out(-): + .00
Do I need any others info as I haven't order prescription glasses online before.
Looks about all you need for the lenses. Just have to work out the style of specs you need. In that you need to know things like the length of the arm etc. You can get these off your current specs. Go to the various sites many will give you good guidance on this
acidburn, it's not as easy as u make it sound for people who needs multifocal or extended range glasses. You have to measure the PD, the seg height and mark the engravings on the lenses specifically to the lens brand/design to get it all lined up properly. ozpete, u make a very valid point on the cost of glasses here. It's much cheaper to get it overseas and stuff.
Some optometrists don't make the glasses on site, they send it out to the lens company and gets them made up there. It's so much better when they do this because, in the labs, they have all these state of the art equipment and are usually very accurate. The optometrist should do a final check on these glasses too, making sure that there are scratch free, fits right and the script's right too. You can always ask them about it too.
If you guys are having positive outcome from these online shops, I suggest you keep using them. But always beware, if your're optometrist decides that it's time to put you into an extended range/multifocal/bifocal glasses, it'll be much better to get it at the optom as there are LOTS more measurements to be done to make them fit properly. Trust me on the measurements part, unless you're like a dispenser or an optometrist yourself, don't even try to make an attempt. Powerrevolution, what type of lenses are you in at the moment? Because, although there's a near add, you might not necessarily have them put into your glasses. If it's anything apart from a single vision distance or single vision near glasses, don't order online. If it's just single vision, why not, take a stab. If other ozbargain users are having a good outcome, y not take a stab urself. Hope everything works out.
Sorry Booga-b just wanted to clarify I wasn't trying to be rude (I re-read the post and I sounded narky).
I'm sure it's not for everyone as you say, I just wanted to stress that my high index prescription has turned out better online than at the stores.
You could have a look at a company called Clearly Contacts. Website www.clearlycontacts.com.au
I've ordered contact lens through them. Although my private health fund doesn't recognised them (some do), contacts through them were still cheaper than through OPSM with the health fund rebate. The contacts arrived promptly and the company kept in contact via email. They carry all the usual available brands of contacts. Definitely no issues at all.
I've just ordered my first pair of glasses through them. Haven't received them yet, but their prices are definitely cheaper. At the moment I think they have free delivery if over a certain price. They had a deal recently for free glasses with free lens and all you had to pay for delivery. I opted for more than the basic lens because of my power (1.67) and altogether with shipping etc and a pair of hugo boss frames it cost less than $50.
As long as you have your prescription it was easy for normal myopic glasses. Just need the PD as described above. They also don't require payment until you receive the glasses (bonus if you are worried about being ripped off).
Some health funds do offer a rebate for them so if yours does (listed on their site but maybe call and check with yours), it'd make it amazingly cheap.
I've never heard of this one so good to know another for comparison.
I just checked my brand of contacts at Clearly Contacts and unfortunately they are more expensive (between $2-5 per box) than ordering through Laubman & Pank Direct:
http://www.laubmanandpankdirect.com.au/index.html
Guess it depends on the brand/type etc.
I personally recommend L&P Direct when ordering contacts for the following reasons (in my experience anyway!):
- Prices are cheaper than instore, even when delivery is considered.
- Definitely recognised by most health funds for rebates.
- Ability to retrieve your script through their database if you had your eyes tested at an L&P store.
- Generous discounts if ordering for 6 or 12 months
They run the occassional promotion of free delivery, deals on sunglasses etc.
OPSM also operates an online store (OPSMDirect I think) but they don't stock my type of contacts. Prices are fairly similar from memory.
Thanks i'll also check out laubman & pank.
Last lot of contacts I bought were from an optometrist in Bali… same brand as I buy here, just $15 a box!
Huh!?
autoglass …. SPAM!!!
There are just so many lens design involved. If they've buggered up the lens design, you will have a hard time adapting to the glasses especially if you have a high script. You might experience bowing effects and the floor coming up at you and stuff. Mod: Removed SPAM I've just ordered my first pair of glasses through them. Haven't received them yet, but their prices are definitely cheaper. At the moment I think they have free delivery if over a certain price.
I've not heard of that site but probably ok. The cheapest I've found was www.zennioptical.com. I've used them and they are quite good for rock-bottom prices. Good selection too. A better option that's nearly as cheap is www.selectspecs.com. I've ordered 3 pairs from them and they a large high-quality range. When you get your eye prescription ask the optometrist to measure your PD (Pupiliaty Distance, the distance between both of your pupils). This measurement is not done unless asked for and online eyeglasses ask for it to ensure the glasses will be tailored to you individual face. Also when ordering online compare the "extras" provided on lenses such as scratch resistance, anti-smudge, non-reflective coating etc. Some places will not include them free where others will at a small fraction in price difference so cheaper isn't always the better deal.